Happy Birthday to Bob Cumming

Here’s a player each and every Imp should wish a happy birthday. Bob Cumming came to City when we were at our lowest ebb, a fine player who served most his time at Grimsby Town, but helped us in our time of need. Few travel the A46 and remain popular at either end, but Cumming is one who does that, 100%.

Robert “Bobby” Cumming joined us in 1987 immediately after relegation to the GMVC. He was 32-years old, still able to hack it on the pitch and still every bit as hard as he always was. 1987 wasn’t a good year for Lincoln fans, certainly not the first half of it, but when this man walked through the door the future got an awful lot brighter.

He was an integral part of our Conference winning team, displaying not just that ferocious tackling but a calm influence in the centre of the park. It was a highly provocative season where opponents wanted us beaten in any way possible, but though both style and aggression, Cumming led us through those dark days. Trevor Matthewson was the on-field captain, but Cumming’s influence was very father-like towards the players.

Matthewson lifted the GMVC trophy, the fans rewarded Bobby Cumming by voting him as the player of the season. He spent the summer in upstate New York playing for Albany Capitals before returning to make his Football League debut for us in our return game against Hartlepool. He went on to enjoy another two seasons with the Imps in the Football League, making 40 appearances and scoring five goals. His Imps career ended when he collected an ankle injury in November 1989 as we beat Billingham Synthonia in the first round of the FA Cup.They’re still going you know, managed by former Manchester City player Jamie Pollock these days…. anyway….

In 2007, he was recently voted 23rd in the top 100 Lincoln City league legends. Not bad for a former Grimsby icon. He emigrated to America in 1990, settling in Kendallville, Indiana and playing when his injury allowed for the local side.

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