Stacey West XI Wingers – Part one

May 22, 2018 Gary 1990-1999, 2000-2009, From the archives, Players 6

David Puttnam

The year after City regained their Football League status three players joined the Club on loan from Leicester City. One was midfielder Paul Groves who went on to achieve success at Grimsby. Defender Grant Brown also signed, and he went on to establish legendary status at Sincil Bank by becoming City’s record appearance holder. The final and arguably the most skilful of the trio was winger Dave Puttnam.

Dave had started his professional career with home town team Leicester City after he was spotted playing for Leicester United but had been unable to break into the first team. After a successful loan period with the Imps he signed a permanent deal for a fee of £35,000. He scored away at Scunthorpe in only his second game for City and went on to play in every remaining league game of the 1989/90 season.

Due to his trickery and ability to beat players he was always favourite amongst the fans, and was named “Player of the Season” in 1992/93. However, the next two seasons were disrupted by a succession of injuries and he wasn’t able to achieve his full potential. In his last full season (1994-95) he made just 11 league and cup starts, but still managed to score four goals.

He scored on the opening day of the turbulent 1995/96 season as City ran out 2-1 winners at Preston North End, but by the end of September he had been allowed to leave by Steve Wicks, moving to Gillingham.

There are two trains of thought surrounding David Puttnam, as I found out once when I described him as one of my childhood heroes. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that he was a fancy-dan, a player who showed up on occasion but let his blatant talent go to waste. My retort? He played out wide in a side that increasingly used the long ball, and not the ‘get it in the final third and then play’ long ball we won the National League with either.

I was personally gutted when Puttnam left. As a young fan he was exciting and brought an element of flair and skill to the Lincoln team. He scored the odd spectacular goal as well, and had it not been for injuries there’s no doubt he would have made well over 250 appearances and scored more goals as well. In 2007 he was voted 54th in the Imps centenary ‘legends’ poll, which backs up my argument that he was (to put it simply) ace.

6 Comments

  2. Based on the few games Woodcock played for City he didn’t look as good as Alan Harding.

  3. Saving the best for later? Only Ainsworth in with a sniff from this lot and for us ‘more mature’ supporters who go back to the ’60s he’s in the reserves.

    Woodcock was a striker and played, what, 6 games max while on loan??!!

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