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David Bull's interview with Rickie Lambert and others


Fitzhugh Fella

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David has given me permission to re post something he wrote on the Saints List yesterday. Its basically his report back on talking to several players (particularly SRL) for our new book "Match of the New Millennium" which the club commissioned us to put together for publication this August. Thought some of you might be interested, particularly by the fact that Katharina still seems committed. Cheers - here's what he posted -

 

In order to get interviews for the forthcoming MATCH of the NEW MILLENNIUM, 100 top games, 2001-16, my co-editor, Barry Webb, and I hung out at the De Vere Tuesday aftn and again Wednesday a.m. in which regard, Rickie was UNBELIEVABLE. He had his family (3 generations) with him, but agreed to give me 20 mins of soundbites re some of the 38 matches (out of the 100 in which he'd played - and scored plenty of goals).

 

In which 20 mins, he rattled off his memories of so many games (there would have been more had he not been SO miffed by losing to Reading in the 2012 run-in). Only one player has ever done anything like that for me before, Matt Le Tiss, recalling 12 of the last 13 matches in the original MATCH of the MILLENNIUM.

Rickie is a brilliant interviewee, with opinions nicely wrapped into his narrative - eg where he expected KD to kick long and how this contributed to his best-ever goal in a hat-trick v MK Dons; how intelligent David Connolly was to play with; mutual assists with JayRod and Lallana - the best attack he ever played in - in a 3-0 win at Fulham (one of Duncan's match-reports in the new book).

 

So Matt and Rickie’s brilliance as PENALTY KINGS is not all that they share: eachhas a microscopic memory and the huge generosity to share it with us historians. That said, so many of those with lesser memories paused in the foyer to give Barry the benefit of the few games each remembered.

 

We were privileged, indeed - though the icing on the cake was bumping into Katharina in the lounge and asking if she'd write the foreword to a book that commemorates both the 15th anniversary of the move to St Mary's AND the 6th of her father's untimely death. With Club President Terry Paine

with us to explain what a foreword involves - he has, after all, written two for Hagiology - she agreed and confirmed her intent, what's more, when we accidentally met again the next morning. I appreciate that that's extremely name-dropping of me, but there will be those Listees who appreciate that this development is another indication that she is for REAL in her support.

 

This afternoon was different. I'd arranged to meet Radhi Jaidi, who was brilliant - not least re what it demanded of him to step down from the Prem to discover that there was a competition -the JPT - he'd never heard of. Fantastic stuff.

 

Oh, by the way, Rickie confessed that he was "nervous" to face Matt in that penalty shoot-out. But, as Matt said, on mic, what brill pens Rickie's were. All credit to Super KD for setting that up and to the

three of them for the performance.

 

How very lucky we Saints fans are to have been entertained by such committed, GENUINE guys.

 

Enough!

 

David

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He had his family (3 generations) with him, but agreed to give me 20 mins of soundbites re some of the 38 matches (out of the 100 in which he'd played - and scored plenty of goals).

 

I know I've got grandchildren, but shocked that Rickie is already a granddad as well.

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Love to hear that a sequel to Match of The Millenium is coming out Duncan, funnily enough I was flicking through the original the other day trying to decide which games would make the cut if a new one was released, funny how that happens sometimes. Was only at a couple of the games in the original book due to age mostly, so look forward to reading about a large majority of games I would have been at.

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Yeah, possibly the best attacking game in the MP reign. The Jay Rod goal was utterly class.

 

Wouldn't go that far. We were also poor in the first half iirc. Wasn't Wanyama needlessly rushed back and things only improved after Cork came on at HT?

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Wouldn't go that far. We were also poor in the first half iirc. Wasn't Wanyama needlessly rushed back and things only improved after Cork came on at HT?

That is correct, but the goals in the 2nd half were quality. Away from home we usually were more of a grind out a result team so that game stood out to me.

 

At home we probably bettered that but not sure we did away.

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Probably a stupid question Duncan, but are your books available for Kindle? I've given up with the printed stuff it takes up too much space and weighs too much.

 

Fraid not Hutch. The club want something tangible on a shelf plus you can't autograph a kindle!

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Pleased to see that one of the memories Rickie has shared is playing with David Connolly. Together with Rickie, I thought DC played a major role in the two promotion seasons although it was often Rickies' goals that, quite rightly caught the headlines. His description of DC as an intelligent player chimes exactly with what many of we fans saw from the terraces and it was probably that which allowed him to play on after he had been virtually written-off due to his injuries. The Connolly goal that I remember vividly was against Brighton at the Withdean. It was the year both we and Brighton were promoted from League One and was played after Brighton were already sure of being champions but the win gave us automatic promotion.

We Saints' fans were packed in a pen well behind the goal with the running track between us and the pitch. Brighton had been leading by a goal scored almost on the stroke of half-time and only about 10 mins was left when Connolly scored a sweet goal with a shot into the corner of the goal. I remember him leaping the advertising barriers behind the goal and running over to we fans to celebrate the equaliser. That broke Brighton's grip on the game and a few minutes later, Fonte scored so that we went away 2-1 winners and guaranteed of Championship football the following year.

That was an era when we almost expected Rickie to score in every game but it is typical of the man that his memories don't focus just on his own performances but also on his team-mates and that he should pick out the experience of playing alongside David Connolly.

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Thanks for sharing this - it's nice to know that the image I've always had of these guys being genuine and genuinely nice from their public personas is true in reality.

:DI've been a Saints supporter for 50 odd years and I've never felt better about the club and the direction it's heading...but I've been a Saints supporter for 50 odd years......;):)

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That 3-0 win at Fulham was brilliant, some of the best attacking play I've ever seen from us, brilliant day out.

 

Was a great day out. Nice location to watch football, friendly locals and a superb second half performance from Saints. Happy days.

 

Good to hear that there is another book from the Hagiology team on the way. So much of current football writing is really poor, but this team know how to write well. Looking forward to reading it. Just wish that they had written Matt's biography.

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Brilliant.

Its down to you Duncan, David and Gary to keep the history of Southampton Football Club alive.

I know how much time and effort you put in for the research you do after working with you with the 'Suited and Booted' publication.

With all your vast amounts of knowledge and history you a a credit to Southampton Football Club.

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A great read! Always interested to here from those with contacts at the club.

 

What exactly is Saints list? I assume some sort of email thread?

No, it was before the internet was invented. If I recall, a bloke called David Curry organised it, and we old farts used to send postcards to one another.

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That 3-0 win at Fulham was brilliant, some of the best attacking play I've ever seen from us, brilliant day out.

 

Cork made massive difference replacing Wanyama 2nd half

 

Yeah we need Fulham promoted again. Great ground and 'neutral' zone means tickets are piece of pi ss to get.

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