Rickie Lambert 'always had a special talent' says teacher at Kirkby Sports College

At Kirkby Sports College in Liverpool, Lambert’s Saints shirt has been on display throughout the club’s successful first season back in the Championship.

Since leaving school more than a decade ago, Lambert has taken a circuitous route to the cusp of the Premier League, where playing at Anfield would finally become a reality for the Championship’s recently-crowned Player of the Year.

There are many Liverpudlians who would have divided loyalties should Lambert play against Liverpool, the club he still supports despite being released as a schoolboy.

Among them is John Woods, who first coached Lambert when he was a 13-year-old playing for his school team.

A history teacher, Mr Woods believes Lambert will follow in the footsteps of two other KSC alumni – European Cup-winning captains Phil Thompson (Liverpool) and Dennis Mortimer (Aston Villa) are also sons of Kirkby – and succeed amongst English football’s elite.

“We knew they would be special when Rickie’s team were in the first year and I was made up to coach them from the age of 13 to 16,” smiled Woods.

“Rickie and another lad, Danny Coid, both played centre-forward together and they both went to Blackpool after Rickie was released by Liverpool.

“Danny played more than 250 games for the first team but it didn’t really work out for Rickie. He played in midfield for Macclesfield and Stockport but it was only when he went to Bristol Rovers that he started scoring loads of goals.

“That was the turning point, he was a legend down there and he’s carried that on at Southampton.”

Lambert and Coid, now a full-back at League Two Accrington Stanley, were prolific.

“Danny and Rickie were both really good friends and competitive in a good sense, it was a healthy rivalry,” Woods continued.

“Rickie just wanted to play football all the time and was a pleasure to coach. What he’s achieved couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad.

“Some talented lads get a bit big-headed but not him. In the old days, before Health and Safety stopped it, we would have football matches between the staff and the Year 11 team and Rickie’s team was the only one that ever beat us!

“I had to go in goal after injuring my ankle and Rickie gave me some stick when he hit a freekick that flew past me into the top corner! He and Danny scored two each and they beat us 4-1.

“Even as a young lad he would score spectacular goals and that’s something he’s kept going. I remember Rickie scoring a hattrick of great goals in a semifinal.”

Lambert has scored no fewer than three hat-tricks this season, but he experienced several setbacks earlier in his career.

After being released by Blackpool as a teenager he worked in a factory packing beetroot jars with his dad, Sam, before returning to the Football League with Macclesfield.

Woods believes Lambert’s upbringing helped him develop the strength of character required to be a successful footballer.

“I used to referee our games and some dads could be awful from the touchline, but Sam used to come to every match and was always very positive without interfering,” said Woods.

“It’s a credit to Sam that Rickie’s where he is now.”

Lambert has scored 21 goals this season, but has also created many.

“He reminds me of Teddy Sheringham,” continued Woods.

“He’s become more of a target man because he’s so good at holding the ball up.

“He’s really good with his back to goal as a link-up player as well as being a scorer of brilliant goals.

“He’s never had much pace, which is probably why he was used in midfield, but he’s always had a fantastic shot and an amazing touch.

“No matter how hard the ball was pinged at him he would control it instantly.

“He’s carried that on and it’s totally natural.”

If Saints win promotion, there is little doubt ‘Liverpool away’ will be the first fixture Lambert looks for.

“Rickie’s a big Liverpool fan, he was at the Carling Cup final last month and when I saw him linked with Everton on the internet recently, I texted him to joke about the Liver bird tattoo he has on one of his shoulders,” laughed Woods.

“That wouldn’t go down too well at Goodison Park! Fortunately Rickie said there was nothing in it.”

Having proven the doubters wrong in the Championship, there is no reason why Lambert should not bridge the gap into the Premier League.

“I’m a Liverpool fan and when I see Andy Carroll play, having been bought for £35m, I’m sure Rickie would do well in the Premier League – I’d love to see him in a Liverpool shirt!” Woods said.

Long may Lambert’s red-and-white striped number seven shirt hang proudly on the wall of his alma mater.

The Sports Pink Online