Flashback: When Liverpool sold Ricky Lambert

Ricky Lambert grew up as a proud Liverpool fan, yet for the majority of his career, playing for his boyhood club was just a pipedream. The striker did eventually get his chance though, after five years of hard work at Southampton, he made his dream move to Anfield. The fairytale ended just one season later, though, as he left for West Brom.
Best of luck to Rickie Lambert after he today completed a move from #LFC to @WBAFCofficial: http://t.co/yznfB2SUZk pic.twitter.com/fh43co1CwM
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 31, 2015
The Reds, whilst all acknowledging during Lambert’s time at the club that he would never be a key man, were gutted to see him leave. The 36-year-old is now retired, and he would have hung up his boots happily knowing that he represented his country and his boyhood club, scoring three goals for each in a career that was mostly played out in the lower leagues with Bristol Rovers and Southampton.
That one season that Lambert spent at Anfield will always be golden to both the player and the fans, though. The striker was 32 when he signed for the club and 33 when he left, and that one year spell saw the fans live the dream with Lambert, as a Scouse born hero who had the honour of playing in front of the Kop. That’s why even though he was never the best player at the club, the Reds were still gutted to see the experienced striker leave.
You can read the Kopites’ parting messages for Lambert here:
@LFC @WBAFCofficial YNWA Rickie. Great guy
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) July 31, 2015
@LFC best of luck to a true LFC fan thanks Rickie
— Trevor Stubbs (@stubbs_trevor) July 31, 2015
@LFC @WBAFCofficial the fairytale ends good luck ricky thanks for being apart of our great club wish you the best of luck at west brom!!
— Gem (@gem_louise23) July 31, 2015
@LFC should have given him a proper chance.
— MrMacT (@TarnamR) August 2, 2015
@LFC Good Luck Rickie! Hope You’ll bring success to @WBAFCofficial ! #YNWA
— Zoro (@karthik_jammy) 1 August 2015
@LFC @WBAFCofficial GOOD LUCK RICKIE.ALL THE BEST.A TRUE GENTLEMAN OF THE GAME.A RARE BREED.
— HANIEF (@HANIEFLFC) August 1, 2015
@LFC @WBAFCofficial our loss pretty disgusted with our club for making such a hash of his time with us criminal wish rickie so well &baggies
— annief (@anniehlfc) July 31, 2015
@LFC @WBAFCofficial didn't quite work out for Rickie at Liverpool, best of luck with the baggies! #LFC
— Simon Appleby (@SimonAppleby1) July 31, 2015
@LFC @WBAFCofficial good luck ricky lad. Underused way too much !!#YNWA
— Stephen Kane (@sckane1977) July 31, 2015
The Reds would have loved to see Lambert stay for at least one more season to give him more of a chance, but they’re still just glad the 36-year-old was able to live his Anfield dream.
