Cancer patient says Southgate visit 'just lovely'

Jennifer Jackson said Southgate's visit to the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre had been "very special"

A grandmother being treated for cancer has said it was "absolutely wonderful" to have England manager Gareth Southgate visit her hospital.

Southgate called in at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle, and said he hoped to "put a smile on the faces" of patients.

He said it was clear the former Newcastle United manager's legacy had a "massive impact" on fundraising that allowed the hospital to continue its treatment.

Jennifer Jackson, 69, from Newton Aycliffe, said she was "in shock" to chat with Southgate, and added it had been "very special" and "just lovely".

Patients come from across the North East and Cumbria for treatment at the centre, based at the Freeman Hospital, which offers clinical trials for people with advanced cancer.

Ms Jackson, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018, has been on a trial at the hospital since January 2023.

"The staff are like family to me... I'm so privileged to be on this unit," she said.

Ms Jackson said she had three grandchildren since her diagnosis.

She explained when she found out her daughter was pregnant, she thought, "I've got to fight a bit longer".

Southgate praised former England manager Sir Bobby Robson

Southgate said it had been "a privilege to visit the centre and see the legacy that Sir Bobby has left here".

“Football is a huge part of the North East and Sir Bobby is an icon of the English game who had a massive impact on the fundraising that has allowed this centre to continue with important trials," he added.

Southgate will soon have managed the same number of games for England as Sir Bobby.

The County Durham-born former England, Newcastle, and Ipswich manager died on 31 July 2009 after his fifth battle against the disease.

Sir Bobby Robson faced cancer five times and died in 2009

"I'm hugely proud to be mentioned in the same sentence as him," Southgate explained.

"To be close to that record [of the same number of games as him] is phenomenal really.

"I met him a few times. He went out of his way when I was a young manager to come visit me when I was in Middlesbrough."