LE I remember it was 2007 when I went
up to Upton Park, you were at West Ham
then and I was among 5,000 Brighton fans.
It was in the FA Cup and you came on as a
substitute. You got a great reception from
the Brighton fans and I remember that they
started singing that “…you should have
stayed with a big club” there’s always a
bit of banter going on but you seemed to
react and take it very well.
BZ Yeah of course, I know what Brighton
means to me and hopefully this season
goes well for me, Brighton’s been brilliant.
LE You mentioned Fulham but of course
you also played at QPR more recently.
You scored the goal that sent QPR back
into the Premiership and you also did the
same for West Ham in 2005 didn’t you?
So out of your whole career so far, what’s
been the best moment?
obviously at school and so it’s about just
getting home and doing homework with
them and stuff
LE Is that how you relax then, with the
family?
BZ Yeah, there aren’t enough hours in
the day to be honest. I know everyone
thinks when a footballer’s finished he’s off
home and whatever, but it’s nice because
I can go home and pick the kids up from
school. Everything’s finished by the time
you’ve done their homework. They’ve
had their bath, had their dinner. They’re off
to bed then I get an hour and a half before
I have to hit the sack.
LE It’s 50 years since England won the
World Cup and of course you played for
England. What’s your opinion of the set up
there and our chances at the Euros next
year, because at every tournament we
flatter to deceive don’t we? Everyone’s
expectations are high, so what do you
think of it now under Roy Hodgson?
BZ Too many to mention, but probably my
England debut in 2010, playing for England
is special. It was against Hungary, I came
on as a sub and it was Arsenal’s Jack
Wilshere’s first game as well, I think we
were losing at the time. I remember coming
on and doing well and Stevie G (Gerrard)
scored. And celebrating with him and
having a couple of close efforts as well.
Their keeper made a great save from a
long range effort from me and I just wished
he’d not saved it…just being there in and
amongst all those guys was brilliant
BZ Yeah Roy’s obviously done very
well. His records unbelievable…I think
his record’s you know top, top drawer
so hopefully he could do well. In terms
of the tournament, listen - football’s
evolved and there isn’t just four, five or six
powerhouses anymore. Every country has
world c lass players so it’s never gonna
be easy.
LE How did you find out you’d been
called up into the squad.
LE When you were at school, who did you
most admire, who was your hero?
BZ I think somebody just told us at the
training grounds, the doctor or physios or
someone like that because they obviously
have to be notified and everything
beforehand.
BZ Probably Maradona, he’s got to be
the one back then. In England, it has to
be Tony Cottee who was West Ham’s
goal scorer so but yeah I supported Tony
Cottee obviously there was Ian Rush and
John Aldridge that were the big names at
Liverpool.
LE You seem quite reserved and laid back,
when you were told, ‘Right Bobby you
need to warm up because you’re going to
go on…were there nerves at all?
BZ Yeah I am quite laid back. The Mrs
gets the hump with it really but I’m not
really bothered about stuff too much. I
don’t really get too nervous or anything
like that so just enjoyed it.
LE Does Mrs Zamora have a big input into
what you do in your life?
BZ Nah not really, I like to just relax
anyway. Yeah in terms of like off the
pitch I don’t really get up to much now. I
just take the dogs for a walk, go fishing.
Obviously play with the kids and so yeah
that’s about it really.
LE How old are your kids?
BZ They’re five my twin girls, so they’re
LE Over the years, formations have
changed but you used to be able to say
teams went 4-4-2, or 4-3-3. Cottee used
to partner Frank McAvennie then, who
was the best partner you played with up
front.
BZ I had a good connection with Andrew
Johnson at Fulham.
LE Yeah the old Crystal Palace player.
BZ Big man little man. Yeah, really liked
playing with Teddy Sheringham as well
at West Ham -that was brilliant. I learnt a
lot from him, what a great guy and a great
player as well. I used to play with Carlos
Tevez too so I’ve been lucky, I’ve played
with some good footballers.
LE Who’s had the biggest influence on
your career?
Bobby is bottom row second from the
left with John Terry, Ledley King, JLloyd
Samuel, Kemi Izzet and Paul Konchesky to
name a few
BZ Probably mum and dad you know
obviously grafting and taking me
everywhere at the beginning.
LE You know you see competitive dads on
the touchline now, was your dad like that?
BZ Not at all, he was just casual and laid
back
LE That’s where you got that from then!
LE People have different opinions, but
what do you think was the best goal
you’ve ever scored?
BZ It was probably for West Ham at
Birmingham. It never gets spoken about
but I remember scoring it and my team
mates going mental after the game. I
remember controlling it on my chest,
hooking it over the defender and then
cutting back inside and slotting it through
the keeper’s legs. It was unbelievable and
back then I think the game was live on Sky
as well.
For Brighton it was probably Wolves
away in the Championship (2002). It was
a big game they had just come down or
something like that. Obviously a very big
team at the time, but I remember I was
through on goal and chipped over the
‘keeper from the edge of the penalty area
LE What’s your biggest regret then?
BZ Not winning the FA Cup Final with
West Ham that we should have done in
2006 I had my penalty saved in the shoot
out?
LE What would you be doing if you
weren’t a footballer?
BZ I haven’t got a clue
LE You’d be a fisherman perhaps?!
BZ Yeah funny. Wouldn’t get much of a
living out of that one!
Interview by Laurence Elphick
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