New at the Pod
After assessing interest, the red metal 100mm diameter Imp plaques are under construction and will be available at the Stockport home fixture at the Red Imps Community Trust pod and future home games.
Prototype and other bits shown – finished products will have red powder coating.
We also have a few original Trust pin badges too if you’re quick!
City Boss on Lincoln’s Community Radio Station
Head Coach Michael Skubala was a guest on the Sportzone show on LCR 103.6 recently and you can listen again to his 2 hour interview with Alan Long and Tony Smith below.
FPA Guests v Blackpool
Thanks to Donald Nannestad
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon was a striker who made his senior debut for Hull City just two months after his 16th 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
Mark Hone
Mark was a midfield player who signed for the Imps from Southend United in the summer of 1996 making his first team debut when he came on as a substitute at Torquay United on the opening day of the season. Mark made 53 Football League appearances with a further 13 appearances in cup games during his two seasons at Sincil Bank. He scored a total of four league and cup goals. In his first season Mark appeared in both legs of the Football League Cup second round tie against Manchester City when City won 4-1 at Sincil Bank and 1-0 at Maine Road – two games which will long live in the memories of those Imps fans who were there. Mark was also a regular the following season when City which won promotion to third tier football. He left the club in the summer of 1998 and later played for Kettering Town, Welling United, Lincoln United and Spalding United. His son Danny also played for City making them among the few father and sons to have both appeared for the club in the Football League.
Debut vs Torquay United, away 17 August 1996 as substitute
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 48 appearances + 5 appearances as substitute, 2 goals
FA Cup: 4 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 7 appearances + 1 appearance as substitute, 1 goal
Football League Trophy: 1 appearance, 0 goals
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, Newcastle United and Blackpool 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
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 substituteFootball League Cup: 9 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal
Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals
Daniel Kerley
Daniel Kerley is a former youth and reserve team player with the Imps. After moving on from Sincil Bank he later played for clubs including Gresley Rovers, Shirebrook Town and Retford United. Daniel runs a Facebook group #danielsjourney to give support to people during difficult times and empower them to reach out and talk.
Trust Player of the Month for February – vote…
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A thank you to the family of John Cartwright
John’s daughter Lynn and son Neal are set to pass their late father’s Lincoln City shareholding to the Red Imps Community Trust and we thank them for this fantastic gesture.
John Cameron Cartwright, pictured here with Danny Cowley at Maidstone United’s ground, was a lifelong Imps supporter having been born in the city in 1933 where he lived above a shop on High Street until his family moved to Surrey when he was eleven.
John had a varied career including civil servant and agent for an MP, and was Deputy Chair of the Police Complaints Authority before retiring to Kent.
He never lost his passion for Lincoln City from those early years despite a stint as PA announcer with Charlton Athletic in the 70s, and would listen to commentary and watch on iFollow. He attended matches when the Imps were in the area.
Everyone connected with our Trust thank Lynn, Neal, and family and pay tribute to John who was clearly a fine man and a true Imp.
Lincoln 10K – Can You Help?
On Sunday 12/04/26, lots of money will be raised for various charities by many runners. They will all take on the challenge of completing Run for All’s “Lincoln 10K”: the large, well-loved running event, finishing by the Cathedral after passing many of the city’s iconic landmarks.
Our Trust’s permanent charity partner, Lincoln City Foundation, has some fundraising places available at the event. By running for the Foundation, you will be supporting it to provide opportunities that inspire and empower individuals across Lincolnshire to develop and improve their physical, social and mental welling. Please email community@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk if you are interested in participating. You will receive:-
- a branded top to run in on the day and a free place in the 10K if you raise at least £100;
- two free Lincoln City FC matchday tickets if you raise at least £250;
- a free tour of the LNER Stadium for two people if you raise at least £500; and
- a pitch-side presentation of a signed first team shirt if you raise the highest amount of all runners for the Foundation.
The Foundation is also looking for volunteers to steward the 10K course. Please complete the form at https://www.lincolncityfoundation.com/volunteer if you are interested in supporting runners in that way.
Visit https://www.runforall.com/events/10k/city-of-lincoln-10k/ for more details.
FPA Guests v Northampton Town
with thanks to Donald Nannestad
The FPA host for tomorrow’s game against Northampton Town is Matt Carmichael. The guests are former apprentices Tony Drinkell (current captain of the England Over 70s team), Andy Ottewell, Pete Brankin, Paul Buckthorp and Tom Wilkinson. 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 substituteFootball League Cup: 9 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal
Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals
Tony Drinkell
Tony Drinkell was just 15 when he joined the Imps as an apprentice in the summer of 1971. Tony, who had already played senior football for Scartho in the Lincolnshire League, appeared for City in the FA Youth Cup and went on to play regularly for the A team and also for the reserves during his time at Sincil Bank. He left City in 1974 and went on to appear for Louth United, Immingham Town and Ross Sports. He still plays regularly, appearing for Grimsby Corinthians walking football team and this season has captained the England Over 70s team.
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. Andy is a member of the Former Players Association committee.
Pete Brankin
Pete Brankin was a striker who spent two seasons as an apprentice with the Imps after signing for the club in July 1971. In his first season he scored a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup tie and in 1972-73 was leading scorer for both the reserves and A team only to be released at the end of the season. Pete spent several seasons playing in Australia with great success and then he returned to the UK appearing for Worksop, Lincoln United, Holbeach and Sleaford Town.
Paul Buckthorp
Paul Buckthorp was a full back and midfield player who played for City’s A team at the age of 17 and then went on to play a number of games for the reserves in the North Midlands League. He left the club in 1972 and went on to play for Lincoln United, who at the time played in the Yorkshire League, and for Adelaide Park, one of Lincoln’s most successful Sunday League teams. He also played for Brigg Town and Grantham as well as for the Lincolnshire representative team. He was later a coach at Norwich City before returning to Lincoln as a coach in the centre of excellence under Ian Whyte.
Tom Wilkinson
Tom Wilkinson was a forward who started in Lincoln City’s centre of excellence under Ian Whyte in 1995. He went on to earn a scholarship under John Schofield and made a single first team appearance for the Imps at Carlisle in March 2006. After retiring from football he trained as a physiotherapist thanks to a grant from the Professional Footballers Association and is now head of physiotherapy at the Park Hospital, Nottingham.
FPA Guests v Bolton Wanderers
thanks to Donald Nannestad
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon was a striker who made his senior debut for Hull City just two months after his 16th 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
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. Phil is a member of the Former Players Association committee.
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
Jason Lee
Jason Lee began his football career as a trainee with Charlton Athletic before Steve Thompson signed him for the Imps in March 1991. He quickly developed into a very effective striker both as a goal scorer and a creator of chances and was a regular in the team. He was leading scorer in 1992-93 and was then sold to Southend United for a six-figure fee. Jason went on to play for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Watford, Peterborough and Notts County finishing with a career total of over 500 senior appearances.
Debut vs Scarborough, away 2 March 1991
Football League: 86 appearances plus 7 as substitute, 21 goals
FA Cup: 2 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 6 appearances
Other: 4 appearances
Steve Holmes
Steve Holmes was a defender who initially joined City as a trainee in 1988 and was an unused substitute for the first team on three occasions while a teenager before being released. He played for Gainsborough Trinity and then Guisborough Town before getting a second chance at a Football League career when he signed for Preston in March 1994. He returned to Lincoln in October 1995 on loan and after a brief spell back at Preston signed a permanent deal with the Imps in March 1996. Steve was a key member of the City team that won promotion to third tier football in 1997-98 and in 1998-99 was voted City’s Player of the Season. Playing at centre back he was top scorer in 2000-01 with 11 League goals including a run where he scored in four consecutive games. He went on to make over 200 first team appearances for City before leaving the club in the summer of 2002.
Debut vs Cardiff City, home 21 October 1995
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 197 appearances plus 4 as substitute, 34 goals
FA Cup: 10 appearances, 2 goals
Football League Cup: 9 appearances, 2 goals
Other: 10 appearances, 1 goal
Imptoons at the Pod!
Imptoons will be selling the next Expansion Pack of cards from the RICT Pod in the fanzone prior to the match with Bolton next week.
£5 for a set including Deji Elerewe, Kamil Conteh, Alfie Lloyd, Ryan One, Josh Honohan and two new ‘Legend’ cards in Michael Bostwick and John Kennedy.
We’ll also bring along the usual – the stock of old cards, yearbooks and art prints at the usual prices.
Imptoons will also bring along a float and card machine like last summer; all of the profit will go towards the printing costs for Volume 7 of the yearbook at the end of what will hopefully turn out to be an historic season.
images courtesy of Chris Wray
