Frank Lampard will never forget the day he was singled out at a West Ham fans' forum and told he was only at the club because his dad was assistant manager.
Lampard is expected to become the eighth England player to reach 100 caps in the crucial World Cup qualifier with Ukraine in Kiev.
It will be another milestone in a magnificent career that has seen the 35-year-old win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and captain Chelsea to glory in both the Champions League and Europa League.
The doubts expressed so early in his career have all been answered.
But Lampard has never forgotten them, especially one particular afternoon when he accompanied then manager Harry Redknapp to a fans' forum in Romford and found himself the subject of a pointed attack from the relative of a player who had just been released.
"I'll never forget it," said Lampard.
"Everyone has their opinions. He voiced them at a young kid. I thought that was wrong.
"I know exactly who it was but there are no individual gripes.
"He's probably quite tough anyway being from east London.
"But some people do forget it was tough, or they try to change history and say it wasn't like that.
Source: PA
