British · Whitchurch, England · Born 16 February 1982English striker who rose through lower leagues to represent England, scoring on debut with first touch against Scotland in 2013
Rickie Lee Lambert was born on 16 February 1982 in Kirkby, Merseyside, and grew up in the Westvale area, joining hometown club Liverpool as a ten-year-old before being released at 15 — a setback that sent him on a long journey through the lower divisions of English football. He played for Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale, and Bristol Rovers, steadily building a reputation as a reliable goalscorer without ever appearing in the top flight. Lambert's breakthrough finally came at Southampton in 2009, where his clinical finishing and aerial ability helped fire the club through back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. He continued his prolific form once Southampton reached the top division, finishing as the club's top scorer in the Premier League and attracting attention from the England national team set-up despite his unconventional path through the lower leagues. Lambert made his England debut in August 2013 at the age of 31, scoring with his very first touch in international football in a friendly against Scotland at Wembley — a fairytale moment for a player who had spent over a decade grinding through non-league and lower-division football. He was named in England's squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, capping an extraordinary rise. Lambert fulfilled a boyhood dream in 2014 by signing for Liverpool, the club that had released him as a teenager, though his time at Anfield was brief before spells at West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City closed out his career. He has since moved into coaching, working as a youth development coach with Wigan Athletic.
Scoring on England debut with his first touch against Scotland
He was a delivery driver for Morrisons while playing non-league football — he reached the Premier League and England international level from those beginnings.
Did You Know?How They Played
Traditional target man with excellent heading ability and penalty expertise
Lasting Impact
Late bloomer who rose from lower leagues to England international at age 31
Career Honours
- 30 Premier League goals
- 11 England caps
- Scored on England debut with first touch
- League One 2011
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | 1998–2000 | 3 | 0 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2001–2002 | 44 | 8 |
| Stockport County | 2002–2005 | 98 | 18 |
| Rochdale | 2005–2006 | 64 | 28 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2006–2009 | 128 | 51 |
| Southampton | 2009–2014 | 207 | 106 |
| Liverpool | 2014–2015 | 25 | 2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2015–2016 | 20 | 1 |
| Cardiff City | 2016–2017 | 18 | 4 |
 Great Britain | — | 11 | 3 |
British Athletes