It’s just a game.
This is a term we all, as passionate fans of football, hear often.
I’m a very passionate fan of Chelsea. I was there a little bit before the Abramovic and the money came along – I’ve seen highs and lows, I live and breath this club, it has been and will continue to be a cornerstone of my life – even my girlfriend is called Chelsea – I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that was a dealmaker when we met or not – and i’m sure despite this, the plastic jokes will come, but this article isn’t about the passionate rivalries between teams, so lets put that aside for a moment, along with the comparisons between players.
when we are asked to explain why we feel the way we do about football – or what makes us so passionate about “22 blokes kicking a ball about” – it’s often hard to explain.
I always feel the best way to begin is from the very start, and for me, and many other Chelsea fans and even young players aspiring to find themselves at the very top, it’s difficult to start from the beginning without mentioning a name that has become synonymous with Chelsea – Frank Lampard.
Yesterday, news broke that Frank Lampard had decided to retire from football – a decision that caught many by surprise.
Being a Chelsea fan is reason enough to feel disheartened – or more accurately, flat out upset, at this news.
But for me personally, it really is the end of something that I and many others grew up watching with awe.
As a young boy, Frank Lampard was the one player that I always idolised – an English midfielder that simply oozed class, leadership, and quality.
Both on and off the pitch, Frank Lampard was a model professional, and every interview, or meet with Frank any fan had was always described as incredible, he has been described by ex-team mates and rivals alike as a fantastic person to speak to, and a real gentleman of the game.
As a youngster, this is the type of role model you want to have, and myself and many others who went on to play the beautiful game, regardless of the level, tried to emulate the Lampard way – to no avail.
Many moments stick out when you look back on the career of Frank – the moment he broke Bobby Tamblings record to become Chelsea’s all time top goal scorer, the Champions League final in Munich – and a personal favourite of mine that to this day I feel proud to have witnessed – the penalty Frank scored against Liverpool in the Champions League, shortly after the passing of his mother – which to this day I believe is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen a player do on the pitch, especially with such emotion and pressure already on his shoulders.
These sorts of feelings did come to fruition when Frank departed from Chelsea, which was evident when he was applauded after scoring against us for Manchester City – but now that his career has drawn to a close, it truly feels like we are approaching the end of an era.
Along with the likes of Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole and John Terry, with only Terry remaining at the club now, Frank formed what became known as the old guard at Chelsea.
All of the above deserve and have received praise from people much more important than myself, but growing up, John and Frank were the epitome of Chelsea Football Club – and for myself, Frank Lampard was a hero, and a man i idolised on and off the pitch.
Speaking on the switch he made to Manchester City, Frank Lampard once said;
“Is anyone going to think I feel any less about Chelsea? I should hope the fans don’t think I feel any less about them.”
And I’m sure I speak for every Chelsea fan when I say, nothing will ever change how fans of this club feel about Frank Lampard.
Regardless of the team you support, or how you feel towards Chelsea Football Club, I fail to see a single reason any fan of the game can dislike Frank Lampard, or at the very least, not respect the man.
So congratulations Frank Lampard on an incredible career, and most of all, thank you, Super Frank, on behalf of all Chelsea fans and from myself personally, and I hope we see you back at Stamford Bridge in some capacity soon, where you belong.
It’s just a game we’re told – but thanks to our clubs, and admiration for players like Frank Lampard, it feels like much, much more.
