On the Map, Town supporter Nick Fuller’s account of Sir Bobby Robson’s time in charge of the Blues, is now available in book format. Nick raised more than £600 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation with the electronic version and the legendary manager’s charity will also benefit from the paper-based book.
Nick told TWTD: "When I wrote the book earlier in the year it was offered as a free download, although I asked fans to make a donation to Sir Bobby’s Foundation. Thanks to everyone who donated, you raised over £600 and I received word from Sir Bobby’s PA that he very much appreciated the fans’ efforts.
"There was a feeling that people might be interested in a physical version of the book. I have therefore been working on this with a publisher and this version (with forewords by both Kevin Beattie and ex-Town director Holly Bellingham) became available on Thursday — just a day before the tragic news. The timing is a sad coincidence.
"I had hoped to get a signed copy that we might have auctioned for the Foundation via TWTD but Sir Bobby’s PA told me just a week or so ago that, although he was of course willing, he wasn’t well enough. All of us seeing him at the England-Germany game I’m sure shared once again that overwhelming admiration for his courage despite his obvious ill health.
"The book was always intended as a Town fan’s tribute to the man and his extraordinary impact on our club which will last forever. In this regard, nothing has changed. I only hope that the book does the man some justice although, like many Town fans, I doubt that there are sufficient superlatives in the dictionary to do so.”
Nick says both he and the publisher will make donations to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation from any profits made.
On the Map is available from Cult Publishing.