AS the world of football paid tribute to a true giant of the game today, nowhere was the emotion running deeper than Sir Bobby Robson's adopted home town of Ipswich.

AS the world of football paid tribute to a true giant of the game today, nowhere was the emotion running deeper than Sir Bobby Robson's adopted home town of Ipswich.

Hundreds were gathering on the Cornhill in Ipswich where live footage of today's service was being shown on a big screen.

The screening was giving Town fans the chance to come together to honour the man who put Ipswich on the footballing map not only in Britain but across Europe.

A similar screening was due to take place at Newcastle United's St James' Park stadium.

Sir Bobby managed Ipswich during the club's glory years of the 70s and early 80s. After steering England to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, he went on to coach at a host of Europe's top clubs, including Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica.

Sir Bobby died in July, succumbing to his fifth bout of cancer, just days after attending a star-studded charity match at St James' Park to raise money for his cancer charity.

Coverage of today's events was starting at noon before the service itself which was due to start at 2pm.

It is just 16 months since Sir Bobby himself was standing on the balcony of the town hall overlooking the Cornhill as fans cheered the 1978 team which was celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Wembley triumph.

Ipswich remained close to Sir Bobby's heart - he continued to live in the town while he was England manager and kept his home here until he was appointed Newcastle boss in 1999.

And his last official appointment in football was as the life president of Ipswich Town Football Club.