Ricki Lamie is thankful for his time at Airdrieonians – but memories of how his career started are put to one side with the centre-back currently in Motherwell colours.
The defender has recovered from illness to feature in Motherwell’s opening Premier Sports Group F wins over Queen’s Park and Queen of the South. He grabbed a goal and an assist in the latter, not bad for someone recovering from injury as one of two available centre-back’s, Lamie and Darragh O’Connor enjoying action-packed starts to the season.
Lamie is back in the fold.
(Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
A role as Motherwell’s model for the away kit launch beckoned too, but Lamie is hoping to focus on his football, not a career in modeling: “I wouldn’t go that far! It just sums up the standard of looks in the changing room to be honest. I had a bit of an illness which wasn’t great.
“I always keep myself in good nick to get myself raring to go. But the manager and physios have been good in building me up. I felt a bit rusty and lethargic in the Queen’s Park game but I feel really good now. If you asked any player, you would rather play 90 minutes than do runs around the pitch. I’m nearly there now fitness-wise.
“I just need more sharpness. Games thick and fast are ideal. There’s no hiding that me and Darragh O’Connor are the only two fit centre-back options. But I said to him, it’s a good chance to show what you can do. More bodies will come into the club and I’d be surprised if there’s no defenders. There’s defenders coming back to fitness here too.”
Lamie’s goal in the 3-2 comeback win over Queen of the South at Fir Park was the first time the 28-year-old had played in front of a home crowd. It may only have been 2,000, but it was a surreal experience: “It was really strange to play in front of fans.
Pinpoint 🎯@RickiLamie pic.twitter.com/7hxqG7iX3p
— Motherwell FC (@MotherwellFC) July 18, 2021
“Coming here as an away player in the last few years, it’s an atmosphere that can be quite daunting at times with the numbers. It’s has a great atmosphere and it’s a great stadium. Hopefully the numbers keep building.”
Lamie started his career at Airdrie and could help Motherwell qualify for the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup with a victory over his former side. Airdrie and Motherwell don’t meet very often, the last time being 2007, so Lamie isn’t an expert on the North Lanarkshire rivalry.
But he can feel the tension building: “We have been competing on different levels for a number of years so I haven’t really witnessed the rivalry. But I can feel it about the club. It’s been mentioned a few times and you only need to ask the fans how much it means.
“Airdrie gave me my first taste of senior football. I had a couple of loan spells and then I had a chance to play full-time with them. They were my building blocks and I have fond memories of my time there.”
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