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Ex-Rovers striker's goal scoring international debut
Bristol Rovers' director and former Chairman Geoff Dunford signed Rickie Lambert from Rochdale in 2006:
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From beetroot to Wembley: The rise of Rickie Lambert
Striker Rickie Lambert scored with the first touch of his international career to give England victory over old rivals Scotland at Wembley last night, completing a fairytale journey to British football's pinnacle that began in a Merseyside beetroot factory.
We chart Lambert's rise to the top:
- Lambert is rejected by hometown club Liverpool at 15, then released by Blackpool at 18
- Unable to find a club, he takes a job putting the lids on jars of beetroot
- Lambert eventually signs for Macclesfield and later finds success in the lower leagues with Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers
- The striker's good form earns him a £1 million move to Southampton
- At the age of 29, Lambert reaches England's second tier for the first time as the Saints win promotion
- Southampton are then promoted to the Premier League at the first attempt and Lambert is a surprise package - scoring 15 goals
- He earns a call-up for England's match against Scotland, saying he is "playing it cool but really excited"
- The 31-year-old makes his debut as a 66th-minute substitute - moments later he scores with his first touch to give England a 3-2 win.
- Lambert says: "I've been dreaming of it my whole life."
Rickie Lambert debut goal leads England to win
Rickie Lambert's debut goal helped England to a hard-fought 3-2 win over Scotland at Wembley.
A resilient England side came from behind on two occasions to beat the Scots in the first game between the sides for 14 years.