GiveMeSport
·4 March 2022
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·4 March 2022
Everton’s Frank Lampard sent a lovely text to Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard ahead of their FA Cup fifth-round clash on Thursday night.
Garrard had revealed earlier in the week that the Chelsea legend had showed his class with a congratulatory text upon defeating Bournemouth in the previous round and subsequently drawing the Toffees.
Speaking to SunSport, the Boreham Wood boss revealed: “Lampard text me on Monday evening, the night after the Bournemouth game. Forget football, forget his career, as a person that’s class.
“It would be like me messaging a Sunday league manager. That number now won’t be going anywhere, not even my wife.”
It’s clear to see what Lampard’s text meant to the 36-year-old coach, who has managed over 300 games at the helm of the Meadow Park club having taken the job just six days after Jurgen Klopp landed at Liverpool.
And according to the Express, Lampard’s text to Garrard was briefly shown to the world during ITV Sport’s coverage of the game – and the message was just as classy as it was previously made out to be.
The text, which has also been corroborated by the Liverpool Echo, reads: “Hi Luke, Frank Lampard here. Just wanted to congratulate you on the result yesterday.
“Purely on a coach-to-coach level, I could see what it meant to you and that’s why we do the job! Some achievements from you and the lads.
“Don’t normally touch base like this before games but just wanted to say that I, and we as a club will make you all feel very welcome when you come to Goodison.
“Hopefully not too welcome when the game starts. Looking forward to seeing you. Frank.”
Frank Lampard's text to Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard after the draw was made. Absolute class 💙📲–
And although the ITV cameras could only catch a glimpse of Garrard’s reply, the very start of his message can be seen reading: “Evening Frank, really appreciate the message, can’t thank you enough.
“It most definitely meant a lot to myself and the Club these moments are few and far between at our level.”
It truly is one of those moments where the well-worn cliché that is ‘The Magic of the FA Cup’ couldn’t feel more pertinent with non-league and top-flight football coming together in a beautiful collision.
There’s just something so grounding about seeing Premier League players walking out alongside footballers who play four leagues below them, reminding everyone what the English game is really all about.
Nevertheless, in the end, Lampard’s warning that Everton won’t be too welcoming when the first whistle blows ultimately stood firm with Boreham Wood suffering a 2-0 defeat on Merseyside.
Salomon Rondon’s brace might have ensured that there wasn’t an FA Cup upset for the ages, but Garrard and Boreham Wood can hold their heads up high for having made it further in the competition than ever before.
Take a bow.