No Thank You – Justin Walker
Walker left us for Exeter in 2002 and because of that, they’re getting a no thanks. He wasn’t part of a classic Lincoln side, far from it, but we never got to see the talents of the silky midfielder in full swing.
Walker made his name at Scunthorpe United and it was surprising when Phil Stant managed to secure his signature in the summer of 2000. He didn’t fit the mould of a Stant player, he was far more composed than the sort of brutish player they preferred.
He featured in almost every game in his first season, but began to come into his own when Stant left and Alan Buckley came in trying to play football the right way. A crucial late goal away at leaders Chesterfield in April of 2001 confirmed Third Division football after a season battling against relegation. For his endeavours, Walker was named Player of the Year
The following season Walker again turned in good performances amid a backdrop of financial insecurity and uncertainty about the future. A vital last minute winner at Bristol Rovers gave us the edge over our relegation rivals, and further goals against Carlisle (3-1) and Hartlepool (1-1) helped secure the points we needed to be assured League Football for 2002/03.
However, there was nothing that could be done on the pitch to ensure financial survival and Walker was one of the players who was released at the end of the season as a cost cutting exercise., where he joined Exeter City.
He later played for Cambridge, York and Chester before retiring from the game.
Sam Allardyce on the right of the Hobson picture on page 2?