Number 21 on our list takes us back to a more successful chapter in Lincoln City’s post-war history and to a striker whose scoring touch helped define one of our finest seasons in the Second Division.
This ongoing countdown celebrates the most prolific Lincoln City strikers from 1945 onwards, ranked by goals per game in EFL competition and featuring only players with at least 25 league appearances. It’s a look not just at the goal tallies but at the moments that shaped the club’s modern era.
We’ve already revisited Bobby Svarc’s late-1960s run and now turn the clock a little further back to a forward whose consistency was crucial in the mid-1950s.
#21 – Tommy Northcott (0.36)
Tommy Northcott arrived at Sincil Bank in the summer of 1955 from Cardiff City for a £3,000 fee and quickly became the focal point of Lincoln’s attack. The Torquay-born striker had already played in the First Division, but it was with Lincoln that his goalscoring instincts truly flourished. Replacing Andy Graver as the club’s main marksman, he announced himself in emphatic fashion during a thrilling era for the Imps.
He made his debut against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the 1955/56 season, and it didn’t take long for him to find the net. His first goals came in spectacular fashion as Lincoln crushed Leicester City 7-1 at Sincil Bank, in front of more than 16,000 supporters. That set the tone for a remarkable debut campaign in which he struck 20 league goals in 40 appearances, all in the Second Division. Notable highlights included doubles against Fulham and West Ham, plus a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Barnsley. Lincoln ended that season eighth in the table—their best post-war finish—and Northcott’s scoring exploits were a major reason why.
The following season he remained a regular presence up front, adding another 10 goals from 38 outings. Among them were two in a fine win over Sheffield United and one in a memorable 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
By the 1957/58 campaign, changes in management and personnel saw Northcott move on midway through the season. He had scored four goals in 16 appearances before returning to his native South West to rejoin Torquay United for £5,000. His overall record for Lincoln City stood at 34 goals in 94 league games, giving him a goals-per-game ratio of 0.36—identical to Bobby Svarc’s mark more than a decade later. However, Northcott played more games.
Though his time at Sincil Bank lasted just over two years, Tommy Northcott’s impact was significant. He led the line during Lincoln’s strongest post-war Second Division spell and provided some of the most memorable attacking performances of the 1950s.
His sharp eye for goal, coupled with a tireless work ethic, ensured his place among the most efficient and admired forwards to represent the club.