Stars on the ball for charity sale

AN ONLINE auction was launched yesterday that aims to raise up to £250,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, with prizes donated by football legends including Pele and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who worked with Sir Bobby, has donated the most significant personal trophy of his career, his Fifa Ballon d’Or World Coach of the Year trophy, the foundation said.

Other celebrity donors include Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, racing driver Lewis Hamilton and cricketer Graeme Swann.

In total, more than 130 items are going under the hammer to raise cash for the foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said: “For us as a club and for myself it is an honour to participate and to have the opportunity to invite two persons to come and visit our training session, attend a game at our stadium and receive a signed shirt from our players.”

The auction is the brainchild of Gina Long, a friend of the Robson family. She said: “I have been truly touched and overwhelmed by the generosity of every single donation of an auction item and messages of goodwill and support.”