It seems more than 1,000 of you found some joy in our recent article looking at former Imps with famous links.

Therefore, I thought I’d bring you four more than have popped up as a result of the article, and a link to one famous person that is in the news right now. I’d say ‘enjoy’, but let’s be honest, it’s just something to keep you amused until we get some real news. By the way, that will likely be June 11th to 19th, as that’s when I’m on holiday.

Roy Chapman – Leslie Ash

First on the list we have a bona fide Lincoln City legend in Roy Chapman. He bagged 77 league goals in 172 outings for the club across two spells, including 20 in the 1966/67 season. He was the club’s manager between March 1965 and May 1966 and he made history by becoming the club’s first-ever sub when he replaced Bunny Larkin as we won 2-0 at Darlington in August 1965. He sadly passed away aged just 49 in March 1983.

Roy Chapman had a son, who many of you will know; Lee. He played for Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and West Ham to name but a few. His wife is Leslie Ash, of Men Behaving Badly fame. Of course, Roy never knew his famous daughter-in-law, but it counts for the list.

Tyreece John-Jules – Daniel John-Jules

 

I can’t believe I forgot Tyreece John-Jules, one of the loans we brought in during the winter window of 2019. He only played seven times for the Imps, a combination of a curtailed season and his own bad luck with injuries. He scored once, on his debut as we defeated Blackpool 1-0, but failed to impress after that and is viewed by many as a flop. He’s had a torrid time since then, suffering an injury-plagued season at Doncaster, a barren spell at Blackpool and finally a stint with Sheff Weds which saw him injured after a single game.

He does have a famous uncle – Danny John-Jules, also known as The Cat from the cult 90s comedy series Red Dwarf. Danny was also in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells and Blade 2 in smaller roles.

Jack Grainger – Colin Grainger

This was the third suggestion from Malcolm Johnson (thanks mate), and it’s a new one on me. John Grainger had a decent career with the Imps, scoring 14 goals in 42 outings after arriving from Rotherham United for £5000 in 1957. That would be worth around £85,000 in today’s money, but he was very much a veteran when he signed for us, having churned out more than 350 appearances for the Millers.

I’m reliably informed his brother was a big name in pop culture. He was a decent footballer that’s for sure; Colin Grainger scored three goals in six outings for England in 1957, bagging on his debut against Brazil, but missing out on the 1958 World Cup through injury. It was during his spell with England his prowess as a singer became apparent; he performed in front of journalists at Nat Lofthouse’s request. The highlight of his singing career came in June 1963 when he was paid £50 to appear on the same bill as the Beatles. The Fab Four received the same fee, but they went on to superstardom, and he went back to the rather less illustrious Port Vale squad.

Luke Foster – Rebekah Vardy

 

Luke Foster was very much a squad player during Keith’s final season at the club, having been on the books of Sheffield Wednesday as a youth. He appeared 17 times, including a run in the side towards the end of that season, before leaving for non-league football. That wasn’t the end for the versatile defender; he rebuilt his career with Oxford United, and had stints with Stevenage, Mansfield and Matlock before a surprise move to then-League One side Preston North End. He returned to Lincoln under Gary Simpson in 2013/14, before winding down his career.

His ex is none other than Rebekah Vardy, who is currently embroiled in a tasteless libel suit with Colleen Rooney. Foster has previously labelled her ‘Britain’s pushiest WAG’, and it seems his move back to Lincoln might have been the final straw. “When I moved from Preston to Lincoln my wages went down and Becky would say: ‘We can’t live on that.’ But it was still more than my mates earned as builders. I’d go ‘What planet are you on?'” The couple split in 2013, not long after he moved back to the Bank.