'I got lift home with England icon after my West Ham debut and Frank Lampard gave me beers'

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Alan Curbishley got a lift home with Bobby Moore and was rewarded with a case of lager after his West Ham debut. The former manager made a name for himself in the top-flight with the Hammers and Charlton Athletic.

Curbishley is best known for his time in the dugout, but before he carved out a career that once saw him interviewed for the England job , he played in midfield for clubs such as Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Brighton .

It was at Upton Park where Curbishley got his big break as a player when he was handed his West Ham debut as a teenager in 1975. The 68-year-old recalled his unexpected first start, including his ride home with late England icon Moore as well as his reward from Frank Lampard's legendary father.

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"When I played my first game for West Ham, I went there on the tube," said Curbishley, speaking on In The Mixer , brought to you by Sky Bet.

"I walked down to the ground. I didn't know I was playing. I was just pulled out of the youth team and turned up to watch the first team. So I turned up and then ended up starting.

"They had all the boots and that. Then after the game I'm thinking, 'How am I gonna get home? I've got to get on the tube again or the bus.' But Frank Lampard Senior offered to take me home.

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"He said, 'Wait for me in the players' bar and I'll drive you home afterwards.' I didn't even know where the players' bar was," Curbishley continued.

"So I've gone into the players' bar, and suddenly Bobby Moore was standing there. He was going out for a drink with Frank afterwards. He came to watch the game.

"They took me home and Frank drove me to my house in Canning Town. I've got Bobby Moore in the front and I'm sitting in the back. I was seventeen and I'd just played my first game!

"Frank said to me, 'What are you gonna do tonight?' I went, 'Match of the Day.' Because I knew I would be on Match of the Day. He said, 'Hold on.' He went to his boot and he got out a case of Skol lager and he gave me it.

"He said, 'Have a drink tonight, because you've done well today.' I went, 'Alright, great.' So he handed me this case of Skol and that was my West Ham debut."

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