News

FPA Guests against Stevenage

Thanks to Donald Nannestad

John Kennedy
John Kennedy made over 250 appearances in goal for City after signing for the Imps in July 1967. John’s career began in his native Northern Ireland with the Distillery club. During his time there he played for the Northern Ireland and Great Britain amateur international teams and for the Irish League representative team. In 1965 he signed for Celtic where he played most of his football in the reserves before moving to Sincil Bank in the summer of 1967. He was first choice goalkeeper throughout his seven seasons with City and along with his fellow guests George and Roger he was a member of the team which reached the fourth round of the League Cup in 1967-68 a feat never since bettered. He was the first player to win the Player of the Season award when it started in 1969-70. John was one of the last part-time players to feature regularly for the Imps combining his football career with teaching and training during his lunch break. John left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1974 and had a couple of seasons with Lincoln United who then played in the Yorkshire League. In his first season with United the club reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase with John in goal and a young Phil Neale playing at centre forward. He is involved with our Former Players Association as a committee member.

Debut vs Aldershot, home 19 August 1967

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 251 appearances

FA Cup: 10 appearances

Football League Cup: 16 appearances

Other: 1 appearance

Phil Neale
Phil Neale was a member of the Imps hugely successful 1975-76 team and went on to make over 350 first team appearances during his 11 seasons with the Imps. Phil was first signed as an amateur while he was studying at Leeds University making his first team debut in January 1975. He signed professional forms for City later the same year and from then onwards he was a regularly in the first team defence before leaving Sincil Bank in May 1985. Phil combined his football with a career as a cricketer. He briefly played for Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship before joining Worcestershire. He made over 350 first class appearances scoring over 17,000 runs for Worcestershire and twice captained the team to the County Championship. He was team manager of Northamptonshire and then Warwickshire before being the England team operations manager for 21 years until his retirement. He was awarded the OBE in 2006 for services to cricket.

Debut vs Swindon Town, away (FA Cup), 4 January 1975 as substitute

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 327 appearances plus 8 as substitute, 22 goals

FA Cup: 16 appearances plus 2 as substitute

Football League Cup: 11 appearances plus 1 as substitute

Other Games: 4 appearances

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 is a member of the Former Players Association committee and was the Association’s first chairman when it was formed in 2017.

Debut vs Blackpool, away 25 February 1986
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 34 appearances
Football League Cup: 3 appearances 
Football League Trophy: 3 appearances

Foundation seeks sessional/casual staff

Lincoln City Foundation, the permanent charity partner of Red Imps Community Trust, is recruiting sessional/casual staff to support some of its community delivery. Further information can be found on its website. Paid roles currently available include:-

• Out of Schools Manager (maternity cover)
• Facility Supervisor
• Playworker
• Sessional Youth Mentor
• Events Assistant
• Community Sports Coach
• Football Development Coach
• Elite Development Pathway Coaches and Leaders

There are also vacancies for volunteers, including as Poacher/Poacher’s Assistant. You can also email enquiries@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk about limited work experience opportunities.

September Trust Board Notes available

Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in September 2025.

FPA Guests v Exeter City

With thanks to Donald Nannestad

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

Lee Beevers

Lee Beevers was a defender who played for Ipswich Town and Boston United before joining the Imps in February 2005. His first appearances were as a substitute and he came off the bench in extra-time in the play-off Final against Southend United. Lee established himself as a first team regular the following season and went on to be voted Supporters Player of the Season in 2006-07. During his time with City, he made six appearances for the Wales Under 21 team. Lee moved on in the summer of 2009 and went on to play for Colchester United, Walsall and Mansfield Town before coming back to Sincil Bank in the summer of 2015-16. He was a near ever-present until suffering an injury early in the following season which led to his retirement from playing.

Debut vs Leyton Orient, away 22 February 2005 as substitute

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 154 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 9 goals

FA Cup: 10 appearances

Football League Cup: 4 appearances, 2 goals

National League: 57 appearances plus 2 as substitute

Other: 8 appearances plus 2 as substitute

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 Lincoln 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 the Former Players Association vice-chairman.

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

John Hawley 

John Hawley was a young professional with Lincoln City in the 1960s. He mainly appeared as a winger playing for the reserves in the North Midlands League and the A team in the Lincolnshire League and also played in the FA Youth Cup for the Imps. John moved on in the summer of 1968 and signed for Corby Town. He later played for several local clubs including Boston United, Worksop Town and Claytons.

Andy Ottewell

Andy Ottewell was an apprentice at Sincil Bank between 1971 and 1973 appearing as a striker for the reserves and youth team. He went on to play in the Lincolnshire League for teams including Ruston Sports as well as playing local Sunday League football.

Steve Garfoot

Steve Garfoot was a youth team player for the Imps appearing both for the Under 18s and the reserve team as an attacking player in the early 2000s. He later moved on to play for Bourne Town and continues to live locally. 

Steve played for the FPA team on several occasions and is a member of the Committee. 

Player of the Month for September Vote NOW!

Extra Venue for Seated Chair Exercise Classes

Anyone who would like to exercise while seated in a chair can do so at classes arranged by our permanent charity partner, Lincoln City Foundation. A new venue is now in use at Nettleham, in addition to the previous venues at the LNER Stadium and at Moorland Community Centre.

Please click here for further details.

Programme Fair Coming to Lincoln

A Lincolnshire Football Programme Fair is coming to the Ruston Sports and Social Club on Sunday 19 October between 10.45 and 2pm, with admission just £1.

For more information contact Steve Harding on 01733 760369 or email Steven.harding50@ntlworld.com – Football Programme Collections Wanted!

Ruston Sports and Social Club, Newark Road, Lincoln, LN6 8RN

FPA Guests V Chelsea

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

Chris Moyses

Chris Moyses was a full-back who made his first senior appearances for City as a 16 year old when he played in three Football  League Trophy games in August 1982. Chris, who was born and bred in Lincoln,  initially joined the Imps under the Youth Opportunities Programme and progressed to becoming an apprentice and then signed as a professional. He made his Football League debut at Millwall in May 1984 and featured in the following three games only to be released at the end of that season. Chris went on to play for Halifax and was later at clubs including Grantham, Spalding, King’s Lynn and Bourne. He returned to the Imps in May 2011 when he became involved in the youth team. In November 2014 Chris became caretaker manager and the following month took over as manager. He began the rebuilding of the team before leaving his role in May 2016 having signed several of the players who earned promotion back to the Football League the following season.

Debut vs Scunthorpe United (Football League Trophy) , away 14 August 1982 

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 2 appearances plus 2 as substitute

Football League Trophy: 3 appearances

Tony Cunningham

Tony Cunningham was a powerful striker who was brought to Lincoln by Colin Murphy from non-league club Stourbridge in May 1979. He made an instant impact on his debut in a League Cup tie against Barnsley and marked his first City game with a goal. Tony remained a regular first team player during his three full seasons at Sincil Bank and finished as leading scorer with 15 league and cup goals in 1981-82 when the Imps narrowly missed out on promotion to second tier football. He was sold to Barnsley in September 1982 and and made 40 League appearances for the Reds scoring 11 goals before joining Sheffield Wednesday in November 1983. Tony later played for clubs including Manchester City and Newcastle United making a total of almost 500 senior appearances before ending his career with Wycombe Wanderers. One of his sons Karl later also played for the Imps. 

Debut vs Barnsley, home (Football League Cup) 11 August 1979

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 111 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 32 goals

FA Cup: 5 appearances plus 1 as substitute

Football League Cup: 13 appearances, 8 goals

Other Games: 6 appearances, 2 goals

Winner of Cathedral Competition

Out of just shy of 100 entries in our Cathedral Exhibition Activity Sheet competition we had six joint winners who got all the questions spot on and forecast correctly that the Imps would be in 7^th place when the exhibition came to a close.

Georgie Clews, aged 10, of Leicestershire was the winner drawn out of the Trust bucket hat and wins a £50 voucher for Waterstones. Well done young lady! Georgia was delighted to hear the news and has never won anything before so we hope she enjoys spending her prize.

As a bonus we sent her an Imps pin badge too and you never know we might have gained a new fan of the mighty Imps.

Thank you to everyone who entered and of course everyone who visited the exhibition in the Chapter House over August. It was a blast!