The venue is a Fans [bad word] in East London back in 1996. Frank Lampard was just 18 years old. Harry Redknapp was his manager at West Ham United. And the Hammers boss was adamant that Frank would go to the very top when a [bad word] fan told him Lampard was not as good at Scott Canham or Matt Holland.

"I did not want to say this in front of him. But he will go right to the very top. Right to the very top," insisted Redknapp.

"There ain't no doubt about that in my opinion. Because he's got everything that's needed to [bad word] a top class midfield player. His attitude is first class. he's got strength. He can play. he can pass it. And he can score goals."

When challenged by the fan who criticised him for letting Scot Canham and Matt Holland leave the club, Harry repeated his conviction when he said: "I'm telling you I couldn't feel more strong how I feel about him."

While Lampard looked on embarrassed by the criticism, chief executive Peter Storrie weighed in to support his manager saying: "It's not just Harry's opinion. I don't know if many of you knew but during the European champions in the summer England decided to take several young players from all over the country to various training sessions. When terry Venables came to the ground to speak to Harry and I not too long ago, he said there were two outstanding youngsters of all the ones he had. That was Frank and Rio (Ferdinand). "