News reaches us that Sir Bobby Charlton is to be the patron of the University of Northampton's China & Transitional Economies Research Centre.
Now, we are bested by few people when it comes to our admiration for Sir Bobby, his booming long-range shooting, admirable sportsmanship and tireless work as one of the country's leading sporting ambassadors.
And, if we knew more about it, we'd doubtless be impressed with Northampton's work in the field of China and other assorted transitional economies.
But where's the link?
What does Bobby know of these things? Does his brace of goals in the 1968 European cup final empower him to talk of Taiwanese economic development? Do his 106 England caps enable him to pass on years of accumulated wisdom on the flexible market for labour in rural China? What will the 100 business leaders and international resourcing managers who will gather in Northampton in mid-March when the great man formally accepts the role hear him say in his distinctive Geordie tones?
Could someone enlighten us as to where Bobby fits in? He's succeeding Sir Edward Heath! What links these august gentlemen? And can someone suggest some more unlikely celebrity link-ups?
