FPA guests v Stevenage

FPA guests vs Stevenage

The FPA guests for Saturday's home game against Stevenage are host Matt Carmichael, with guests Gavin Gordon, Jimmy Walker, Trevor Swinburne, Ron Harbertson and Dean West.

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

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

Jimmy Walker

Jimmy Walker was a goalkeeper who made over 500 first team appearances for Walsall interspersed with spells at West Ham and Tottenham. 

He then moved into coaching initially at Peterborough United and then Gillingham before joining the staff at Lincoln in the summer of 2016. 

He was included in the matchday squad as substitute goalkeeper on several occasions in the phenomenally successful 2016-17 season when City won the National League and reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup. 

He was at Sincil Bank for a further season before coaching at Sunderland and then at Ipswich. Jimmy is a match summariser for BBC Radio Lincolnshire at Imps games.

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 

Ron Harbertson

Ron Harbertson is one of the oldest former Imps players, having recently celebrated his 95th birthday and is President of the Former Players Association. 

Ron was a forward whose career began at Newcastle United and he went to play for clubs including Bradford City, Brighton, Grimsby and Darlington before he joined City in March 1958 when the club looked doomed to be relegated into the Third Division. 

However, the Imps had a dramatic change of form, winning the final six games of the season to avoid the drop with Ron scoring in each of the matches. 

He was a regular in the City team before departing to play for Wrexham in March 1960. Ron then had a short spell with Darlington before returning to Sincil Bank for the 1961-62 season. He later played for Grantham.

Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Liverpool, away 15 March 1958
Football League: 86 appearances, 25 goals
FA Cup: 5 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 1 appearance, 2 goals

Dean West

Dean West made his debut for City in the final game of the 1990-91 season while still a trainee and scored in a 6-2 home win over Carlisle. 

Soon afterwards he signed a professional contract and quickly established himself in the first team appearing at right back and in midfield making over 100 appearances for the Imps. 

Dean moved to Bury in September 1995 and later played for Burnley completing over 100 first team appearances for both Lancashire clubs. 

He briefly returned to City as the start of 2004-05 season and later played clubs including Boston United and King’s Lynn.

Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Carlisle United, home 11 May 1991
Football League: 97 appearances plus 26 as substitute, 20 goals
FA Cup: 6 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 11 appearances, 1 goal
Other: 5 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 1 goal