Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle United will be Town's opponents in the testimonial game for former Blues' player and coach Dale Roberts who died in February this year at the age of 46 after a battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Ex-Town boss George Burley is part of a committee organising the game and other functions along with a number of Roberts' friends. It is likely the game will be either at the end of this season or in the pre-season of 2004/05.

Newcastle-born Roberts joined Robson's Town as a player in the early 70s and was involved in the 1972/73 and 1974/75 FA Youth Cup winning sides.

He made his first team debut against Birmingham City at St Andrew's in December 1974, but despite winning England youth honours, he was never really a regular at Portman Road and moved on to Hull City in 1980 after making 24 appearances for the club.

He spent several years with the Tigers, making more than 200 appearances, before a pelvic injury caused him to hang up his boots.

He returned to Town as George Burley's assistant at the beginning of 1995, having also worked alongside the Scot at Ayr United and Colchester. In recent years he managed the reserve team and led his side to the FA Premier Reserve League (South) title in 2001/02.

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