The transfer of Rickie Lambert to Liverpool is no less than a fairytale.
Irony works in funny ways, often leaving the observers in despair and malaise. This is not that kind of a story. This is one which has a protagonist, a relentless quest for success, major setbacks, nadir and then the zenith and a whole lot of other fancy words.
Rickie Lambert might never be a name for the football history books. He will certainly be forgotten, in the grand scheme of things. As a species so intent on living in the present, we have witnessed something extraordinary out of something…err ordinary.
Rickie Lambert was born in in Kirkby, the proverbial heart of Merseyside. Scouser at heart, he began his footballing career at the age of 10 joining his beloved club Liverpool as a midfielder with an eye for pass and an odd goal.
Red at heart.
5 years later, he was released by them, deemed as “not good enough”
He tried out for a non league side Marine before joining Blackpool as a trainee. A year later, he was released from Blackpool too, after having another indifferent season at the club. He remained a free agent for 4 months and had to work in Beetroot factory to bring in the cash and keep things running. It is often said that “It is the hope that kills”, largely so, in football.
But in death, lies resurrection. Rickie Lambert kept chipping away, working hard and taking every opportunity which he got. Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale. On he went, in a chronological order, roaming around in the lower echelons of English league. His first real break came at Bristol Rovers where he finished club’s highest scorer in his first season and then having a stellar second season, got into the PFA League One team of the year.
In August, 2009, he completed a move to Southampton FC. He got better and better with time and won PFA Fans’ player of the award that season. Southampton and Rickie Lambert kept on rising through the ranks and by the end of 2011-12 season, Southampton were in the Premier league. The surprising part was that he kept performing, irrespective of the level and himself, along with Southampton, were largely successful. He scored 117 goals in 235 matches he played for Saints, led them to the Premier League and became a local favorite. He earned an England call up in 2013 and on 12th May, 2014, he was named in the FIFA WC squad for the three Lions.
Stop him if you can.
Summer of 2014, the circle completes itself, and in a surprise move, Liverpool sign the striker from Southampton, creating a story that gives much to ponder. In the first interview, Rickie Lambert sounded exultant, and more like a fan, than a player.
Red again.
Joining a club that you have supported all your life, after meandering around in the lower league and difficult times, it is some fairy-tale indeed. In the words of Martin Tyler about this Suarez Goal, he has made a lot, out of precious little. It might not be the most inspiring of stories, or the most dramatic, but if reading his journey can make a few people smile and hope, it is all worth it, and paints a lovely picture of what football is all about. Hope.
Ayush is a part of the the @Football_P family. You can follow him at @Cycle_bin
