Barry Fry

It’s very hard to imagine, but there was a time when Lincoln City almost appointed Barry Fry as manager. Fry was already known to Imps fans – he’d become something of a pantomime villain during our GMVC days, especially after being escorted off the pitch by police during a 2-1 victory at the Bank early in the season. His Barnet side were on us for promotion all season before eventually falling out of contention.

In June 1990, after a third second-placed finish in four seasons, he seemingly wanted out of Underhill. Brian Halford’s book Past Imperfect explains how the larger-than-life manager was interviewed at John Reames’ house for the position vacated by Colin Murphy. Fry didn’t get the job, it went to Allan Clarke, but a year later he won the GMVC, and within 14 months his side were putting six past a beleaguered Imps outfit.