Ten Best Lincoln City Loan Signings of the Noughties

June 22, 2025 Gary Lincoln City 0

2. Ashley Grimes – 30 apps, 17 goals

Credit Graham Burrell

Ashley Grimes was the classic example of a loanee arriving out of nowhere and absolutely taking off. Signed from Millwall in January 2011, he was electric—scoring 17 times in just 30 appearances during a period where we desperately needed a hero. His finishing was clinical, his movement smart, and he seemed to find the net almost every week during a hot streak that gave us hope of survival.

He had everything you’d want in a striker at this level: sharp instincts, pace, confidence, and the ability to score different types of goals. Whether it was long-range efforts, close-range scrambles, or calmly taken penalties, Grimes delivered them all with assurance.

Sadly, even with his goals, we couldn’t avoid relegation. But it’s no exaggeration to say that without Grimes, we’d have gone down a lot earlier. Fans were desperate to keep him, but he moved on to Rochdale that summer. Still, his contribution that season was unforgettable—a bright light in a bleak campaign.

1. Davide Somma – 14 apps, 9 goals

Courtesy of Graham Burrell

Few loan players have ever made the kind of impact Davide Somma did. In early 2010, the South African striker arrived from Leeds United and hit the ground running, bagging nine goals in just 14 appearances and becoming an instant terrace favourite.

Somma was pure class. Strong, intelligent, and with a deadly left foot, he had the knack of making scoring look effortless. His movement was outstanding, his composure ice-cold, and every time he got the ball in the final third, you felt something might happen. It wasn’t just the goals either—he lifted the team around him, giving us belief and purpose in the final months of the season.

There was a sense of heartbreak when he returned to Leeds and promptly started scoring at Championship level. But his short spell with City gave us a glimpse of genuine quality—a striker who, in truth, was operating a level or two below where he belonged.

For that unforgettable spell, he’s the best Lincoln loan signing of the noughties. No question.