A fan’s letter to Roman Abramovich on Frank Lampard

Roman, sir, should I call you sir? I feel like I should; anyway, I’m just the average Chelsea fanatic who wants to talk to you about Frank Lampard. Our own, now record all-time top scorer of Chelsea, Super Frank.

As you know, Frank Lampard is out of a contract at the end of this season. I’m presuming that the board is refusing to give him a contract as he has become old, and, of late, has lost his legs a little. Now I know interfering with contracts is not something you take particular interest in, but I’m genuinely surprised that our beloved owner has done nothing to keep our most adored hero at the club we love!

Frank Lampard may not be the midfield maestro he was 6 years ago; but to ignore his service to the club and the fans to such an extent that we don’t give him a contract extension when he gets old seems harsh, doesn’t it? Agreed that the club is bigger than the individual, but then hasn’t this individual been the backbone of the club in the decade that he has been here? What is it that Frank isn’t providing on the pitch that he is being let go? He is and has always been fantastic at reading the game; he is an option to release pressure from the team when the opposition defence are doing a particularly good job around the box, and he also has adapted his game to play a less attacking role so that the club can use the more technical players like Mata up ahead. He has always given everything he can for the club at every possible opportunity, and all that he asks in return is that the club lets him continue serving them. In our win against Aston Villa, Lampard showed the character and determination that only he can, as he pulled us back from a lost game and scored 2 goals to lead us to a decisive victory. The team needed to win in order to play Champions League football – the one thing you consider most important.

Every time the club genuinely needed a top-class performance from him, he has pulled a beauty out of his hat. His 203 goals just enhance the importance of this man to our midfield. I know I speak for all of us not-so-important, yet never insignificant, fans that Chelsea will just not be the same without Lampard scoring the occasional screamers; and in some cases, doing a striker’s job better than the striker himself. A Chelsea season will not feel the same without watching Frank score goal after goal and run towards us fans pointing to the heavens. How unfortunate it would be to not sing ‘Super Frank Lampard’ every other week and see him kiss that badge. Fans cannot help but feel confident whenever he plays an important game, and how he always repays our love and faith with a sterling performance. After so many years of unwavering service to our club, it would be devastating for the fans to see him play for another club, especially a Premier League rival. I know that he, along with the fans, wants to hang up his boots on his terms and at the club he loves the most. We just hope our board will give him that opportunity and the respect he deserves for being Chelsea’s hero.

Frank is a legend in every sense of the word. At a time when he is being hailed as the greatest player to have ever worn the blue jersey, he seems to be on the cusp of leaving the club. Everything he brings to the table – from the composure his presence creates, to the confidence he instils in the players – will be suddenly gone. This is a man with a lion heart and he pours it all out on the pitch every time he strides out onto that green patch of grass. Knowing the love and affection that you have for the club, I cannot believe that you will not miss him too. I think I speak for every Chelsea fan in the world when I say we don’t want a Falcao or Lewandowski, or even a Ronaldo this summer. The best signing our club could make in the coming summer would definitely be Super Frankie Lampard.