Sir Bobby Robson
Len has been involved with the game in various capacities over 55 years. Starting with Liverpool Schoolboys in 1953 and continuing to this day in his role as a referee’s assessor for the FA Premier League.
Len’s playing career was dominated by his time at Sunderland, joining the club in 1957. He made his debut a year later against my beloved Ipswich Town and went on to make 458 first team appearances at left full-back, a lesson in loyalty for many of our present day players and a club record for an outfield player which stands to this day.
Eventually Len went on to manage Sunderland and I have vivid memories of him leading his team out of the Wembley tunnel for the Milk Cup final of 1985. Over a twenty five year period he also managed Hartlepool, Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday, Newport County and Cardiff City, as well as coaching abroad as far afield as the Middle East and Malaysia. His strength was in his ability to survive and succeed with no money for transfers. Utilising players to their full potential required all of his management and motivational experience, achieving his objectives through these qualities and his deep-rooted love for the game.
Len is a bright intelligent man with quality organisational abilities, which he brought to his input into the establishment of the FA Premier League Academies in 1998. It is a legacy which will remain in the game for many years.
I wish Len every success with this book which he has written himself and I am sure it will prove extremely interesting to the genuine football observer as well as those who like a good story.