The FPA guests for Saturday's home game against Peterborough United are host Gavin Gordon, with guests Matt Carmichael, Graham Bressington, Paul De Garis and Trevor Swinburne.
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon was a striker who made his senior debut for Hull City just two months after his 16th birthday and went on to make regular first team appearances for the Tigers before he was sold to the Imps in November 1997 when he was still just 18-years-old.
In his first season, he helped City win promotion and was a first team regular. In 2000-01 he scored 10 goals by early December and was then sold to Cardiff City for a six-figure fee. He later played for Notts County. Gavin is chairman of the Former Players Association.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Swansea City, away 8 November 1997
Football League: 87 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 28 goals
FA Cup: 9 appearances, 2 goals
Football League Cup: 2 appearances, 1 goal
Other: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute
Matt Carmichael
Matt Carmichael was signed by Colin Murphy in August 1989.
At the time he was planning to join the Met Police after having previously served in the British Army but Colin offered him a professional contract and his career changed track.
He was initially used as a striker and scored on his debut against Scunthorpe United but later converted to centre back.
He was voted the supporters player of the season in 1991-92 and made over 150 first team appearances before moving on to Scunthorpe in July 1993.
Matt later played for Preston, Mansfield, Doncaster and Darlington. Matt is vice chairman of the Former Players Association.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Scunthorpe, home 19 August 1989
Football League: 113 appearances plus 20 as substitute, 18 goals
FA Cup: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute
Football League Cup: 9 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal
Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals
Graham Bressington
Graham Bressington was a powerful midfielder who joined City in November 1987 just a couple of weeks after playing against the Imps for Wycombe Wanderers and he was a key figure in City gaining promotion back to the Football League in that season.
He established himself as a very effective and popular player going on to make over 100 first team appearances for City, and was player of the season in 1990-91. Graham left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1993 and signed for Southend United then managed by Colin Murphy, the man who originally signed him for City.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Macclesfield Town, home 25 November 1987 (Conference)
Football League: 136 appearances plus 5 as substitute, 7 goals
Conference: 9 appearances plus 4 as substitute
FA Cup: 6 appearances
Football League Cup: 10 appearances, 2 goals
Other: 13 appearances
Trevor Swinburne
Trevor Swinburne began his long goalkeeping career as an apprentice with Sunderland in the late 1960s and finished it with the Imps 20 years later.
During his time at Sunderland he was understudy to Jim Montgomery and made several first team appearances before moving on to Carlisle United in the summer of 1977.
Trevor made over 250 first team appearances for Carlisle during his six years with the club and was an ever-present in their team which won promotion to the old Second Division in 1981-82.
He then played for Brentford and Leeds United before signing for City in February 1986 as a replacement for Stuart Naylor. Trevor made regular appearances for the Imps until retiring in the summer of 1987.
He was the first chairman of the Lincoln City Former Players Association when it was formed in 2017, was a key figure in developing the organisation and has recently returned to the committee.
Lincoln City record
Debut: vs Blackpool, away 25 February 1986
Football League: 34 appearances
FA Cup: 3 appearances
Football League Cup: 3 appearances
Paul De Garis
Paul De Garis was a goalkeeper who signed for City during the 1994-95 season. He made as number of reserve team appearances and was substitute goalkeeper for the first team on several occasions including for the FA Cup third round tie at Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Paul returned to his native Guernsey in 1995 and continued to play in the island league and made appearances for the island representative team. He is a member of the FPA committee and co-hosts the Stacey West former player podcasts with Gary Hutchinson.
