THE daughter and niece of footballers honoured with a blue plaque on their boyhood home believes her father would have cried over the ‘very special’ honour.
Elizabeth Robledo made the long journey over from Chile for yesterday’s unveiling at her dad George and uncle Ted Robledo’s former home on Barnsley Road, West Melton.
The ceremony has been two years in the making with the Covid outbreak stalling plans for Elizabeth to fly into the UK.
Organiser Chris Brook, who pushed the campaign from the off, had always wanted Elizabeth in attendance on a fitting day and yesterday would have been George’s 96th birthday.
Elizabeth said: “They were two long, long years waiting for this day.
“The long wait was worth it.
“There is a lot to celebrate now as it is 70 years since my dad scored in the FA Cup final and also the 125-year anniversary of the Montagu Cup which my dad scored in.
“I always remember dad telling me stories about his time in South Yorkshire.
“About his school, Brampton Ellis and from his time at Barnsley Football Club and everything that he learned.
“I am really grateful to my father and blessed too. He was brought up in this area and I owe this part of the UK a lot.
“My dad would have been proud but shy about it and say that he did not deserve it.
“He probably would not be able to say a word. He was a strong man but he cried many times remembering his time here.
The Robledo name will be synonymous on Tyneside with the brothers lifting the FA Cup for Newcastle United in their glory years in the early 1950s.
George played in the 1951 final and scored the winner a year later with his brother Ted also starting the match at Wembley.
Liz added: “My uncle Ted had a tragic ending to his life. But for the Robledo brothers to be here forever in their family home is very special.
“I have to thank Chris for this initiative.”
Chris’s campaign has ensured a permanent legacy to the Robledo family is in situ, with younger brother Walter and their mum Elsie also mentioned during the unveiling.
Chilean diplomat Francisco Tello, based in London, also made the trip to celebrate and Barnsley FC were represented by record appearance maker Barry Murphy, who remembered watching the brothers play in his native Newcastle as a youngster.
George earned the move to Newcastle after starring as a junior locally and taking that form into senior football with Barnsley FC, who kindly paid for the plaque.
He moved to Newcastle but only on the proviso that Newcastle would sign his brother Ted too.
The brothers, born to an English mother and Chilean father, moved back to their homeland in 1953.
George won 31 caps for his country but remained rooted to South Yorkshire and even wrote a column for the Chronicle during Newcastle’s tour of North America.
He had also been Norman Rimmington’s tennis partner during his time at Oakwell.
George died in 1989, aged 62.
Ted died aged just 42 in 1970 after reportedly falling overboard on an oil tanker.
