Rickie Lambert keen to prove he's not just a star-struck fan after dream move to Liverpool

RICKIE LAMBERT is done talking about his so-called fairytale story - now he wants to prove he is a Liverpool player and not just a fan in a shirt.

Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers, andre wisdom, rickie lambert, southampton, emre can, adam lallana, liverpool transfer news, transfer news, news, transfers, football, sport, anfield, anfield wrap, the kop, kop, red, luis suarez, rickie lambert, rafa benitez, FAIRYTALE: Lambert is living his life-long dream having signed for Liverpool this summer [GETTY]

The boyhood red has had a football career suitable for a Hollywood film script, but he is only interested in writing his own Anfield tale now.

Lambert, 32, was let go by the Reds when he was 15, but then carved out a living in the lower leagues before making it to the Premier League with Southampton.

An England cap followed for the former beetroot factory worker before his dream move became a reality earlier this summer - just before he jetted out to the World Cup in Brazil.

Lambert admits it was hard to believe at first that the club he adores were ready to pay £4m for his signature 17 years after being let go and told his agent to "get lost" when was first told of their interest.


Rickie Lambert

When the deal went through it brought obvious talk of fairytales, but the striker wants to show that being a fan of the club had little to do with Kop boss Brendan Rodgers chasing his signature.

He is ready to prove that as Liverpool continue their pre-season in Boston and show he's more bothered about results on the pitch than his own personal journey.

He said: "It's a good story, but I think the time has gone past that now.

"The first game of the season is coming [against former club Southampton], and believe me when I say that is all I am focusing on.



"But it was the simple fact that Brendan thought I was good enough to be a Liverpool player.

"It had no sentiment in it. Football has no place for sentimental things.

"As soon as you hold on to sentimental things it gets knocked out of you straight away. It's about what I do on the pitch, it's as simple as that and I'm happy with that.

"I have to get picked, progress with the club and impress the manager. That's what matters.

"Obviously when I look back over my career I'll never forget my time at all my clubs who mean a lot to me, but I'm thinking about what I do from now."

While Lambert is keen to look forward, he did offer a brief glimpse back at the day he was told by former Liverpool academy director Steve Heighway that his time at the club was over.

A brutal moment for a teenager who loved the club and had travelled down to Wembley to watch them in the 1996 FA Cup final just a year earlier.

But there have been no grudges held.

He said: "I obviously had that resentment towards the man who let me go, but it was never towards the club.

"I had total respect for Steve Heighway and I still do. It was his decision.

"But I always want to prove people wrong who have let me go in the past. That has driven me on."

Lambert, who got to know a number of his new team-mates at the World Cup with England, will face strong competition from international team-mate Daniel Sturridge.

And with Loic Remy expected to finalise his move to Anfield soon, it won't be easy to get a starting spot next season.

But the local boy will not be banging down Rodgers' door if he does not find himself in the team every week.

He added: "I'm 32, so the days of just being happy when I'm playing have gone. I'm looking at the bigger picture.

"It's whatever is best for the club. Of course I don't want to be on the bench and not play games, but as long as I can see the manager appreciates me and my ability then I'm happy to do whatever."