Ever wondered where ex-Imps ended up? Here’s the first installment as we delve into the archives of City players of the past.
Alcide, Colin
League apps: 106(16) Goals: 27
Signed from non-league side Emley for £15,000 in December 1995, Alcide was a big bustling forward, who bore a passing resemblence to Marvin Hagler. Struggled during the initial stages of his Sincil Bank career, but after scoring 13 goals in the 1997/98 season was sold to Hull for £50,000. Was with the Tigers for less than a year before moving on to York, who then quickly sold him on to Cambridge United. He was released by the Us in November 2002 and enjoyed brief stints at Exeter and Gainsborough Trinity before joining Welsh League side TNS. Played in the UEFA Cup against Osters and was last seen playing for Ashton United in the Unibond League.
Austin, Kevin
League apps: 127(1) Goals: 2
A classy defender who joined the Imps for £30,000 from Leyton Orient in the summer of 1996, Austin went on to play nearly 150 games for the Imps before he became another player who cost City a decent transfer fee when he signed for Barnsley on a Bosman in 1999. Surprisingly failed to impress at Oakwell and after having a loan spell at Brentford, moved on to Cambridge. Only played seven times for United before being rescued by Bristol Rovers, but now a regular with League One side Swansea.
Barnett, Jason
League apps: 189(18) Goals: 6
Plucked from Wolves reserves for £5,000 in 1995, the stocky Barnett was originally an attacking midfielder before being converted into a right-back. Made over 200 outings for the Imps before a loss of form and addition of bulk round the midrif saw him handed a free transfer in 2002. Joined Lincoln United and then had a brief stint with Spalding, before deciding to join the prison service.
Bimson, Stuart
League apps: 156(18) Goals: 4
A whole-hearted left-back who joined the Imps initially on loan from Bury before signing on a permanent basis four games later in December 1996. Was a regular in the side over the course of the next six years before deciding to leave for Cambridge after only being offered a one-year deal by the club. Eventually fell out of favour, with then manager Herve Renard preferring younger players and after spending a period on loan with Accrington, joined Canvey Island in the summer of 2005.
Buckley, Adam
League apps: 19(15) Goals: 0
Nepotism reigned at Sincil Bank when in the summer of 2001, then manager Alan Buckley handed his son Adam a two-year deal at the Bank, following his release from Grimsby. Usually regarded as one of the worst ever players to don an Imps shirt, he somehow made nearly 40 League outings for City before being booted out of the club after being found guilty of theft in May 2003. Then had spells with Brigg Town and Harrowby before signing for Stamford in October 2005.
Blackwood, Michael
League apps: 5(4) Goals: 0
Signed on a free transfer from Telford in the summer of 2004, but injury and lack of form restricted him to just 10 appearances, most of which were played in the left-wing back position. Was released in the summer of 2005 and now at Kidderminster.
Cameron, Dave
League apps: 33(27) Goals: 9
A former solider, Cameron ? who?d enjoyed stints with St Mirren, Brighton and Raith ? had been playing for Worthing when he was signed by Phil Stant in 2000. Not a natural goalscorer, or even striker, but couldn?t be faulted for effort, becoming something of a cult figure during his time at the Bank. Spent a couple of years with the Imps before joining Chester on a free transfer. Now plays for Droylsden in Conference North after brief spells with Telford, Tamworth and Halifax.
Carruthers, Martin
League apps: 7(4) Goals: 0
Arrived at Sincil Bank as part of the swap deal that saw Dean West depart for Boston in September 2004. Was supposed to add some much-needed firepower to the Imps frontline, but failed to find the net once duting his spell with the club. Carruthers was loaned out to Cambridge before eventually being released in the summer of 2005. Now plying his trade for Grantham Town in the Southern Premier League.
Cropper, Dene
League apps: 29(21) Goals: 3
One of Keith Alexander?s first signings upon his return to the managerial hotseat in July 2002, Cropper made an immediate impact for the Imps by getting sent off in his first match against Kidderminster. Redeemed himself by netting his first goal for the club in his next match, but only scored another two in his next 50-odd games. Was loaned out to Gainsborough Trinity before ending the 2003/04 season with Boston United. The Pilgrims released him and he joined Worksop Town, where he spent two successful loan spells, before signing for Matlock Town in September 2005.
Hanlon, Ritchie
League apps: 6(5) Goals: 1
Will be remembered in his short spell at the club for his superb goal against local rivals Boston. Another of boss Keith Alexander’s non-league signings from Stevenage, Hanlon was never really given a decent shot at first-team football at the Bank and was released in the summer of 2005. Joined Weymouth in Conference South, but has since made the switch to Cambridge United.
Ipoua, Guy
League apps: 0(6) Goals: 0
Another journeyman signed by Keith Alexander, Cameroon-born Ipoua arrived on a month’s loan spell in the 2004/05 season, but failed to impress. Now banging in the goals for Conference side Hereford.
Kerley, Adam
League apps: 0(1) Goals: 0
An outstanding youth prospect who’s promising career never materialised with City. Scored bags of goals for the reserves, but hardly got a look in for the first-team, with manager Keith Alexander never really fancying him. Left for Gainsborough in the summer of 2005, and after failing to make the grade at The Northolme, joined Eastwood Town in the Unibond First Divison after a short stint with Spalding United.
Littlejohn, Adrian
League apps: 1(7) Goals: 0
A veteran striker who joined the Imps on a short deal at the start of 2004. Was always going to be a stop-gap signing, but failed to deliver the goods and was released in January 2005, whereupon he joined Rushden. Now a fringe-team player at Mansfield.
McNamara, Niall
League apps: 2(9) Goals: 0
The former Nottingham Forest trainee was plucked from Unibond League side Belper Town in March 2003, but a player who looked out of his depth at the Bank. Was given a free transfer before bizarrely being handed a new deal by Keith Alexander, but was soon to leave City for good in May 2005. Now playing for Eastwood Town.
Sedgemore, Ben
League apps: 83(25) Goals: 5
Now a team-mate of Stuart Bimson?s at Canvey Island, Sedgie spent three-and-a-half years at the Bank after signing from Macclesfield in February 2001. A true ?club man? Ben found himself out of favour for long periods while at City, but never complained about his lot and his departure his eventual departure was mourned by many fans. Spent the summer of 2005 on trial with Barnet before agreeing a switch to Canvey.
Stones, Craig
League apps: 10(11) Goals: 0
A promising youngster who failed to make the grade at Sincil Bank despite making over 20 appearances for the club. Upon his release in the summer of 2000, he joined Spalding before heading north to Brigg Town, playing in their historic FA Cup first round tie at Tranmere. Then had a brief stint at Gainsborough before re-signing for Brigg, where he plays in the centre of defence.
West, Dean
League apps: 93 (27) Goals: 20
A former Lincoln City trainee, who went on to play for Bury and Burnley before returning to Sincil Bank on a free in July 2004. Looked a shadow of his former self and after only four games was at the centre of a shock swap deal with Boston United, that saw Martin Carruthers arrive at the Bank. Was released by the Pilgrims in the summer of 2005 and now playing for King’s Lynn in the Southern League.
Wilford, Aron
League apps: 0(5): Goals: 1
Another one of those ?stop-gap? signings by Keith Alexander, targetman Wilford arrived on a free from York City and scored just the one goal against Yeovil. Never really given a decent crack while at the Imps and some thought he should have been kept on at the end of the 2004/05 season, but he was released and headed north of the border to play for Clyde. Last sixth months with the Bully Wee before heading back to Yorkshire. Played a few games for Selby Town before penning a deal with Stalybridge Celtic in Conference North.
Yeo, Simon
League apps: 73(49) Goals: 37
One of City?s recent cult heroes, Yeo was plucked from the obscurity of Unibond League side Hyde United and in the summer of 2002. Scored 10 goals in his first season with the club ? most as a sub ? and will always be fondly remembered for his expolits in the play-off semi-final with local rivals Scunthorpe where he bagged three goals in the two legs. Improved his goals tally by three the next season before finally fulfilling his potential to the full by bagging 23 in his final season with the club. Shocked Imps fans when he quit the club to play in the newly-formed Australian A-League for New Zealand Knights, but there have since been rumours of a quick return. Watch this space…
