Thanks to Donald Nannestad

The FPA hosts for tomorrow’s game against Swansea City are Gavin Gordon and Dean West. The guests are Derek Bell, Simon Yeo and Trevor Swinburne.

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

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 for clubs including Boston United and King’s Lynn.

Debut vs Carlisle United, home 11 May 1991

Lincoln City Record: 

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

Derek Bell

Derek was a prolific scorer in local football netting over 200 goals in 1971-72 as a 15 year old playing in schools football and on Saturday afternoons in the Boston League and Sundays in the Lindsey and Kesteven Youth League before joining Derby County as an apprentice. He moved on to play for Halifax Town and Barnsley before he was signed by City in November scoring on his debut in a 3-0 home win over Hartlepool. Derek spent four years at Sincil Bank and continued to score regularly despite the fact that his appearances were restricted by injury. He was leading scorer in 1982-83 with 29 league and cup goals including three hat-tricks. He left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1983 and went on to play for Chesterfield and Scunthorpe.

Debut vs Hartlepool United, home 30 November 1979

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 69 appearances plus 14 as substitute, 33 goals

FA Cup: 2 appearances plus 1 as substitute

Football League Cup: 10 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 4 goalsOther: 3 appearances, 3 goals

Simon Yeo

Simon Yeo signed from non-league Hyde United in August 2002 scoring on his home debut against Rochdale and continued to be a prolific scorer throughout his time at Sincil Bank. The highlights of his career included scoring against Torquay on the final day of the 2002-03 season to secure City a place in the play-offs where he came off the bench in both semi-final legs against Scunthorpe United with dramatic effect – scoring twice in the last 20 minutes to earn the Imps a 5-3 win at Sincil Bank and then netting the winner in the second leg at Scunthorpe. He was the Supporters Player of the Year and leading scorer in 2004-05 but left in the summer to play in New Zealand. He returned in January of the following year only to depart again in the summer of 2006. Simon later played for Peterborough United,  Chester City and Macclesfield Town. 

Debut vs. Kidderminster Harriers away 10 August 2002

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 85 appearances plus 50 as substitute, 42 goals

FA Cup: 4 appearances, 1 goal

Football League Cup: 2 appearances plus 1 as substitute 2 goals  

Other: 9 appearances plus 7 as substitute, 6 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 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 past 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