Number seven in our countdown takes us to the most prolific goalscorer in Lincoln City’s history, a centre forward whose instinct, bravery and ruthless efficiency defined an era and set a benchmark that still stands today.
Andy Graver’s Lincoln City record remains unmatched, 143 goals from 274 appearances, a remarkable return of 0.52 goals per game across three spells at Sincil Bank, achieved in some of the most competitive divisions the club has ever faced.
Andy Graver (0.52 goals per game)
Born in Craghead, County Durham, in September 1927, Andrew Martin Graver followed a familiar northern path into football. He worked as a coal miner while playing for Quaking House Juniors, Willington and Annfield Plain, developing the physical resilience and sharp edge that would define his game. Newcastle United signed him as a professional, but with Jackie Milburn and George Robledo blocking the path, opportunities were scarce. His sole first-team appearance came in January 1950, deputising for Milburn in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
Lincoln City, managed by Bill Anderson, moved quickly. In September 1950, City paid £5,000 to bring Graver south, a significant outlay for a Third Division North side. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win over Halifax Town and finishing his first season with 20 goals in all competitions, just one behind Johnny Garvie. Despite bouts of homesickness and frequent trips back north, Anderson’s guidance helped him settle, and Lincoln were about to reap the rewards.
The 1951-52 campaign remains the defining chapter of Graver’s Lincoln career. City scored 121 goals on the way to the Third Division North title, and Graver was the spearhead. He netted 36 league goals from just 35 appearances, including a scarcely believable six in an 11-1 demolition of Crewe Alexandra, scored with both feet and his head. That season cemented his reputation as a complete centre forward, quick over the ground, fearless in the air, and devastating inside the box. Injury cruelly denied him an England B call-up, but his contribution to promotion was immense.
Division Two proved no obstacle. Graver continued to lead the line with distinction, scoring 18 goals in 1952-53 and then 25 the following season, including four in an 8-0 rout of Blackburn Rovers. Crowds at Sincil Bank regularly pushed beyond 20,000 as Lincoln established themselves at a higher level, with Graver’s goals central to their survival and competitiveness. Inevitably, bigger clubs circled. Offers were rejected until December 1954, when Leicester City paid a club record £27,500 plus Eric Littler, a fee that underlined Graver’s standing.
His time away never quite matched his Lincoln form. Leicester were relegated, a brief return to City followed, then a move to Stoke City, before Boston United tempted him away in 1957. Yet Lincoln City and Andy Graver were never truly finished. In October 1958, he returned for a third spell, declaring he had come to stay. Over the next three seasons, he added 33 goals, bringing his Imps total to 143, only one from the penalty spot, a statistic that further highlights his natural finishing ability.
Graver finished his playing career in non-league football before returning to Lincoln as a youth coach and scout. He remained a familiar figure around Sincil Bank for decades, later topping fan polls as the club’s greatest ever player.
When he died in January 2014, aged 86, Lincoln City lost not just a record holder, but the standard by which all its strikers continue to be judged.
You must be logged in to post a comment.