News

FPA Guests V Stockport County

with thanks to Donald Nannestad

The FPA host for tomorrow’s game against Stockport  County is Gavin Gordon. The guests are Paul Smith, Simon Yeo, Trevor Swinburne and Matt Carmichael.

Their details are here:

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

Paul Smith
Paul Smith was an attacking player who was signed by Colin Murphy from Port Vale in September 1987 at the start of City’s Vauxhall Conference campaign following relegation out of the Football League. Paul cost a record non-league transfer fee and made his debut in a 4-1 win at Stafford Rangers. He played regularly over the remainder of the season helping the Imps to the title and a return back to the League at the first attempt. He went on to make over 250 first team appearances for City before departing in the summer of 1995. He began his career at Sheffield United and had a spell on loan with Stockport where he scored five goals in seven League appearances. Paul moved on to Port Vale in 1986 and then arrived at Sincil Bank.
Debut vs Stafford Rangers, away 5 September 1987
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 219 appearances + 13 as substitute, 27 goals
FA Cup: 7 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 10+2 appearances
Vauxhall Conference: 33 appearances, 8 goals
Other: 20 appearances, 4 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

Matt Carmichael

Today’s host is Matt Carmichael who 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

February Trust Directors’ Notes available

Please click here to view notes of the Trust Directors’ Meeting held in February 2026.

January Trust Board Notes available

Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in January 2026.

Impress 6 on Sale Saturday

Impress no 6 is on sale from the Trust Pod this Saturday before the Stockport County game.

Iconic Imps Available Saturday!

Plus rare Trust badges also available from the Pod!

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 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

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…

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.