No Thanks: Ian Baraclough

I was gutted in June 1994 when one of my favourite Imps, Ian Baraclough, left the club.

He’d grabbed 11 goals in 96 appearances in total, having joined from Grimsby in 1992. he struck a mean penalty and had a sweet left foot to boot.

Baraclough could operate in defence or midfield and offered significant threat whichever position he occupied. He stood at over six feet tall but could get up and down the left flank as mobile as any full back.

It came as some shock when he was allowed to leave for Mansfield Town, but the run of games at Sincil Bank helped set him up for a stellar career at Notts County (where he won the Third Division) and Queens Park Rangers. I ought to mention his Scunthorpe career too, where he helped them to the League Two title. Then the League One title…..

He later moved into management with Motherwell and is currently the Northern Ireland Under 21 manager.

I still can’t believe we let him go but, after 24 years, I ought to move on.