Rickie Lambert

Rickie Lambert — one of the great late-developer stories in English football, a striker who was playing in the lower Football League in his mid-twenties and went on to represent England at international level after a remarkable rise through the Southampton system. His penalty technique and set-piece delivery were exceptional, and his goal on his England debut against Scotland in 2013 — scored as a substitute within minutes of coming on — was one of the sport's more perfectly scripted moments. His subsequent moves to Liverpool and West Brom did not replicate his Southampton form, but the journey itself represented one of English football's most improbable success stories

Football at the highest level rewards technical mastery, physical conditioning and the mental fortitude to perform consistently across a long and unrelenting career. Career highlights included 30 Premier League goals, 11 England caps, Scored on England debut with first touch. What consistently distinguished Rickie was the ability to perform at the highest level over many seasons — competing with the very best while maintaining exceptional standards throughout a long career in football. Few athletes in football have combined consistency and peak performance as effectively, and across such an extended period, as Rickie managed throughout his career. Rickie Lambert's achievements in football were built on technical discipline, physical preparation and competitive commitment that allowed performance to be maintained at the very top across multiple seasons. The dedication required to perform consistently in football at international level defined every aspect of Rickie Lambert's approach to the sport.

• 30 Premier League goals
• 11 England caps
• Scored on England debut with first touch