With thanks to Donald Nannestad

Matt Carmichael

Matt Carmichael was signed by Colin Murphy in August 1989. At the time he was planning to join the Met Police after having previously served in the British Army but Colin offered him a professional contract and his career changed track. He was initially used as a striker and scored on his debut against Scunthorpe United but later converted to centre back. He was voted the supporters player of the season in 1991-92 and made over 150 first team appearances before moving on to Scunthorpe in July 1993. Matt later played for Preston, Mansfield, Doncaster and Darlington. Matt is vice chairman of the Former Players Association.

Debut vs Scunthorpe, home 19 August 1989

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 113 appearances plus 20 as substitute, 18 goals

FA Cup: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute

Football League Cup: 9 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal

Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals

Ron Harbertson

Ron Harbertson is one of the oldest former Imps players at the age of 94 and President of the Former Players Association. Ron was a forward whose career began at Newcastle United and he went to play for clubs including Bradford City, Brighton, Grimsby and Darlington before he joined City in March 1958 when the club looked doomed to be relegated into the Third Division. However, the Imps had a dramatic change of form winning the final six games of the season to avoid the drop with Ron scoring in each of the matches. He was a regular in the City team before departing to play for Wrexham in March 1960. Ron then had a short spell with Darlington before returning to Sincil Bank for the 1961-62 season. He later played for Grantham. 

Debut vs Liverpool, away 15 March 1958

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 86 appearances, 25 goals

FA Cup: 5 appearances, 1 goal

Football League Cup: 1 appearance, 2 goals

Trevor Swinburne 

Trevor Swinburne began his long goalkeeping career as an apprentice with Sunderland in the late 1960s and finished it with the Imps 20 years later. During his time at Sunderland he was understudy to Jim Montgomery and made several first team appearances before moving on to Carlisle United in the summer of 1977. Trevor made over 250 first team appearances for Carlisle during his six years with the club and was an ever-present in their team which won promotion to the old Second Division in 1981-82. He then played for Brentford and Leeds United before signing for City in February 1986 as a replacement for Stuart Naylor. Trevor made regular appearances for the Imps until retiring in the summer of 1987. He was the first chairman of the Lincoln City Former Players Association when it was formed in 2017 and was a key figure in developing the organisation.

Debut vs Blackpool, away 25 February 1986

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 34 appearances

Football League Cup: 3 appearances 

Football League Trophy: 3 appearances

Dave Gilbert

Dave Gilbert was a left-sided midfield player who was born in Lincoln and joined the Imps as an apprentice. He made his first team debut as a 17 year old and featured regularly in the 1981-82 team which almost won promotion to what is now the Championship. He was briefly at Scunthorpe and then made over 100 appearances for Boston United before returning to the Football League with Northampton Town helping the Cobblers to the Fourth Division championship in 1986-87. He was then sold to Grimsby Town and helped the Mariners to two promotions during six seasons at Blundell Park before following manager Alan Buckley to West Bromwich Albion. He later played for local clubs including Grantham and Lincoln United.

Debut vs Bury, away 4 May 1981 (as substitute)

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 15 appearances plus 15 as substitute, 1 goal

FA Cup: 3 appearances

Football League Cup: 5 appearances

Gavin Gordon

Gavin Gordon was a striker who made his senior debut for Hull City just two months after his 16^th birthday and went on to make regular first team appearances for the Tigers before he was sold to the Imps in November 1997 when he was still just 18 years old. In his first season he helped City win promotion and was a first team regular. In 2000-01 he scored 10 goals by early December and was the sold to Cardiff City for a six-figure fee. He later played for Notts County. Gavin is chairman of the Former Players Association.

Debut vs Swansea City, away 8 November 1997

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 87 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 28 goals

FA Cup: 9 appearances, 2 goals

Football League Cup: 2 appearances, 1 goal

Other: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute