LEGENDARY Ipswich Town manager Sir Bobby Robson has appealed for the return of his England caps, stolen during a raid on his family home.And The Evening Star is adding its support by offering a £1,000 reward for the return of the treasured items.

LEGENDARY Ipswich Town manager Sir Bobby Robson has appealed for the return of his England caps, stolen during a raid on his family home.

And The Evening Star is adding its support by offering a £1,000 reward for the return of the treasured items.

The Newcastle United manager, who last month celebrated his 70th birthday, was burgled 18 months ago but only realised last month 12 caps were missing from his Suffolk home.

Sir Bobby said: "I am distraught. They are the most valuable things I won in my career and I am appealing to anyone who may know anything to get in contact with me."

He added: "The England caps are the most precious items of my football career. They mean a lot to me and they are irreplaceable.

"When I found out about the theft my head could not hit the pillow. I could not sleep for two days afterwards."

Sir Bobby, who took England to the World Cup semi-final in 1990, played 20 times for his country and scored four times.

In 1958 he represented England in the World Cup finals in Sweden.

But he is best known as a manager, guiding Ipswich in the 1970s and 1980s before taking the England reins.

Sir Bobby then went abroad to manage PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and Barcelona before returning to his beloved north-east England.

"I would like to appeal to the guy who took them to return them to me or to anyone who has bought or been offered England caps to get in contact with me," he said.

A police spokesman said no-one had been arrested in connection with the burglary.

Anyone with any information should contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.