Sunderland AFC FA Cup legend Jimmy Montgomery hails work of Sir Bobby Robson Foundation

Sunderland FA Cup hero Jimmy Montgomery has paid tribute to the cancer charity established by another North East footballing legend.

'Monty' secured his place in SAFC history with a stunning double save in the 1973 FA Cup final as Bob Stokoe's side saw off overwhelming favourites Leeds United to secure the famous trophy.

Now as the Black Cats prepare to take on arch rivals Newcastle United in the same competition, Jimmy has spoken of his gratitude to the charity set up by the Magpies' former boss.

Jimmy was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago and for the last 12 months has been a patient at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

Patients with advanced cancer come from across the North East and Cumbria for treatment at the centre, which was originally equipped by The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity.

The Foundation also funds trainee posts for both a doctor and a nurse to specialise in clinical drug trials within in it, as well as specialist posts providing patients with occupational therapy, complementary therapy and a dietician.

"Until a couple of weeks ago, I was taking part in a clinical trial of a new cancer drug at the Sir Bobby Robson Centre," said Jimmy.

"My recent CT scan showed it wasn’t working as they’d hoped but, thankfully, I have a number of other treatment options available and I’d very happily go back on a trial when something else becomes available.

"Clinical trials are so important for us all. If other people hadn’t put their names down to trial drugs, then cancer treatment that’s standard today just wouldn’t exist.

"The trial I took part in at the Sir Bobby Centre didn’t work for me but it will work for someone, and I’ve always had the view that if it doesn’t help me then it will help someone else.”

On every visit for treatment, Jimmy has walked past an iconic picture of himself on the pitch at Wembley after the famous FA Cup win.

The photo shows Jimmy hugging the Sunderland manager, Bob Stokoe, and is on the wall of The Football Corridor in the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, where a series of pictures of North East football leads to the Sir Bobby Robson Centre: "The thing I remember most about that win at Wembley was the atmosphere when we walked out," he said.

"I can’t put it into words. There was just a mass of red and white ahead of us when we came out of the tunnel and it made the hairs on your body tingle. That’s what gave us the strength to go on and achieve what we did that day.

"You’ve got to have support, whether that’s The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation or in football.

"We haven’t had a derby for a good while and Sunderland’s got a good track record. Obviously, Newcastle are the Premier League club but in 1973 we were the underdogs, so who knows what could happen.

"And we’ve got a great set of lads and some wonderful footballers.

"Bob Moncur is my guest for the game and, as he was the last man to lift a cup for Newcastle, I’m sure we’ll have some laughs on the day."

Sir Bobby Robson loved the passion of the derby game, which he described in 2008 as 'a very special week in the Tyne Wear footballing calendar', and he would no doubt have been looking forward to this weekend’s match as much as every fan.

He always believed there was more that united supporters of the two clubs than divided them and, despite being a lifelong Newcastle fan, was a very regular visitor to the Stadium of Light.

When he launched The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in 2008 he asked Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough to help support his aim to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer and all three clubs immediately agreed.

Sir Bobby’s son, Mark Robson, said: "Dad was so proud that all of North East football came together to support his Foundation and that the work we support is helping patients from across the whole region. He always said that cancer doesn’t discriminate based on football allegiance or anything else.

"I know he’d be very excited that Sunderland and Newcastle drew each other in the cup and he’d certainly be at the game."

Last year, there were 400 new adult patient referrals to the Sir Bobby Robson Centre and there are 30 clinical drug trials currently underway.

The research and clinical trials funded are not only making a huge difference to patients receiving treatment now, but are also part of long-term national and international efforts into the disease, and what Sir Bobby hoped would become his legacy for others facing cancer.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation also funds a range of support for young patients with cancer at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle and works within the NHS and in partnership with other leading charities and organisations.

For more information, visit: www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk