Richard Lee Lambert is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. Born in Fazakerley, Liverpool, Lambert began his professional career with Blackpool in 1998 and later played for Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before moving to Southampton for £1 million in August 2009. A prolific goalscorer, he is the incumbent PFA Fans' League One Player of the Year

On 10 August 2009, with a total of 155 appearances and 59 goals for Bristol Rovers, Rickie Lambert completed a move worth in excess of £1 million to recently relegated League One club Southampton. The striker scored on his debut for The Saints against Northampton Town on 11 August 2009, and has gone on to become the club's top scorer for the season with 33 in all competitions. Other notable goals scored by Lambert during the season include one against local rivals Portsmouth in the FA Cup Fifth Round South Coast derby on 13 February 2010, a hat-trick against Milton Keynes Dons in the league on 20 March 2010, and a penalty against Carlisle United in the 4–1 League Trophy Final win at Wembley on 28 March 2010.[39] Following a season in which he performed statistically similar to his last with Bristol Rovers, Lambert was again named in the PFA Team of the Year for League One, as well as winning the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award for the division.

He finished his debut season with Southampton with a total of 36 goals in all competitions, in addition to the goal he scored for Bristol Rovers in the opening match of the season. With 31 League goals, Lambert was the top scorer in all 4 divisions of the Football League for the second season in succession.

He scored his 50th goal for Southampton in a 1-0 victory over Carlisle United, on 12 February 2011.He finished the 2010-2011 season as the club's top scorer with 21 goals, as they finished 2nd in the league.