SportFootballBobby RobsonEXCLUSIVE: Legendary England World cup boss Sir Bobby Robson penned a secret letter to a village football side when he was in charge of Barcelona in the 1990s16:17, 30 Jun 2026Updated 16:18, 30 Jun 2026An extraordinary poignant handwritten letter by former England World Cup manager Sir Bobby Robson has been found - 30 years after he posted it. Sir Bobby penned the note to a small Essex village club who were marking a 75th anniversary in 1996. He took time to write the letter even though he had just signed a contract to join Spanish giants Barcelona.‌He told Hatfield Heath FC: “The big guns need the little guns and you all do a remarkable job. I really admire your enthusiasm, dedication and devotion to the world game.” Hatfield Heath FC has kept the letter in their archives ever since. The club, which was formed in the 1890s, was celebrating its 75th anniversary of its affiliation to Essex FA. This is the first time the letter has ever been seen.‌‌Sir Bobby, who led England to the World Cup semi-final in 1990, wrote: “To Hatfield Heath Football Club You have probably heard I’m heading for BARCELONA FOOTBALL CLUB in my opinion the biggest Football Club in the world. “The stadium holds 120,000 people and it’s usually full!! There is not Barcelonas of this world unless there is hundreds of Hatfield Heath Football Clubs. Football has to start somewhere!“It probably ends in Barcelona/Juventus/manchester-united-fc>Manchester United/AC Milan and Bayern Munich. But the Hatfield Heaths of this world provide the vase and the solid foundation upon which football and football players develop. “Believe it please! Good luck in all you do. The big guns need the little guns and you all do a remarkable job. I really admire your enthusiasm, dedication and devotion to the world game.” He signed off: “Congratulations on your 75th - you will make the ton easily.”‌Hatfield Heath’s secretary David Pyle said: “It was such a special letter to receive. A club member contacted several famous football people and Bobby was one of the few to respond. It really shows the class of the man.”Sir Bobby died aged 76 in 2009. As well as taking charge of England he also managed Newcastle United, Ipswich Town and PSV Eindhoven. Respected author and historian Grant Bage, who spent six years researching a biography of Sir Alf Ramsey called ‘The Unseen Sir Alf’, said: “This is a really special letter. I’m an Ipswich Town fan and Bobby Robson is a hero of mine.‌“The fact he took time to write a letter like this when he was leaving Porto to join Barcelona at such an important time in his career shows the measure of the man.“Hatfield Heath FC are very fortunate to have such a lovely letter from a lovely man. Bobby was so popular wherever he managed - no more than his time in Ipswich where he lived.” Hatfield Heath has several claims to fame in football history.Article continues belowOn Boxing Day 1946 the club famously played against a Prisoner of War XI from a camp situated in the village. They lost 11-0 and marked the record defeat on its 75th anniversary in 2021. And in the same year Robson wrote this letter Geoff Hurst and West German goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski re-created the controversial 1966 goal on the club’s Calves Pasture pitch when the Mirror brought the 1966 ball back from Germany.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Bobby RobsonEngland football team