Newcastle United’s FA Cup-winning brothers - George and Ted Robledo - have been honoured at the house they once lived in on Tyneside. In front of George’s only child, Elizabeth, and several other guests including Toon legend Bob Moncur, a blue plaque was unveiled at the home in Fenham.
The event was originally meant to take place before the outbreak of COVID-19 but after much delay, finally happened 70 years to the day of Newcastle’s FA Cup win over Arsenal in 1952. Both George and Ted played in that game with the former scoring the only goal of the game.
The coincidence of the unveiling happening on the anniversary of the victory at Wembley is not lost on Elizabeth who travelled from Chile for the ceremony. Speaking to Chronicle Live, she said: “I am a very positive person. I was very frustrated with the world’s situation with COVID-19 but the two years waiting [to unveil it] have paid off enormously.,
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“This wouldn’t have happened two years ago - it was meant to be. Third time lucky! Here I am. I had everything ready, my bags have been packed for three years! I’ve finally made it.
“It means absolutely everything - I am so honoured that after 70 years they can still be remembered here. Newcastle United meant everything to my father, my family and my uncle Ted too.
“It’s a very special day, a very emotional one, and a very unique day. 70 years to the day of my father’s FA Cup Final goal against Arsenal, six-minutes remaining… it’s a blessing to be here.”
The pair played for Newcastle between 1949 and 1953, with George forming a formidable partnership with Jackie Milburn. The idea for the plaque came from Chris Brook, a teacher from South Yorkshire.
Brook organises a primary school football tournament called the Totti Cup and upon researching past winners stumbled across the Robledo brothers.
"George had scored four goals one year, and six the next - so I researched his name to see if he had made it as a footballer and clearly he did. That Google result has led to this.
"All the other names were Spencer or Smith and then there was Robledo and it piqued my interest especially when you see it in South Yorkshire, pre-war.
"Their story is one of family unity - to have two brothers playing at one club is quite special but to have played at four different clubs together at the same time across two different continents is extra special.
"We have a lot of heroes who don't stand the test of generations but when you look back you can really see there are some players who are worthy of being passed on through the generations, and the Robledos certainly fit that bill."
Brook had written to the family of the home in Fehham to see how they would feel about placing a plaque onto their home. The family were unaware of the significance of the house and welcomed such a move to honour the brothers. On the day of the unveiling, the street was packed with people eager to see the plaque.
Guests included the historian of the brothers' Chilean side Colo-Colo. Pavel Piña had travelled from Macul, Santiago to speak at the ceremony. Talking to Chronicle Live he said: "This is important in England but Chile too.
"The brothers were really good players - George was top scorer and we won a championship with him but also for what they mean to Chilean football. George revolutionised football in Chile and was is so important to our club and our institution.
"He is one of the reasons Colo-Colo is so popular in our country. For our club, this is so important - we are really happy to be able to share this moment with people from Newcastle."
The Chilean government also sent a diplomat from the embassy in London - Fransico Tello - who described the brothers as 'two of the biggest sportsman' in Chilean history. He added: "They were great ambassadors for Chile - they embedded very important values: friendship, sportsmanship and fair play. All the things you need to be a good person in life."
The last captain to lift a trophy for Newcastle, Bob Moncur was also on hand to represent the club. When asked about the importance of honouring George and Ted, he said: "It's immensely important, and it's right and proper that it should happen."
Ted passed away in 1970 having gone missing from a ship, the Al Sahn, sailing out of Dubai. George died in 1989, aged 62.
Both will be remembered as the first set of brothers to play for Newcastle United, a feat not matched until Shola and Sammy Ameobi took to the field together in 2012.
