Career
Born in Bagillt, 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.
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.
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 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.
