DURHAM, England - Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker and Fabio Capello were among 1000 guests at a memorial service yesterday for Sir Bobby Robson, the former England manager who died in July.

DURHAM, England - Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker and Fabio Capello were among 1000 guests at a memorial service yesterday for Sir Bobby Robson, the former England manager who died in July.

Paul Gascoigne and others who played under Robson at the 1990 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals, were also at Durham cathedral to pay tribute to the much-loved manager.

Lineker praised his "hugely supportive and fiercely loyal" ex-coach, telling the congregation: "Sir Bobby Robson, we will miss you but we will never, ever forget you."

The service was broadcast live and beamed to giant screens at Ipswich and Newcastle, two of the clubs Robson managed during a career that also included successful spells at Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and FC Porto.

Robson, who had fought repeated battles with cancer, finally succumbed to the disease on July 31 at 76. He raised £1,8million (R21,9million) for his own foundation, which funds research into early detection. - Sapa-AFP