Number 23 on our list caused quite the stir when he arrived in 2008.
Before we go on, this is a list of the most prolific Lincoln City strikers from 1945 onwards.
- EFL appearances and goals only
- Ranked on Goals Per Game
- Must have appeared 25 times or more
We’ve already had a couple, and now for one of the more recent entries.
#23 – Adrian Patulea (0.35)
Patulea is something of an enigma, one of those players that if you were there, you’ll never forget.
He had arrived at Lincoln to request a trial with Peter Jackson, which the typically bullish Jackson had refused. Patulea took to running around the training pitch with his wife on his back in order to try and create an impression. He did, he was granted a chance and spent six weeks training with the first team squad.
He scored a second-half hat-trick against Lincoln United in a friendly to announce himself on the Sincil Bank stage, and the internet (pre-social media) was alight with his name. He instantly seemed to have won the hearts of Lincoln supporters who clamoured for him to sign. It was eventually revealed that Patulea’s former club, Petrolul Ploieşti, still held his playing registration and that had scuppered a move to non-league Burgess Hill a few weeks before.
City eventually managed to negotiate a deal for him, and he signed for the club on 29 August 2008. His international clearance documents did not come through in time for him to play in the derby with Grimsby Town, but he scored his first League goal on his debut for Lincoln City, coming off the bench to score a goal in the Imps’ 2–0 win over Barnet.
He started his first game of the season away at Brentford, taking just 30 minutes to notch his second goal in a City shirt. He was known to change games – trailing 1-0 to Accrington in 2008, he came off the bench and scored the first and last in our 5-1 win. He went on to score eleven times from just 17 league starts for Lincoln, but 31 League Two matches in total.
The season ended with a manager v player argument. Patulea couldn’t get a run in the first team despite being the only player looking capable of scoring goals. He claimed he hadn’t been offered a new deal, and Jackson claimed he had.
As the season drew to a close, there was no middle ground and the popular striker left for Leyton Orient, then a League One side. The step up proved to be tough, and he netted three times, just once in the league.
Jackson only lasted a few months more before being dismissed himself.