Lincoln City Football Club, an English association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, was founded in 1884 (141 years ago) (1884),[1] and first entered the FA Cup in the 1884–85 season.[2] When nationally organised league football in England began, the club joined the Combination, a league set up to provide organised football for those clubs not invited to join the Football League which was to start the same year. When that league folded,[3] Lincoln became founder members of the Midland League, and won the inaugural league title. They then spent a year in the Football Alliance before being elected to the newly formed Second Division of the Football League.[2] Lincoln moved in and out of the Football League until they became founder members of the Football League Third Division North in 1921.[4] They remained in the Football League until 1987, when they became the first club to suffer automatic relegation to the Conference National.[5] They returned to the League after just one season, remained at that level until relegated again in 2011, and returned once more in 2017.[2]
All players who have made between 25 and 99 appearances in senior first-team matches for Lincoln City, in league or cup competition, are listed below. Some hold club records: Allan Hall scored 41 goals in the 40-game league season as Lincoln won the 1931–32 Third Division North title, and Jimmy Bauchop was the oldest known player to score for the club, at 37 years 295 days.[6] The club made their record signing when they paid £75,000 to Carlisle United for Dean Walling in 1997.[7] Other players took part in significant matches in the history of the club. William and James Gresham, Ned Mettam, Isaac Moore and Slotch Shaw appeared in Lincoln's first Football League match in 1892.[8]
Statistics are correct up to the end of the 2023–24 season.
Name
Players marked * were registered for the club as at the date specified above.
Players with name in italics and marked † were on loan from another club for the duration of their Lincoln City career. The loaning club is noted in the Refs column.
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
League appearances and League goals
League appearances and goals are those in the Football League only. Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three games because of the Second World War, are excluded.
Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given. Where appropriate, the number of senior international caps won while a Lincoln City player is listed in parentheses after the country name.
Players with 25 to 99 appearances
Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selection
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxThe Lincoln City FC Archive includes appearances and goals from the various wartime leagues in totals on individual player pages. Totals for affected players are amended using the Season Stats dropdown menu at the bottom right of each player's individual page.
^ abcdefghijThe Lincoln City FC Archive omits appearances and goals from the 1920–21 Midland League season from the totals on individual player pages. Totals for affected players are amended using the Season Stats dropdown menu at the bottom right of each player's individual page.
Player statistics include games played while on loan from:
Appearances and goals up to and including the 2012–13 season from individual player pages linked from the alphabetical list at the Lincoln City FC Archive: "The players". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017. Although this site is partly subscription-based, only free-access sections are used for reference. If pop-up login dialogue boxes appear, press the "Cancel" button to proceed.
Appearances and goals from the 2013–14 to the 2016–17 season inclusive referenced individually to player pages at the Soccerway website: "Lincoln City FC". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
Appearances and goals from the 2017–18 season onwards referenced to Lincoln City's squad statistics at Soccerbase: "Lincoln FC Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
International appearances: Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. ISBN978-0-7553-6107-6.
Playing position (pre-1940 players): Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN978-1-899468-67-6.
Playing position (post-1940 players): "Lincoln". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2024. "Lincoln City: 1946/47–1986/87 & 1988/89–2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
Playing position (post-2010 players) from individual player pages linked from Lincoln City's squad statistics at Soccerbase: "Lincoln FC Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
Wartime appearances: Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War 1939–45. London: Headline. pp. 354–55. ISBN978-0-7553-1431-7.
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.