lambie is remembered for his reaction when partick player colin mcglashan suffered a concussion; he ordered his assistant gerry collins to "tell him he's pelé and get him back on". a book of football quotes titled "tell him he's pelé" was released in 2010. he is also remembered for taming chic charnley, a player sent off 17 times in his career, whom he signed once for hamilton and three times for partick.