Stacey West XI – The Wingers Result

2nd: Dave Smith 21%

Yeah I know, second. How can one of the greatest Imps ever be second? It does reflect both the popularity of the winner and also maybe the demographic of voters, but Dave Smith does join the Stacey west XI, and rightfully so.

405 starts, 14 from the bench. 59 goal in all competitions, 52 in the league. Only Tony Emery and Grant Brown have appeared more time for Lincoln City, making Dave Smith a bona fide legend. Dave was a left-sided wide man, starting out as the old style ‘outside left’ before becoming perhaps the finest left winger the club has ever seen.

Manager Ron Gray brought Smith to Lincoln in the late 60s. Little did he know he was bringing a player to the side who would remain for a decade and become one of the club’s all time legends. He had a decent summer did Mr Gray, he also signed a full back from Grimsby called Taylor. The two went on to make their debut on the same day, one scoring and the other providing a goal as Notts County were thrashed 5-0. After the dismal 1960’s it was the start of a turnaround, albeit a long-winded one. City finished eighth that season, the new left-sided player scoring nine goals, the first of which came at Sincil Bank as Grimsby were beaten 3-0.

Smith was the first of the famous 1975/76 team to take his place, Taylor obviously moved into the manager’s office and his left-sided player slowly had a side built around him. In that Championship winning year, Smith missed only one game and scored the memorable 100th League goal of the season in the 3-0 win at Stockport County.

Willie Bell has a lot to answer for, more than anybody reading this under the age of 40 will know, and in the summer of 1978 it was him who surprisingly released the Imps stalwart. Given that Bell spent most of that summer setting himself up as some sort of religious pastor in the USA before resigning in October, it is a surprise he found time to let the City legend go. sadly, he did. Smith had a testimonial game against Watford at Sincil Bank early the following season, finishing his career with a couple of years at Rotherham United.

1st: Gareth Ainsworth 31%

When your voters mostly started coming to Lincoln after 1986, there is only one person you’re going to see top a poll of the best wingers the club have ever had. He was our own Britpop idol, a player who not only produced on the pitch but could be identified with off it. One minute he was slamming in goals, the next he rocked up at your pub on a Thursday to play pool for the Butcher and Beast. he was, of course, Gareth Ainsworth.

Anyone who said that he dulled his legend by bringing his Wycombe side to sincil Bank as a negative, anti-football side must need their head testing, because it was being a part of an anti-football side which made him popular. Maybe his legend lives on because in a pool of god awful football, long balls and negative tactics, he was the oasis, the bright spot, the one player with a bit of flair and style we could cling to.

Gareth Ainsworth was an Imps hero for his goal average of one every two games and his all action committed performances. He had followed manager John Beck from Cambridge to Preston North End and again followed Beck to Sincil Bank for a fee of £25,000 in November of 1995. He made his Imps debut in a 2-1 win at Mansfield and scored his first goals for the club a fortnight later in a 2-0 win at Torquay. He swiftly became a firm fan’s favourite due to his on-pitch prowess and his immense personality off the field. He would ensure he always acknowledged the fans in an era where it wasn’t common place.

He was ever present in the 1996-97 season during which the Imps missed out on the play-offs on the final day. He formed a formidable front line with veteran striker Phil Stant and towering Dutchman Gjisbert Bos. A Coca Cola cup run ensued with Ainsworth scoring at Premier League Southampton in the third round, and again in the home replay which the Saints won 3-1. His displays and regular goals were earning him a reputation and it was widely expected he would move on to bigger and better things. Despite being a hero Ainsworth wanted to progress, and the more cynical fan noted that his move didn’t happen whilst season ticket sales were going on. However a firm offer from Wigan Athletic ahead of the 1997/98 season indicated his Sincil Bank days were numbered. The first few games of the season Ainsworth was subject to some horrific tackling and often had two men marking him. There would have been fear in the board room that the most saleable asset could get injured and leave in the summer on a Bosman free transfer.

A few weeks in to the following season the inevitable happened. After signing off from Sincil Bank with a hat trick against Scarborough, he earned himself a £500,000 move to Port Vale with the Wigan offer rejected. After just 53 appearances for Vale, Premier League Wimbledon paid £2m for his services.

Watch out for a special ‘World Cup’ of strikers, coming very soon.