With thanks to Donald Nannestad

The FPA hosts for tomorrow’s game against Blackburn Rovers is Matt Carmichael. The guests are Terry Cooper, Paul Mayo and John Schofield

Their details are here:

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

Terry Cooper

Terry Cooper initially signed for City in December 1971 on loan from Notts County. He went back to Meadow Lane after making three appearances for the Imps but in the summer of 1972 he made a permanent move to Sincil Bank. Terry, who started out playing in midfield, switched to centre-back with great success and went on to play almost 300 first team games for City. He was a key member of the 1975-76 team which won the Division Four championship and was twice voted Player of the Season by the supporters. Terry left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1979 and later played for Bradford City and Rochdale.

Debut vs Stockport County home 18 December 1971

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 268 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 12 goals

FA Cup: 15 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal

Football League Cup: 13 appearances

Paul Mayo 

Paul Mayo is a local lad who was initially on the books of Nottingham Forest before signing for the Imps in the 1999-2000. Although he mainly appeared at left-back, wearing the number 46 shirt in his first season, he was also occasionally used both in midfield and in the forward line. He played in the 2003 play-off final against Bournemouth at the Millennium Stadium and continued to appear regularly until March 2004 when he was sold to Watford, then in the Championship.. Paul later returned to Sincil Bank for two more seasons with the Imps and finished his senior career with spells at Notts County and Mansfield Town. In total he made almost 200 first team appearances for City. 

Debut vs Swansea City, away, 4 February 2000

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 145 appearances plus 23 as substitute, 10 goals

FA Cup: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals

Football League Cup: 5 appearances plus 1 as substitute

Other: 10 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 2 goals

John Schofield

John Schofield was a midfielder who as well as playing for the Imps went on to manage the youth team later serving as first team head coach. John signed from Gainsborough Trinity in November 1988 making his Football League debut a few days later in a 4-1 win at Burnley. He remained a regular in the team and in 1993-94 captained the Imps and was voted Player of the Season by the supporters.  He moved on to Doncaster Rovers in November 1994 and later played for Mansfield and Hull City making a total of almost 500 senior appearances in his career. He returned to Lincoln in 2000 as head of youth development and made a few more appearances for the first team then in the summer of 2006 John became head coach/manager. He took the team to the play-offs in his first season in charge but results did not go well at the start of the following season and he left Sincil Bank. John later coached at several Football League clubs and since July 2021 has been manager of the Northern Ireland Under 21 team.

Debut vs Burnley away 8 November 1988

Lincoln City Record:

Football League:  234 appearances + 16 as substitute, 11 goals

FA Cup: 7 appearances plus 2 as substitute

Football League Cup: 15 appearances, 4 goals

Other: 17 appearances + 2 as substitute, 1 goal