Alex Woodyard
Woodyard was one of Danny Cowley’s key generals, a former Braintree midfielder that Danny trusted and treated like family. He was Player of the Year in the 2016/17 season, playing in 45 of the 46 league matches. He wasn’t one for goals, his only strike was a crucial one though. He got the first of the comeback against Forest Green, but contributed plenty more throughout the season.
The midfielder’s stock rose further during our first year back, ever-present in the league campaign and playing a key role as we beat Shrewsbury at Wembley. The club turned down a big bid for him in the winter window, but he was destined to move up and eventually joined Peterborough United in League One. He made 57 league appearances for them before a short 11-game stint on loan with Tranmere Rovers, before leaving to join Wimbledon last summer. In 41 outings for the Wombles, he has accumulated 10 yellow cards and regained the form which saw him earning rave reviews for us. More recently, he bagged the winner as they beat Oxford 1-0, handing us a play-off boost in the process.
Matt Rhead
I don’t think Matt Rhead needs too much introduction, does he? He was sensational in the season before Danny came to the club, and his 15 goals helped us to the title. He was the focal point of our attack, a player opponents hated which made him loved even more at the Bank. He won the EFL Trophy with City too, then the League Two title as well. Very few Imps players from history have three pieces of silverware in as many seasons, only him and Harry Anderson, and that does make him a legend.
He left for Billericay of all places ahead of our League One campaign, but the dream turned sour quickly as Glenn Tamplin pulled out of the club. He signed for Boreham Wood last season, scoring to beat Halifax and send them to the National League play-off semi-final against Harrogate Town. Sadly for Rhead, another Imps old boy, Jack Muldoon, bagged the only goal of that game. He’s still with Boreham Wood, he played 90 minutes of their 0-0 draw with Barent on Tuesday night, whilst another former Imp, Tom Champion, sat on the bench.
Lee Angol
Angol is probably best known for what happened after this day – seemingly agreeing to move to us before going to Mansfield, then joining on loan and barely featuring as we won the League Two title. That shouldn’t take away what the striker did for us in his 11 National League starts though.
His debut was scintillating, he bagged three goals away at Braintree to become the first debutant to do so since Billy Cobb. He netted a critical goal against Forest Green to stage a fightback in March and it was his effort that drew the save from Scott Flinders that Hawkridge scored from against Macclesfield.
Yes, he signed for Mansfield the following season, scoring 10 in 34 outings. He then moved to League One with Shrewsbury, where four goals in his first eight games made him look like a bargain. He wasn’t, and he joined us on loan to play twice, one minute of our 1-1 draw with Notts County and 16 minutes of another 1-1 draw against Northampton. Since then he been with Leyton Orient, but has appeared just 17 times in all competitions this season, scoring twice. His total tally across his two-year stint is seven goals and 27 League Two starts.
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