I’ve brought you plenty of ‘worst’ lists over the years, but this one flips the script—and I’ll admit, it was a lot more fun to put together.
The 2000s were a rollercoaster for City fans. From Keith’s play-off chasers to the chaos of 2011, there were moments of hope, heartbreak, and the occasional loanee who lit the place up. As the mascot back then, I saw them all close up—some fleeting, some brilliant, and a few who genuinely changed our season.
Here are ten players whose short spells in red and white left a lasting impact, for all the right reasons.
10. Louis Dodds – 41 apps, 9 goals
Signed from Leicester City in the summer of 2007, Louis Dodds arrived as a relatively unknown quantity but left a strong impression on those who watched him in red and white. Nominally an attacking midfielder, Dodds had a knack for arriving late into the box, often ghosting into dangerous areas and getting among the goals.
His nine strikes came in a season that was otherwise patchy, but Dodds offered flair, movement, and a level of technique that stood out in a squad finding its way post-Schofield. While he never quite carried us to anything substantial, his work rate and eye for goal were never in doubt.
It always felt like Dodds was destined for a solid career in the lower leagues—and that’s exactly what he delivered, spending the bulk of his career at Port Vale. But for one season at Sincil Bank, we saw a glimpse of a player who could turn a game on his own.
9. Marcus Richardson – 57 apps, 14 goals
Marcus Richardson might not have been the most cultured forward we’ve ever had, but if you wanted power, presence, and a battering ram of a striker, he was your man. Initially joining on loan from Hartlepool United, he made an instant impact and eventually turned that loan into a permanent stay.
That loan was impressive enough. Four goals in 13, including three in three during one spell, had fans salivating at the thought of him signing. His goals often came at key times, but his real strength was in unsettling defenders, holding the ball up, and giving us a proper focal point. He might not have looked like a stereotypical number nine—awkward at times, scruffy even—but when he was on it, he was a real handful.
Sadly, he was also a loan out, after leaving a Ciaron Toner shaped dent in Gary Simpson’s car (allegedly).
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