Sid Lambert was a moustached entrepreneur who served as chairman of Weatherfield Athletic football club in addition to his role of manager of Lambert Engineering. In 1965, when the club was looking to sign a new inside forward, Sid offered the position to David Barlow, overruling some of the club's other directors who wanted Ian McCormick of Partick Thistle. David had recently quit the game after getting injured, but was tempted back on the promise of two years as player coach on £35 a week.