Rickie for England

Every now and again something happens that just really cheers you up, reminds you why life is such a precious and delicate thing, the tough times feel worth it and you are able to look forward with optimism once again. As a football lover it is easy to become tired of the beautiful game, diving and cheating is rife, mega-rich stars angling for mega money moves to rival clubs. Loyalty is a concept that only supporters need be concerned with, even the clubs are changing their names and shirt colours in pursuit of more significant returns from the ‘important far east market’.

This summer we have witnessed magical cricket, with England beating the Aussies in a series just close enough to be interesting yet comfortable enough to allow for smugness, Andy Murray winning Wimbledon and Justin Rose winning England’s first major tournament for 17 years. Obviously all these sports carry huge financial rewards for those blessed with the talent and work ethic to succeed, yet they all manage to avoid the gaudy crassness that permeates professional football. But every now and again football will remind us of its power to move the soul, raise the goosebumps and almost bring a tear to your eye.

Wednesday night’s England game against Scotland at Wembley Stadium provided one such occasion. The smile on Rickie Lambert’s face after he headed the winner against the auld enemy with his first touch in international football was absolutely priceless. Whilst Lambert is not one the Premier League’s most well paid players it is safe to say that if he is not a multimillionaire yet then he soon will be, but this moment had nothing to do with money. This is a man who has come up the hard way, burst every sinew to get into that England shirt, he probably never thought his moment would come but it was his dream as both man and boy.

Lambert has his cap, he has his goal, his lifetime dream has been fulfilled. He will know that getting a ticket on that plane to Brazil next summer is still a long way off, yet he has made the best possible start. For the players sake I hope he stays in the England squad and get’s his chance next summer, but if he doesn’t he will always have his moment and let’s face it, he won’t be the first Southampton number seven to be foolishly overlooked in a world cup year.