Dean Chandler
Chandler began his career as a trainee with Charlton Athletic, Prior to coming to Lincoln Chandler along with Lee Bowyer was found to have tested positive for cannabis after a training ground check. Chandler was banned, and upon his return found it difficult to break into the Charlton first team. He signed for Lincoln after a three-game spell at Torquay and played one game, ending up on the losing side against Burnley. He looked out of his depth and gave away two penalties. He never got near the first team again.
In 2004 Chandler made his debut for the England Learning Disability team, playing in a 16–0 win against Sweden. He was sent off in his next match against Brazil for violent conduct.
Sam Clucas
Lincoln born, he spent six years with Leicester City before dropping down to play for Nettleham. Peter Jackson signed him up as one for the future and he made his Imps debut against Darlington in the Football League Trophy. He was replaced in that game by former Glenn Hoddle pupil Chris Fagan. The game resulted in a 1-0 defeat and saw Peter Jackson dismissed.
Chris Sutton came in bemoaning his luck at the squad he inherited. He signed lots of young players from the top flight such as Matt Saunders, Adam Watts, and Michael Uwezu. The name of Sam Clucas didn’t feature on any of his team sheets and the youngster was released into obscurity at the end of July 2010 with just a solitary appearance to his name.
He’s since gone on to play in all five divisions climbing the ranks quickly. He’s garnered a reputation as a goal-scoring midfielder who should have a long and stellar career in the top two divisions.
Quite unfairly Chris Sutton is often berated for letting Clucas go, and whilst on the face of it the decision seemed ludicrous, at the time Clucas wasn’t achieving what he could. The stint at the Glenn Hoddle academy made the player what he is today, so credit for that.
Fraser Cobb
A midfielder who made one appearance for City after coming through the youth ranks. Played as 10-man Hayes and Yeading beat us 1-0 at the Bank under David Holdsworth. I’m sure Frazer is a nice guy, but I really can’t write anymore about him.
Allen Crombie
Played once for City in the GMVC season, starting at number 7 as we drew 1-1 with Sutton on February 17th. Was later sold for £2,500 to Boston United, where he played 56 times, scoring 4 goals. He made his debut for Boston in the GM Vauxhall Conference in April 1988 at home to Barnet, with the Pilgrims winning 2-1.
Tom Davies
Defender signed on loan by Chris Moyses but restricted to just one substitute appearance in his time with City as a half time replacement for Sean Newton. Booked in the game against Bristol Rovers which we lost 2-0, he didn’t feature again. Has since played league football for Accrington Stanley Portsmouth, Coventry and is currently with Bristol Rovers.
Scott Eustace
Centre half who played just one game for Lincoln after signing a deal in the summer of 2000. He suffered early in his spell with injuries and replaced Grant Brown in the 77th minute of our 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient on 23rd September 2000.
Wasn’t seen in league football again after the Imps terminated his contract for an off the field altercation. He had been given a final warning by the club in September after being handed a driving ban. His contract was terminated following a late-night disturbance outside a kebab shop which saw him put on probation for nine months.
Jason Harris
Pacey front man Harris came on loan from Crystal Palace in September 1997. He managed just 27 minutes on the pitch as a Lincoln player, replacing Colin Alcide in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Mansfield Town.
Maybe he did something to displease then-manager John Beck, as he was soon back with Crystal Palace who had sold him to Orient by the end of September. Went on to score 11 times in two years in East London before spells with Preston and Hull.
Jack Hobbs
Jack’s actual contribution on the football pitch for Lincoln was all too brief. After impressing in the youth set-up, he played approximately three minutes as a late sub for Matt Bloomer against Bristol Rovers in January 2005. At 16 years and 149 days, he became the youngest ever debutant for the club.
His promise had alerted a host of other clubs and both Liverpool and Arsenal were interested in the youngster. At first, it seemed Arsenal were leading the race for his signature, but Liverpool agreed a fee reported to be in the region of £750k as well as sell on clause and a friendly written into the bargain. All-round it seemed a good deal for a youngster with just three minutes’ league experience.
Jack made two competitive appearances for Liverpool and also returned to captain the youthful side sent to Sincil Bank for a friendly. Since then he’s established himself as a solid and dependable defender with Leicester, Hull City, Nottingham Forest and most recently Bolton Wanderers.
Next Page – A Danny Cowley protege and Notts County hero
Kern Miller was one that Sutton got labelled with as a mistake as well for letting go and went to Barnsley. He later went on to show why Sutton was right to get rid of him.
Good to see Tom Wilkinson in the list. Someone I grew up with in Welton alongside Andy Toyne who the main memory I have of him playing for City was nutmegging Salif Daio in a friendly against Liverpool, courtesy of the one match man, Jack Hobbs.
Was surprised not to see Martin Pembleton on here but then was shocked to find he played 6 times
I thought Scott Eustace was an excellent signing back in the day, but obviously it never happened for him. He has been a good lower league defender before he came to us.
I never realised Rick Ranshaw played for us – he went on to score shedloads of goals for Lincoln United. he and Tony Simmons (another ex-Imp) were quite a deadly partnership up front for them.
Remember most of those names, and I can’t believe most of them only played once for us, especially Dave Regis. Feels like he played a few more. That could be another feature, Gary. How many players have played for us who had a much more famous sibling?
Great idea, Nathan Blisset and Tyler Walker jump out at me straight away.
Remeber the Ranshaw and Simmo days. Was a crazy day when I played against Simmo in Sunday league
A bit harsh on Fraser Cobb. It was our last home game of the season against Hayes and Yeading when he played and we were already safe from relegation (The Days!). Holdsworth played a few youngsters, it was also the game Connor Robinson made his debut and although Connor was awarded Man of the Match, Fraser was not far behind. He was injured for the start of, and pretty much the whole of the following season and dropped out of the Imps plans. Without that injury he may have played more.