News

Brian Baldam of L&DFSC Passes – A Tribute

The Red Imps Community Trust is saddened to hear of the passing of Brian Baldam.
Brian spent many years with the Lincoln and District Football Supporters Club and played a significant role in their fundraising initiatives that over the years raised over £1.6m for Lincoln City FC.
Formed in 1954 Lincoln and District Football Supporters Club arranged a variety of activities most prominently their bingo nights. Brian took on an organisational role in 1965 which he carried out admirably for all of 50 years before retiring.
More recently Brian’s organisation became linked with our Trust collaborating to run the ballots to decide the annual Lincoln City Player and Young Player of the Season awards.
Brian’s son Chris is a valued member of the Red Imps Community Trust board and we send our very best wishes to Chris and all the family on their sad loss.

Are you interested in joining Trust’s Digital Comms Team?

Red Imps Community Trust’s mission is to support (i) the club, (ii) the fans and (iii) the community. To make it easier to achieve that mission, we adopted a new structure last year. Members are now elected with leadership responsibility for each of those three key tasks. Leaders are also elected with responsibility for relationships with external organisations, such as the Football Supporters’ Association, which has been identified as a fourth crucial role. Volunteers (including a Communications Team) assist the various leaders’ projects.

Thanks to the leaders’ enthusiastic embrace of their new roles, a huge amount of positive work is going on. We are a thriving, dynamic organisation, providing valuable services. It’s imperative that news of our activities should be shared as widely as possible. Readers of the Lincolnshire Echo can still learn about Trust activities through a regular column in that traditional newspaper. Nowadays, however, most of the Trust’s communications with our 6,500+ members are in digital form, via our social media channels, e-mailshots and website.

We are looking to expand the team of volunteers running our digital communications operations. Can we improve the content of the messages that we generate? Can we use better the evolving technology available to convey those messages? If you are interested in helping us out, please email Rob Bradley at rgbradley50@hotmail.com or pop over for a chat at the Trust Pod in the Fan Village before any home match. All required support and training will be provided by our existing Comms Team members.

Wellbeing Walks

Please click here for details of another initiative from our permanent charity partner, Lincoln City Foundation: wellbeing walks, which could be a good option for those looking to increase their activity in the New Year!

December Trust Board Notes now available

Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in December

An Evening with Graham Bressington & John Schofield

The Lincoln City Former Players Association and The Stacey West are delighted to announce an exciting event, An Evening With Graham Bressington and John Schofield.

The event is to be held on January 24th at Tension Twisted Realities on Croft Street in Lincoln. Doors are at 6:45 pm, with a scheduled 7:15 pm start. The venue closes at 10:30pm, the former players will have a meet, greet and drink, to cap the night off nicely.

Hosted by Gary Hutchinson and Paul De Garis, the event is a continuation of their podcast series, but it won’t be recorded, so the only way to be there is to grab tickets. They’ll be on sale through the Tension Twisted Realities website, with details to follow. You will need to be quick – the venue has a cosy capacity of around 60 people, and with such top guests, it is expected to sell out quickly.

Also, in the build-up to the evening, there will be a raffle with prizes such as a framed signed Imps shirt and a special gin box for grabs. Profit from the raffle will be split equally between the FPA and Gary Hutchinson’s London Marathon fundraiser in aid of the Lincoln City Foundation. 

Tickets are priced at an unbelievable £7.50, and will go on sale shortly. Make sure you follow The Stacey West and the FPA on Twitter, Facebook or wherever else you can to ensure you don’t miss out.

If you wish to book you can do from this link:

Please note that Tension Twisted Realities is not accessible for wheelchair users.

FPA Guests V Stevenage

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 goalOther: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals
Jimmy WalkerJimmy Walker was a goalkeeper who  made over 500 first team appearances for Walsall interspersed with spells at West Ham and Tottenham. He then moved into coaching initially at Peterborough United and then Gillingham before joining the staff at Lincoln in the summer of 2016. He was included in the matchday squad as substitute goalkeeper on several occasions in the phenomenally successful 2016-17 season when City won the National League and reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup. He was at Sincil Bank for a further season before coaching at Sunderland and then at Ipswich. Jimmy is a match summariser for BBC Radio Lincolnshire at Imps games.
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 and covers Imps games as a match summariser for BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

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

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 and then played for Brentford and Leeds United before signing for City in February 1986. 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
Ron Harbertson

Ron Harbertson is one of the oldest former Imps players having recently celebrated his 95th birthday 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

Dean West

Dean West made his debut for City in the final game of the 1990-91 season while still a trainee and scored in a 6-2 home win over Carlisle. Soon afterwards he signed a professional contract and quickly established himself in the first team appearing at right back and in midfield making over 100 appearances for the Imps. Dean moved to Bury in September 1995 and later played for Burnley completing over 100 first team appearances for both Lancashire clubs. He briefly returned to City as the start of 2004-05 season and later played clubs including Boston United and King’s Lynn.

Lincoln City Record

Debut vs Carlisle United home 11 May 1991

Football League: 97 appearances plus 26 as substitute, 20 goals

FA Cup: 6 appearances, 1 goal

Football League Cup: 11 appearances, 1 goal

Other: 5 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 1 goal

Trust Board Salutes Rob

After the Red Imps Community Trust chair Rob Bradley was rewarded freedom of the City of Lincoln last week, the Trust themselves honoured his work yesterday before the Reading game.

FPA Guests v Reading

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

November Trust Board Notes now available

Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in November

Freedom of The City of Lincoln Honour for Rob

Rob Bradley, chair of the Red Imps Community Trust, will receive the Freedom of the City of Lincoln award at a ceremony at Lincoln Guildhall on Tuesday 17^th December.

This is to recognise his involvement in sport in Lincoln and Lincolnshire which incudes many years with our Trust, two periods representing the Trust on the board of Lincoln City Football Club, ten years as chair of Lincolnshire Cricket, five years as vice-chair of Supporters Direct, three years as chair of Lincoln United FC, a year as vice chair of Lincoln City Women FC, and other sporting and community roles.