There was some definite excitement back in August 2022, when we signed Jack Diamond from Sunderland.
Writing for Football League World, I’d tracked Diamond, not only with the Mackems, but also his impressive spells at Harrogate Town. It felt like we’d secured quite the coup, and for the first month, that proved to be the case. Four goals in his first four games, including a hat trick at Bristol Rovers, underlined what a talent the lad could be.
Then things went awry. It didn’t help that Kennedy’s Imps regressed, failing to win in the league between November 19th and February 4th, but Diamond’s drop off was noticeable. Aside from a brace against Everton kids in the EFL Trophy, he seemingly disappeared, often anonymous. Mind you, much of the front line was.
His actual input was ten League One goal involvements, four penalties, four assists and two strikes from open play, both against Bristol Rovers. On paper, it looks decent, and if you threw in the EFL Trophy, that’s 13 goal involvements (five pens, five assists and three goals) but the reality was different.
What we didn’t know was that he had a huge accusation hanging over him: a rape charge. He played his last game for us on March 25th. Five days later, he appeared in court, and we cancelled his loan. His Imps career was over, his own future uncertain. After a year in the wilderness, Diamond’s day in court came. It took a jury just seven minutes to clear him. He’s since set about rebuilding his career, firstly with Carlisle, and currently with Stockport.
There is clear statistical evidence that, freed from the false accusation that dogged his spell at Lincoln, he’s found his form, and is very much the one that got away in recruitment terms. Remember, it was widely believed Sunderland would allow him to leave at the end of his contract, and that could have led to a Sincil Bank move.
Jack Diamond Before and After
There are clear signs of a post-case reset. The headline shift is efficiency: his overall action success rate jumps from 43.8% in Imps’ spell to 53.5% in 2024/25 and holds at 51.6% in 2025/26. Passing volume and accuracy rise too, from 18.28 passes at 69% to 25.31 at 74.3% (2024/25) and a steadier 21.25 at 74.7% (2025/26). He is losing the ball less in his own half (11.91 → 11.46 → 9.75 per 90) and winning a higher share of aerials in 2025/26 (20.6% → 53.8%), all pointing to tidier use of possession and better duel selection.
End product trends are mixed but broadly positive. Goals per 90 nudge up from 0.20 to 0.24 and again to 0.25, but it’s worth noting that not one has come from the spot for the Hatters. Shot profile is less convincing: attempts rise to 2.38 per 90 in 2025/26, but accuracy has fallen this season after a spike last time out (on-target rate 37% → 45.9% → 26.3%) and xG per 90 declines (0.27 → 0.19 → 0.14). That could once again be a reflection of the penalties he took at City, each being xG of 0.75.
His role and behaviours look different as well. The winger-style markers have changed: crosses per 90 climb slightly in 2024/25 (2.95 → 3.72); dribbles drop from 6.57 (50% success) and 6.45 (55.6%) to 2.63 (33.3%). Duels per 90 also step down (26.94 → 24.49 → 22.63). Taken together with steadier passing and fewer defensive-third losses, this reads like a move from high-variance, touchline take-on merchant to a more central, connective role with better retention and selective aggression. It feels like he’s becoming a more intelligent player, marked not just by his pace and trickery, but with tidier decision-making.
Overall, there is a credible improvement in reliability and decision-making after the court case, with gains in open-play goal involvement capped by a strong assist return.
The One The Got Away
There was never a doubt Jack Diamond has League One quality, but his Imps spell often failed to show it. For a year or so after, before the facts emerged, he was a maligned figure, one perhaps even ignored by supporters who didn’t have a full story. I wrote him off; I ignored any signs of his positive elements because of the charges. Nobody wants to be associated with a player who might be guilty of such a crime. Such is our ‘justice’ system; he was effectively guilty until proven innocent.
Seven jury minutes later, and the truth emerged – a young man with the weight of the world incorrectly placed on his shoulders. He’s moved through that, and has now rebuilt his reputation with solid displays at Stockport. He’s shown a huge amount of character to be able to do so.
Rarely do I wish an opposition player well in such a blatant manner, but given the experiences the 25-year-old has had, I hope he does continue to prove himself a capable player (for 44 games a season, at least) and we can continue to look and wonder what might have been for him at Lincoln City.
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