Luke Chambers’ expression was filled with genuine astonishment when he was called up to the stage at the EFL Awards.
The shock changed into an expression of genuine pride and happiness. The 38-year-old grasped his big silver trophy tightly and exchanged a glance with father Les in the audience. Finally, he could feel the warmth of appreciation. Finally, he had a happy ending.
The Sir Tom Finney Award is given to players who have made a ‘great contribution to football and the Football League’. Former awardees include Adebayo Akinfenwa, Jobi McAnuff, Rickie Lambert, Kevin Davies, and Kevin Phillips.
Chambers, who has made 842 Football League appearances for Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, and Colchester United, is a worthy recipient. Over the course of 20 years, this equates to an average of 42 games per season.
He captained all four of his clubs, giving everything on and off the field. At Ipswich, he played through ailments, had academy players living in an annex of his house, and frequently played out of position. He always prioritized the we over me.
However, the distinction between his personal contributions and the underlying issues at the teams he represented was frequently unclear.
After nine seasons at Portman Road, Paul Cook dismissed him with a ‘quick and to the point’ conversation. His final game for the club was played in an empty stadium owing to Covid. Two years later, he was released by newly appointed Colchester manager Ben Garner, and his long playing career came to an end with little fanfare.
“When my phone rang in the middle of the afternoon and it was (Ipswich Town chief executive) Mark Ashton, I was like, ‘Right, I’ve got to take this, Kieran (McKenna) might want a new ball boy or something!'” said Chambers with a self-deprecating smile.
“He told me I’d been nominated for this award, so I looked into who’d received it before and what it represents…”
With the accomplishment still fresh in his mind, Chambers went on to say, “You know, I’ve never been one for personal accolades.” I simply sacrificed everything for the cause, often at the expense of myself and personal benefit, so to be recognized in the end is incredible.
“No one can question my dedication, commitment, discipline, honesty, or desire.” My footballing ability, perhaps! But it is beside the point.
“What this means for the sacrifices I’ve made since I was 16 years old, as well as the highs and lows…It’s something that will go down in history for quite some time. “When it happens to you, it’s nice.”
Chambers unexpectedly hung up his boots last summer. Another 40-plus game season would have pushed him up to fourth in English football’s all-time domestic appearances record, maybe third depending on how many games Dean Lewington played with MK Dons.Was he not tempted to set some record numbers?
“I don’t think I was ever going to catch Peter Shilton (1,005 games) was I?” he laughed.
“Look, the way (the exit) was handled at Colchester, after playing 200 games in two seasons, I thought it was enough for me. I didn’t want my career to be defined by individual choices anymore. I went out on my own terms of playing every game, still feeling well in my body, and it simply felt natural to move on to something else.
“I have my own academy, building company, and clothing/fashion brand that I started with some friends. They are all doing well.”
“I’m simply appreciating the freedom that those things give me right now because sacrificing every weekend, holiday, and Christmas since you were 16 is a lot to endure. Going back into that right immediately is not something I am prepared to do just yet.
“I’m in a really good situation right now. I carried a lot. You probably carry a lot of it with you, without even realizing it: disappointment, winning, losing, drawing, responsibility, and expectation. “It’s been great to be able to enjoy a football match instead of having to do that every weekend.”
This leads us to the extraordinary journey Ipswich Town has been on over the past 18 months.
“I’ve stayed based in sunny Suffolk, so the club doing well is only going to be good for me, my family and everyone around the area – it just brings so many people together,” he said.
“I’m impressed with the boys’ performance, the club’s management, and the improved facilities.
“It’s nice to see a man like Kieran, who I’ve met several times and know what he’s about, doing well. He’s an incredible human being. He understands how to care for others and communicate effectively. The way he conducts himself, as well as the responsibility of leading such a large football club as Ipswich Town and the institution that it represents… He represents our football club admirably.
“For me, he represents Ipswich Town now. And he must remain at the club in order to carry out the strategy devised by Mark (Ashton) and his colleagues. Long may this success continue.
“Do I think they’ll get this promotion over the line? Yeah, without a doubt.”
Having sat alongside McKenna and Ashton at the EFL Awards, is there a chance that Chambers could re-join the club in some capacity in the future?
“We’ll see,” he said. “Me and Mark have had quite a few chats over the last few months. I never expect anything from the club. I was looked after very well when I played for the club, I gave everything to the club. Since that relationship ended, a lot has happened and it’s a totally different football club.
“But I’ve always said that if there’s anything I can do with them, for them or alongside them then absolutely I will. It’s my home, it’s my club and I would still, to this day, help in any way I can.”
