Jack Lambert (association footballer)
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Lambert was an English
football
er.
A large and robust centre forward from Greasbrough
near Rotherham
, Yorkshire
, Lambert was turned down by Sheffield Wednesday
after a trial, so started his career playing for Rotherham County
in 1922. He soon made a move to Leeds United, but spent three years there with little success. He finally came to prominence after becoming a regular goalscorer for Doncaster Rovers
, joining the side in January 1925. Playing in Yorkshire, he had attracted the attention of Herbert Chapman
when the latter was manager of Huddersfield Town; when Chapman became Arsenal
manager, needing a quality centre-forward, he signed Lambert for £2,000 in June 1926.
Lambert made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers
at Burnden Park
on 6 September 1926, but initially struggled, scoring only once in his first season; he was forced to play understudy to Jimmy Brain
for several years. However, he got his breakthrough in 1929-30
; with the aid of playmaker Alex James
, Lambert scored 18 times in only 20 appearances, including Arsenal's second goal in their 1930 FA Cup Final
victory over Huddersfield Town, the club's first major trophy.
The following season (1930-31
) Lambert was even more successful, scoring 38 goals in just 34 games in the League, a club record at the time (which was later broken by Ted Drake
) that included a total of seven hat-trick
s; that season Arsenal won the First Division
title for the first time in their history. Lambert continued to play for Arsenal over the next few years, scoring regularly (including five goals in a 9-2 defeat of Sheffield United
, the most ever scored by an Arsenal player in a single home match); he helped Arsenal reach a third FA Cup final, a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United
in 1931-32
, and won a second First Division title in 1932-33
, scoring 14 goals in 12 league appearances.
By now Lambert was over 30 and only a bit-part player (Ernie Coleman
having led the front line through most of 1932-33), and the signing of Jimmy Dunne
in September 1933 forced Lambert out of the side; his last game came on 13 September 1933 against West Bromwich Albion
and he was sold in October 1933 to Fulham
. In all he scored 109 goals in 161 games for the Gunners, a quite high ratio, but it wasn't enough for him ever to be selected for England
.
Lambert played for two seasons for Fulham before retiring from playing in 1935. The following year he became coach of Margate
(who at the time were Arsenal's "nursery" club) and returned to Arsenal in 1938 as a coach of the club's reserve side. He died at the age of 38, killed in a car accident in Enfield
, Middlesex, on 7 December 1940.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
A large and robust centre forward from Greasbrough
Greasbrough
Greasbrough is a suburb of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England.Greasbrough has 2,038 inhabitants and of land belonging to Earl FitzWilliam. It is located two miles north of Rotherham and includes the neighbouring hamlets of Bassinthwaite, Ginhouse, Cinder Bridge, Nether Haugh, and part of...
near Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Lambert was turned down by Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
after a trial, so started his career playing for Rotherham County
Rotherham County F.C.
Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1877 as Thornhill Football Club becoming Rotherham County in 1905. It joined the Midland League in 1903, and stayed in that competition until it was abandoned for World...
in 1922. He soon made a move to Leeds United, but spent three years there with little success. He finally came to prominence after becoming a regular goalscorer for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, joining the side in January 1925. Playing in Yorkshire, he had attracted the attention of Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
when the latter was manager of Huddersfield Town; when Chapman became Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
manager, needing a quality centre-forward, he signed Lambert for £2,000 in June 1926.
Lambert made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
on 6 September 1926, but initially struggled, scoring only once in his first season; he was forced to play understudy to Jimmy Brain
Jimmy Brain
James "Jimmy" Brain was an English football player.Born in Bristol, Brain started his career playing in Wales, having an unsuccessful trial at Cardiff City, before gaining a regular place at Ton Pentre. In 1923, he moved to Arsenal, and in his eight years with the Gunners became one of the club's...
for several years. However, he got his breakthrough in 1929-30
1929-30 in English football
The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
; with the aid of playmaker Alex James
Alex James (footballer)
Alexander Wilson James was a Scottish footballer, and is most noted for his success with Arsenal, where he is regarded as one of the club's greatest players of all time. James played as an inside forward, as a supporting player for the main strikers...
, Lambert scored 18 times in only 20 appearances, including Arsenal's second goal in their 1930 FA Cup Final
1930 FA Cup Final
The 1930 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert...
victory over Huddersfield Town, the club's first major trophy.
The following season (1930-31
1930-31 in English football
The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
) Lambert was even more successful, scoring 38 goals in just 34 games in the League, a club record at the time (which was later broken by Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
) that included a total of seven hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s; that season Arsenal won the First Division
Football League First Division
The 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....
title for the first time in their history. Lambert continued to play for Arsenal over the next few years, scoring regularly (including five goals in a 9-2 defeat of Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, the most ever scored by an Arsenal player in a single home match); he helped Arsenal reach a third FA Cup final, a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in 1931-32
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, and won a second First Division title in 1932-33
1932-33 in English football
The 1932–33 season was the 58th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, scoring 14 goals in 12 league appearances.
By now Lambert was over 30 and only a bit-part player (Ernie Coleman
Ernie Coleman
Ernest "Ernie"' Coleman was an English footballer.Born in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, Coleman started his career as a youth playing for Hucknall. After being turned down by Nottingham Forest he joined Halifax Town of the Third Division North in 1927...
having led the front line through most of 1932-33), and the signing of Jimmy Dunne
Jimmy Dunne
James Dunne , commonly referred to as Jimmy Dunne, was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Southampton...
in September 1933 forced Lambert out of the side; his last game came on 13 September 1933 against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and he was sold in October 1933 to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. In all he scored 109 goals in 161 games for the Gunners, a quite high ratio, but it wasn't enough for him ever to be selected for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Lambert played for two seasons for Fulham before retiring from playing in 1935. The following year he became coach of Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
(who at the time were Arsenal's "nursery" club) and returned to Arsenal in 1938 as a coach of the club's reserve side. He died at the age of 38, killed in a car accident in Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
, Middlesex, on 7 December 1940.