David Puttnam
The year after City regained their Football League status three players joined the Club on loan from Leicester City. One was midfielder Paul Groves who went on to achieve success at Grimsby. The other we’ve mentioned here, defender Grant Brown who went on to establish legendary status at Sincil Bank by becoming City’s record appearance holder. The final and arguably the most skilful of the trio was winger (and my personal favourite at the time) David Puttnam.
David had started his professional career with home town team Leicester City after he was spotted playing for Leicester United but had been unable to break into the first team. After a successful loan period with the Imps, in which he helped take us close to the play-offs after signing in January 1990, he signed a permanent deal a fee of £35,000. He scored away at Scunthorpe in only his second loan game for City and went on to play in every remaining league game of the 1989/90 season.
Due to his trickery and ability to beat players, he was always favourite amongst the fans, and was named “Player of the Season” in 1992/93. However, the next two seasons were disrupted by a succession of injuries and he wasn’t able to achieve his full potential. In his last full season (1994-95) he made just 11 league and cup starts, but still managed to score four goals. It’s fair to say he was my favourite player of the era; I was ten when he signed and knocking on 16 when he left; he was a key figure as I went from boy to not-quite-man. Sadly, he scored on the opening day of the turbulent 1995/96 season (just after I’d finished my GCSEs) as City ran out 2-1 winners at Preston North End, but by the end of September, he had been allowed to leave by Steve Wicks, moving to Gillingham. I didn’t cry. You did.
Had it not been for injuries there’s no doubt he would have made well over 250 appearances and scored more goals as well. In 2007 he was voted 54th in the Imps centenary ‘legends’ poll, which backs up my argument that he was (to put it simply) bloody good.
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So many good players to pick from in the second part of your feature 🙂
How about a mention for Tony Woodcock ? Absolute class with the Imps and what did he go onto do after ?
Finns will always be my favourite of the lot. I know you say Gain should not be remembered for his celebration, but I have to make no such adjustment for Finns as he didn’t do the same.
Interesting that with all the loans though, none are as young as our current crop and feels different these days where players are not coming to get some game time and try and force their way back into the parent club having drifted out the side.