Number 22 on our countdown brings us to a player who perhaps never fully got the credit he deserved at Sincil Bank, but whose record stands up to scrutiny all these years later.
For those joining us partway through, this feature celebrates Lincoln City’s most prolific strikers from 1945 onwards, ranked purely on goals per game in EFL competition. Each player has made at least 25 appearances, ensuring every inclusion reflects a meaningful contribution in red and white.
We’ve already revisited three players from the 60s to the 00s, and now we move forward to a lively forward who made his mark in the late 1960s.
#22 – Bobby Svarc (0.36)
Bobby Svarc’s time at Lincoln City might have been brief, but his knack for scoring goals was never in doubt. The Leicester-born striker arrived at Sincil Bank in December 1968 for a £6,000 fee from his hometown club, having come through the ranks at Leicester City and made 18 senior appearances for the Foxes.
Quick, direct, and sharp in front of goal, he quickly became a fan favourite, although few could pronounce his surname correctly, hence the instant nickname “Sparky”.
He made his debut away at York City before netting on his home bow in a 2-0 win over Bradford City, just 20 seconds into the second half. That goal sparked excitement among supporters and prompted local headlines lauding his impact. However, Lincoln’s form dipped during that campaign, and despite flashes of promise, Svarc found himself in and out of the team as the Imps drifted out of promotion contention.
The 1969/70 season began with optimism as Svarc was paired with Rod Fletcher in a quick, mobile forward line. Early results were disappointing, and once again, his opportunities became limited. However, his goal return for the reserves kept him on the radar, and after a prolific spell, including an 11-2 win over Halifax, he forced his way back into the side. By the end of the campaign, he had 4 league goals to his name, along with 20 for the second string.
It was the following year when Svarc truly caught fire. After a short loan spell at Barrow, he returned to Lincoln in November 1970 and finally produced the consistency that had been expected. Between November and February, he scored 12 goals in 17 matches, including strikes in five successive games and across all three fixtures of a twice-replayed FA Cup tie against Bradford City. His sharp finishing and eye for goal gave Lincoln much-needed energy in a difficult season, even if the campaign once again ended with a re-election plea.
That burst of form proved to be his peak in red and white. The arrival of new signings under manager David Herd saw competition intensify, and Svarc’s appearances dwindled in 1971/72. After just a handful of outings, he joined Boston United, managed by former team-mate Jim Smith—a move that reignited his career. He went on to score freely for the Pilgrims, earning a return to the Football League with Colchester United and later Blackburn Rovers, where he continued to find the net regularly under Smith’s management.
Although his Lincoln career lasted just 45 league games and yielded 16 goals, Bobby Svarc’s 0.36 goals-per-game record places him comfortably among the most efficient post-war strikers to represent the club.
His time at Sincil Bank may have been short, but it served as the launchpad for a career that ultimately brought him almost 100 Football League goals and a reputation as one of the lower leagues’ most reliable finishers.
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