Ray Lambert
Encyclopedia
Raymond Lambert was a Welsh
footballer who played for Liverpool
.
, Flintshire
, Wales
, Lambert joined the Reds as an amateur schoolboy in 1936 aged 13. In doing so, he set the record for being the youngest ever player to join a league side. He impressed Liverpool manager George Kay
so much that he had Lambert sign professional forms on his 17th birthday in 1939. This was just a month before the F.A
brought a premature halt to the league season because of the outbreak of the Second World War.
Upon the conclusion of the war Lambert, now 23, returned to Merseyside
but had to wait to make his debut, which came on 5 January 1946 in the first official competition after World War II
-- the FA Cup
. Liverpool made the journey to Sealand Road to face Chester City
in the 3rd round 1st leg, a game that the Reds won 2-0. Also making their debuts that day were Liverpool greats Billy Liddell
and Bob Paisley
.
The full-back's first goal for the Reds came via a 77th minute penalty on 8 October 1949 at Anfield
in a league game against Middlesbrough
. This also finished 2-0 to the Reds.
Lambert fitted straight into the Liverpool line-up and held on to his place, which might be either left or right back as he was comfortable in each. He averaged 30 games a season for the following decade and become a favourite with the Anfield masses. He appeared in 36 of the 42 league games as Liverpool went on to clinch the first post-war championship by one point over Wolves
and bitter rivals Manchester United
.
Lambert was also an integral member of the Reds squad that took Liverpool to their first ever Wembley
final in 1950, Arsenal were the opponents on 29 April and spoilt the Merseysiders day by taking the cup back to Highbury
after a 2-0 win. Liverpool's and Lambert's luck took a sharp turn for the worse as the Reds struggled with their league form and were finally relegated at the end of the 1953/54 season.
Ray Lambert won 5 caps for Wales, his first coming on 19 October 1946 in a British Home Championship
against Scotland
at the Racecourse Ground
Wrexham
, it was a day to remember for Lambert as the Welsh ran out 3-1 victors with all the goals coming in the 2nd half.
Ray finally called an end to his Anfield days just before his 34th birthday in 1956 after playing 341 appearances.
He died on the 22 October 2009, at the age of 87.
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
footballer who played for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Life and playing career
Born in BagilltBagillt
Bagillt is a small town near Holywell in Flintshire, North Wales. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 3,918.-History:http://stmarysbagillt.co.uk/...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Lambert joined the Reds as an amateur schoolboy in 1936 aged 13. In doing so, he set the record for being the youngest ever player to join a league side. He impressed Liverpool manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
so much that he had Lambert sign professional forms on his 17th birthday in 1939. This was just a month before the F.A
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
brought a premature halt to the league season because of the outbreak of the Second World War.
Upon the conclusion of the war Lambert, now 23, returned to Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
but had to wait to make his debut, which came on 5 January 1946 in the first official competition after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-- the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Liverpool made the journey to Sealand Road to face Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in the 3rd round 1st leg, a game that the Reds won 2-0. Also making their debuts that day were Liverpool greats Billy Liddell
Billy Liddell
William Beveridge "Billy" Liddell was a Scottish footballer, who played his entire professional career with Liverpool. He signed with the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961, having scored 228 goals in 534 appearances...
and Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
.
The full-back's first goal for the Reds came via a 77th minute penalty on 8 October 1949 at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in a league game against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. This also finished 2-0 to the Reds.
Lambert fitted straight into the Liverpool line-up and held on to his place, which might be either left or right back as he was comfortable in each. He averaged 30 games a season for the following decade and become a favourite with the Anfield masses. He appeared in 36 of the 42 league games as Liverpool went on to clinch the first post-war championship by one point over Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and bitter rivals Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Lambert was also an integral member of the Reds squad that took Liverpool to their first ever Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
final in 1950, Arsenal were the opponents on 29 April and spoilt the Merseysiders day by taking the cup back to Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
after a 2-0 win. Liverpool's and Lambert's luck took a sharp turn for the worse as the Reds struggled with their league form and were finally relegated at the end of the 1953/54 season.
Ray Lambert won 5 caps for Wales, his first coming on 19 October 1946 in a British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, it was a day to remember for Lambert as the Welsh ran out 3-1 victors with all the goals coming in the 2nd half.
Ray finally called an end to his Anfield days just before his 34th birthday in 1956 after playing 341 appearances.
He died on the 22 October 2009, at the age of 87.
Honours
- Division 1Football League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(Level 1): 1947 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: Runner-up 1950