FOOTBALL legend Sir Bobby Robson has appealed for the return of his England caps, stolen during a raid on his family home in Suffolk.The 70-year-old former Ipswich Town and England boss was burgled 18 months ago but only realised last month that 13 caps were missing from his house in north Ipswich.

FOOTBALL legend Sir Bobby Robson has appealed for the return of his England caps, stolen during a raid on his family home in Suffolk.

The 70-year-old former Ipswich Town and England boss was burgled 18 months ago but only realised last month that 13 caps were missing from his house in north Ipswich.

Sir Bobby, who is now manager of Newcastle United, said he was heartbroken by the thefts and could not sleep after discovering the caps had been taken.

"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 said.

"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 played 20 times for his country between 1958 and 1962, including games in the 1962 World Cup in Sweden.

He had given one of the 14 caps to his brother for safe-keeping, but now fears he may never see the remaining 13.

Sir Bobby said: "I never won a cup and I never won a championship as a player so the caps are placed above everything.

"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."

The football boss had realised that porcelain ornaments and antiques had been stolen from his Ipswich house – which he calls his principal home – and later discovered the caps had gone from a cupboard.

Following his playing career, Sir Bobby enjoyed 14 successful years managing Ipswich Town, leading the club to an FA Cup win in 1978 and UEFA Cup success in 1981.

He left to take charge of the national side in 1982, masterminding England's charge to the quarter finals in 1986 and the semi-finals in 1990.

Sir Bobby had spells aboard as manager of PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and Barcelona before returning his native north-east in 1999 to take charge of his boyhood idols Newcastle United.

He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June and a bronze statue of Sir Bobby was unveiled outside Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium the following month.

Suffolk Police have declined to comment on the incident.