Frank Lampard was born in East Ham in 1948 and aged 16 became part of the West Ham youth academy. In a long line of other players of that era he was another local lad that played over 18 seasons for the Hammers amassing 665 appearances for the club. Frank was only five when his father died so it was not an easy start to life in the East End. His fathers name was also Frank. The name of course was also passed down to Frank Lampard jnr who was a Hammers player before joining Chelsea in 2001.
Frank made his debut against Manchester City in 1967 at left back, a position he was to hold throughout his career. He was part of the West Ham sides that won the FA Cup in 1975, 1980 and the second division title in 1981. As a kid at West Ham it was Bobby Moore that took Frank under his wing. He became as close to Bobby as anyone over his time at West Ham. From the start of his career he was unchallenged at left back in the first team. However just five months into his career, against Sheffield United, and with just minutes to go in the game, he broke his leg. This was in the days when a bad break could end a players career. Frank spent many lonely days running up and down the terracing at Upton Park in an effort to regain fitness and build up muscles in his legs. It was so boring he used to play a portable radio half way up so as to cheer himself up. The determination and dedication of those days transpired to a wonderful West Ham career over the following sixteen seasons.
During his career he scored 22 goals and one of the most memorable was at Elland Road in a Cup semi final replay against Everton that took West Ham to Wembley in 1980. In extra time with just two minutes to play and the score at 1-1, he drifted into the penalty area and headed home – just what on earth he was doing there nobody knows. Just as easy to remember was his celebratory jig around the corner post after scoring. In days when goal scoring celebrations were mainly confined to jumping in the air, back slapping or the occasional hug, Frank’s jig became legendary for West Ham fans of that era. He also played in the 1976 loss to Anderlecht in the ECWC final where a rare error from him gifted the opposition the opening goal in what went on to become a 4-2 loss.
He made his England debut against Yugoslavia in 1972 but astonishingly only gained one more cap in his career. Frank was certainly one of the best left backs ever to wear the claret and blue and he played his last game for the club against Liverpool in May 1985. He moved on to Southend United where he finished his playing days under the management of Bobby Moore. In 1994 he returned to Upton Park to serve as assistant manager under his brother in law and former team mate Harry Redknapp. It was a partnership that was to last for seven years before both were surprisingly sacked. The decision led to Franks son leaving the club at his own request.