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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 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

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

Rob Bradley’s Column – January 2026

With thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo

Of all the positions in the football industry, the one of club chair can often be as interesting to us fans as players, managers, and the rest. People who are inherently brash, outspoken, and controversial in their own chosen field and where they are little known outside of it, suddenly become brash, outspoken, and controversial and very well known when they take over the chairman’s mantle at the club they chose to invest in. Sometimes this new-found publicity makes them even more brash, outspoken…..you get my drift. I’m talking Ken Bates, Simon Jordan, Darragh MacAnthony here, and of course there’s others.
Changing tack for a second – bear with me – there’s a long way to go before we can think about the Imps staying in the automatic promotion places. We’re second with fifty two points, but at the time of writing this, there’s still fifty seven more to play for to play for. Anything can happen. 
If we did get a promotion or play-off spot though, then every single Imp would I’m sure dedicate that achievement to one man – Clive Nates, our outgoing chair, for what he’s done for our club.
There’s an old expression that says ‘You can tell a man by his shoes’. Or maybe I’ve imagined it. Whatever. Clive isn’t into Armani suits and boardroom luxury. Trainers, jeans, and a Lincoln City jacket are his style, as is standing with the supporters in an away section. At first shy when he arrived, he’s been modest, unassuming, and a spotlight shunner over the time he’s spent, with his board, taking this club up the pyramid and absolutely transforming it.  
Clive has always valued the voice of our fans and from the off has welcomed the Red Imps Community Trust in as an integral part of how Lincoln City strategy is set and actions carried out. Our Trust board is so grateful for that.
Now changes are afoot and possibly even more exciting things are planned. Clive Nates stays as vice-chair though which is great news.
As we approach spring and, with fingers and everything else crossed, we hope to be up near the top of League One. If we are and that miracle takes place, then it’s Clive Nates who we should all salute the most.

Vote for Player of the Month for January!

Voting now open

617 Bradford Display

Red Imps Community Trust board members were hugely impressed by the very effective display recognising the Valley Parade 56 organised by the excellent 617 supporters prior to the Bradford City fixture.

This was matched by the sentiments we all heard by fellow supporters who were equally impressed. A moving tribute appreciated by fans of both clubs. Well done the 617!

Photo courtesy of Graham Burrell (C)

Donation to Bradford Burns Unit

Representatives of the Lincoln City Former Players Association and the Red Imps Community Trust last night (27 January) presented members of the Bradford City Supporters Trust with a cheque to go to the Bradford Burns Unit for £2,000.

photograph courtesy Graham Burrell (C)

Reach for Trust Award!

Flying defender Adam Reach was awarded his Red Imps Community Trust player of the month award for December before the Bradford City game.

Trust Fan of the Year JJ is seen here giving Adam his award.

Photograph courtesy Graham Burrell (C)

FPA Guests V Bradford City

Thanks to Donald Nannestad

The FPA host for tomorrow night’s game against Bradford City is Matt Carmichael. The guests are Jake Sheridan, Tony Cunningham, Andy Hutchinson, Chris Moyses  and Pete Smith. Details 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 goal

Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals

Jake Sheridan
Jake Sheridan was a midfield player joined the Imps in November 2011, initially on loan before his move was made permanent. He made his first team debut in a 3-0 win over Ebbsfleet United and continued to appear regularly the end of 2013-14 when he moved on to sign for Alfreton Town. 
Debut vs Ebbsfleet United, home 26 November 2011
Lincoln City Record
National League: 62 appearances plus 28 as substitute, 2 goals
FA Cup: 5 appearances plus 3 as substitute, 1 goal
FA Trophy: 2 appearances plus 4 as substitute, 1 goal

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

Andy Hutchinson

Andy Hutchinson was a local born striker who was a trainee with City and broke into the first team at the end of the 2008-09 season. He was a teenager when he made his senior debut as a substitute against Luton and made his first start in the following game at Bradford City. He scored City’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat making a piece of history as he was just 17 years and 34 days old making him the youngest player to score for City in a Football League game. Andy made further first team appearances over the following two seasons before moving on and playing for Lincoln United.

Debut vs Luton Town, home 11 April 2009

Lincoln City Record:

Football League: 3 appearances plus 16 as substitute, 1 goal

Football League Cup: 1 appearance as a substitute

Other: 2 appearances

Chris Moyses

Chris Moyses was a full-back who made his first senior appearances for City as a 16 year old when he played in three Football League Trophy games in August 1982. Chris, who was born and bred in Lincoln, initially joined the Imps under the Youth Opportunities Programme and progressed to becoming an apprentice and then signed as a professional. He made his Football League debut at Millwall in May 1984 and featured in the following three games only to be released at the end of that season. Chris went on to play for Halifax and was later at clubs including Grantham, Spalding, King’s Lynn and Bourne. He returned to the Imps in May 2011 when he became involved in the youth team. In November 2014 Chris became caretaker manager and the following month took over as manager. He began the rebuilding of the team before leaving his role in May 2016 having signed many of the players who earned promotion back to the Football League the following season.

Debut vs Scunthorpe United (Football League Trophy) , away 14 August 1982

Lincoln City Record

Football League: 2 appearances plus 2 as substitute

Football League Trophy: 3 appearances

Pete Smith

Pete Smith first played for the Imps reserve team as a trialist towards the end of the 1971-72 season at a time when City regularly used local players in their North Midlands League games. Pete was playing for Ruston Bucyrus in the Lincs League and for Swiss Cottage in the Sunday League and he went on to sign professional forms for City in the summer of 1972. He appeared for both the reserves and the A team but was unable to break into the first team. He later played for Corby Town and Lincoln United.