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 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 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 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
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 17th 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.
Trust Bridges Charity Appeal
Trust chair Rob Bradley is seen with Emma and Lin, receiving presents donated by fans via the Trust at the Bridge church in Lincoln.
Thanks again to all those that have donated.
Darikwa Double Dutch Delivery
Tendayi Darikwa is pictured winning both Trust Player of the Month awards for October AND November. He’s pictured with local wrestling personality Hayden “Dutch” Loeve, passing the trophies on to him.
FPA Guests v Charlton Athletic
Thanks to Donald Nannestad
The FPA host for tomorrow’s game against Charlton is Roger Holmes and the guests are Jason Lee, Phil Neale, Paul Mayo, Tony Cunningham and John Hawley.
Details of the FPA members attending:
Roger Holmes
Roger Holmes signed amateur forms for the Imps in May 1958 when he was just 15 years old having previously been playing for Limestone Rangers in the Gainsborough League. Roger made his reserve team debut four days after his 16th birthday and in September 1959 signed as a professional having already broken into the first team who were then playing in the Second Division (now the Championship). Roger was a skilful player who appeared in several different positions including winger, inside-forward and right half and made over 300 first team appearances for City. He featured in every game of the Football League Cup run in 1967-68 when the Imps reached the fourth round and finished the season as leading scorer with 14 league goals plus another three in the League Cup. The following season he suffered a serious injury in the home game against York City which put him out of action for a lengthy period. Roger played his final game for the Imps in a 3-2 home win against Peterborough in October 1971. He is involved in our Former Players Association as a committee member.
Debut vs Brighton, away 18 April 1960
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 276 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 36 goals
FA Cup: 13 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 16 appearances, 3 goals
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
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 when he was up against the former England defender Norman Hunter. Tony had too much pace and power for the ex England man 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
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
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 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.