Number 13 in our countdown brings us to one of the most iconic figures ever to lead the line at Sincil Bank.
Percy Freeman remains a towering presence in the club’s post war story, a forward who delivered goals, spirit and unforgettable moments across two spells that cemented his place among the most prolific strikers the Imps have ever produced, with 0.42 goals per game.
#13, Percy Freeman (0.42)
Percy Freeman was born in Newark in 1945 and began his footballing journey in non-league before earning a move to West Bromwich Albion in 1968. Opportunities at The Hawthorns were limited and he made only three league appearances, understudy to England forward Jeff Astle, but his combination of strength, aerial dominance and direct running made him a natural fit for the Fourth Division. Lincoln City manager Bert Loxley took advantage, bringing him to Sincil Bank on a free transfer in the summer of 1970.
Freeman announced himself instantly. He scored on his debut away at Cambridge United and followed that with a goal in each of his next three league matches. His all action style was exactly what the club had been missing after years of stagnation and his 16 goals in his first season included memorable braces against Brentford, Grimsby, Bradford, Torquay and Aldershot. Lincoln finished 21st but Freeman gave supporters belief that the tide could turn. His presence on the pitch was immense and the atmosphere on the Clanford End began to build around his ability to bully defenders and score important goals.
The 1971-72 season saw Freeman and the team take a step forward. He finished the campaign with 14 league goals as Lincoln climbed to fifth and briefly challenged for promotion. His hat trick in a 4-1 win over Exeter and braces at Colchester and Darlington underlined his value as a striker who could carry the attack almost single-handed. Crowds rose sharply through that season, with more than 16,000 at Sincil Bank for the visit of Scunthorpe and over 15,000 for the game against Grimsby, and Freeman became the focal point of an increasingly confident side.
The beginning of 1972-73 continued in the same vein. Freeman scored nine league goals before Christmas, including a hat trick against Bury, but off field turmoil changed the picture. David Herd was removed as manager in December and Graham Taylor arrived to take charge. Taylor’s first major decision was the sale of Freeman to Reading for £11,500, a sum that reflected the forward’s importance but left supporters stunned. The impact was immediate and damaging as the team slipped away from the promotion picture and crowds fell sharply.
Freeman never settled at Reading, and by 1974, he had dropped out of league football entirely. When Lincoln came calling again later that year, he returned with renewed hunger and reestablished himself as one of the most influential forwards in the division. Although his 1974-75 season was modest by his standards, the campaign that followed was extraordinary.
In 1975-76, he scored 23 league goals as Lincoln stormed to the Fourth Division title, setting records for goals scored and points accumulated. His partnership with John Ward became one of the most feared in the country and his presence at the front of Graham Taylor’s youthful, dynamic side was central to a season still considered one of the greatest in club history.
Freeman’s final season at Sincil Bank came in the Third Division in 1976-77. Despite persistent injury issues, he scored nine league goals, including a memorable equaliser in front of 14,706 against Sheffield Wednesday. He retired from league football that summer, having contributed to two defining eras and establishing himself as one of the most beloved figures ever to wear the red and white.
His Lincoln City record stands at 152 league appearances and 64 league goals, a ratio of 0.42 that secures his place among the most prolific post-war Imps forwards.
My all time favourite
“Jesus saves …. but Percy nets the rebound. ” Which modern-day stiker would earn a tribute like that? It was his ebullient personality that that stood out, something your statistical twaddle could never appreciate