Wednesday 12th January, 2005
Eyes on West Ham’s Bobby Zamora
Matter of time
©2003-2004 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited
This is the man being sought by national football coach Bertille St Clair to help take T&T to its first World Cup in Germany 2006.
English-born Bobby Zamora has such an interesting profile that he could wear the “Soca Warrior” shirt once he accepts citizenship.
Over the past four years the footballer, who at age 15, was said to be too short to be a professional had been on the watch list of several top English Premiership clubs.
Zamora has been eyed by T&T since 2001, being approached by then coach Ian Porterfield to join a training camp. However, an injury got the better of him and he had to turn down the offer.
Although presently at West Ham United, Zamora was linked with a loan move two months ago to Cardiff City, who was said to be keen to take him to Ninian Park on a permanent basis.
Zamora has superb abilities as a goalscorer and with T&T going through a drought in this department, St Clair is eager to have the talented striker join the squad for the upcoming final qualification round of the World Cup which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 9) against the United States at Queen’s Park Oval.
In addition to having an unerring shot, Zamore has blossomed into a big lad who is strong on the ball, mobile and good in the air.
Something that is overlooked is his movement off the ball, which makes him an outlet from defence and also creates space for others.
A couple weeks ago, the English Under-21 player sat down in talks with St Clair in London and it could be only a matter of time before fans see what the striker has to offer up front for the “Soca Warriors”.
Ironically, Zamore began his career at the tender age of 11 at West Ham.
The player, whose father is Trinidadian, had been a hit for English First Division side Brighton as he scored 34 goals in 49 league appearances at the end of the 2000/2001 season.
Prior to that, he had also enjoyed an impressive record with Bristol Rovers.
Zamora spent four years at West Ham from the age of 11 until 14, having signed from Sunday side Senrab along with John Terry (Chelsea), Lloyd Samuel (Aston Villa), Paul Konchesky (Charlton) and West Ham products Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.
He left the “Hammers” after a falling out with the coaches and spent a brief spell with Chelsea before joining the Canaries. He was released at the age of 15 for being too short to become a professional. Southend offered him a traineeship but he rejected it, chosing to move to Bristol Rovers as it meant living away from home.
Zamora made his mark during loan spells to Bath and Brighton, the latter destination seeing six goals in six league appearances.
As he had not scored in his four appearances for Rovers, they were happy to sell him to Brighton in the summer of 2000 for £100,000. His impressive scoring record continued with 34 goals in 49 league appearances as of the end of the 2000/01 season.
Celtic, Ipswich, Southampton, Monaco and Newcastle were all said to be watching this young talent although only ambitious Cardiff City had made a formal offer of £1.2million.
Cardiff manager Alan Cork was told to up his bid to £2million. Birmingham City entered the race for his signature in February 2001 soon after he was approached to play for T&T.
At the same time, the Wigan manager Bruce Rioch had a £1.5million bid rejected by Brighton. At the end of February 2001, Middlesboro became the latest side to be linked with the young South Coast hotshot whilst Bolton were linked in a £1.5million move in mid-March. His 28 goals by April 28 were instrumental in leading Brighton out of Division Three and into Division Two at the end of the 2000/01 season.
In May 2001, Charlton, Southampton and Wimbledon were all linked with signing Zamora with Southampton the favourites if they appoint Brighton boss Micky Adams as their new supremo. In June 2001, both Portsmouth and Crystal Palace enquiried about signing Zamora but were told firmly by Brighton that they would only sell to a big club.
A month later, Cardiff allegedly offered the requested £2million. Towards the end of August, Southampton were alleged to have returned with a £3million bid whilst The Sunday People claimed on August 26 that Kevin Keegan's Manchester City were preparing a £2million swoop. Whilst these were little more than tabloid speculation, it was confirmed that Southampton had made a £1.75million bid for Zamore at the end of August. The Manchester City link resurfaced at the start of October — possibly as a kickstart to their stuttering season.
In the same month, Brighton manager Micky Adams quit to become assistant to Dave Bassett at struggling Premiership side Leicester. It was highly expected that Bassett and Adams' first move would be to sign Zamora, possibly to replace Ade Akinbiyi. It was also reported that Everton were preparing a £2million bid for Zamora whilst other reports linked him with Spurs.
The following weekend saw West Ham linked with a £3million swoop. On December 29, the media linked him with a £3.5million move to Middlesbrough that was rejected by Albion. Everton were the next side to be regularly linked with Zamora. In January 2002, it was speculated that Everton boss Walter Smith was preparing a £3million move but after watching Bobby's below-par performance for Brighton at Preston in the FA Cup, this was reduced to £1.5million plus add-ons.
Brighton was said to be uninterested, possibly because the media began linking West Ham with a £4million swoop. The next side to show an interest was Crystal Palace who was said to be deliberating between him, Stern John (Nottingham Forest) or Ade Akinbiyi (Leicester) before they swooped for the latter.
His goals led Brighton to the Division Two title and he was selected for the PFA Division Two representative side.
Speculation linking Zamora with a move to White Hart Lane resurfaced at the beginning of August that year with him saying to be disillusioned with the lack of ambition shown by the Seagulls. In November, transfer speculation resurfaced with Middlesborough, Southampton and Spurs all linked with a £3m move for the promising young striker.
After a period of quiet, rumours began circulating in March 2003 that Spurs' major summer signing would be Zamora for £4million. And, at the end of the month, speculation was rife that Leicester would approach Brighton to sign Andy for £3million if Leicester were promoted to the Premiership.
Just over a month later and the speculation switched back to Spurs with Tottenham alleged by the Evening Standard to be signing Zamora and West Brom's Jason Roberts to form a new striking partnership to replace Terry Sherringham and Sergei Rebrov.
The Spurs speculation finally became fact on July 18 when Bobby joined the White Hart Lane side for £1.5million.
"I'm overjoyed. It has taken a long time but now I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premiership,” said Zamora.
"I know it will be different but it is up to me to learn and work hard and hope I get games." Glenn Hoddle, who made the signing, added: "I like his movement. He is a clever player. He has a few strings to his bow and he's shown what a talent he's got to be able to take on different roles and produce the goods.”
His first appearance in a Spurs shirt came two days later against Oxford in which he scored. He then scored again in the 3-0 defeat of Norwich on July 22. On October 29, he went on to score the lone winner against West Ham, the team he would join some months later.
Zamora found it hard to settle at Spurs and in January 2004, it was suggested that he might join West Ham, possibly as part of a deal that would take Jermaine Defoe to White Hart Lane. This materialised on the last day that the transfer window was open (February 2) with Zamora rejoining his former club.
