To get your Deadline Day kicked off properly, Kyle Fox has looked back at some of the key final day movers movers over his time as an Imps fan.
Tom Pett – GOOD
January 2018- May 2020
We first signed Tom on 31st January 2017 for what was described as a ‘significant five-figure sum’. He was mainly used as a sub in the back half of the 17/18 season, and my main memory of him from that season was his lovely curled effort from the edge of the box to equalize against Yeovil, which secured us a play-off spot.
In his first full season he was a key player for us, playing 44 games in the league to help secure City the 2018/19 League two title. Injuries in the 19/20 season then plagued him before being told by Michael Appleton that he wasn’t in his plans and his Lincoln career came to an end in the summer of 2020.
I loved Tom Pett as a player during his time at Lincoln (which probably makes me biased) and I think the biggest reason for that is because of how much I could relate to him in a football sense. I love playing football and the way he played was the way I tried to play and probably still do now. He had that low centre of gravity and was really good technically.
Max Melbourne – BAD
September 2019- June 2022
Coming from the academy of West Brom, Max Melbourne was a player we originally signed on a six-month loan deal on the second of September 2019 (which was the deadline day this year due to the 31st of August being on a Saturday). During his aforementioned loan spell, he only played twice for us, both appearances coming from the bench. This was mainly due to the fact our starting left back at the time was a certain Harry Toffolo.
However, we then signed Melbourne permanently in January 2020 (for an undisclosed fee) following the expiration of his loan with us and shortly before Toffolo’s move to Huddersfield. Max’s misfortune continued as he soon found himself behind another brilliant left back in Tayo Edun and again struggled for a place in the team. What followed for him was a loan in the back half of the 20/21 season to Walsall where he had consistent game time.
He then went on a season-long loan to Stevenage for the 21/22 season, where he only featured seven times for them. However, this was cut short as we recalled him in January due to injuries we had at the time. This led to Melbourne’s best and only memorable moment in a Lincoln shirt, which was his 92nd-minute winner against Plymouth away.
Ethan Erhahon – GOOD
January 2022- Present day
I could go on all day about how good Ethan is and how much I love watching him play, but I’ll keep it as brief as possible. He joined us on transfer deadline day in January 2022 for an undisclosed fee, which is rumoured to be a significant six-figure fee. His impact on the first team was instant as he went straight into the team for a fixture against Accrington which we won comfortably 3-0.
He was excellent and his debut set down a marker for things to come. This was massive as players like Ethan are so difficult to find at any level. Erhahon has only improved in his time with us and his best form was displayed in the second half of last season as we pushed for the play offs with him playing a huge role in that. He has already played over 60 games for us, and you know he will be a 7/10 at least every week, which for a 23-year-old in his position is extremely impressive.
He is excellent technically in possession and is very astute in his off the ball work. I am sure when he is inevitably sold in the future that we will make a big profit on Ethan despite the fact we spent a significant amount of money on him.
Max Sanders – BAD
February 2021- June 2023
This was a deal that was completed on 1st February 2021 for an undisclosed fee as we signed Sanders from Brighton. He went straight into the first team immediately after being signed under Appleton but soon drifted to the bench with other players being preferred due to performance and different profiles that were more adept going forward, for example, or had different attributes that suited the team better.
Once he was out the team in the 21/22 season, he never really got back in up until the season ended. He mostly appeared from the bench. Mark Kennedy then came in as head coach in the summer following and Max got back in to the team at the start of the 22/23 season but once again after a period of games, he was dropped to the bench. This was due to the signing of Virtue and then because of Kennedy’s decision to switch formation to a back three which took out one of the pre-existing midfielder slots within the XI, limiting his opportunities further.
He could never stay in the team at Lincoln and when he did get in the team, he didn’t make a significant impact. Also, the fact we paid a fee for him doesn’t help his case.
Jake Hesketh – FORGOTTEN
One deadline-day signing you may have forgotten about is that of Jake Hesketh, who was signed under Danny Cowley on loan from Southampton on deadline day in September 2019. He played as an attacking midfielder for us and featured under both Cowley and Appleton throughout the season.
However, he wasn’t involved in a significant amount of games in the 19/20 season, only registering 24 appearances for the Imps and scoring 1 goal which you might remember. It was the highlight of his spell (similar to Max Melbourne) with us, and it came in that magnificent 5-3 win over Ipswich at Sincil Bank, with Hesketh scoring the fifth and final goal late on in the match. What a game.
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