Stacey West FC are delighted to announce that 1997/98 promotion winner Craig Stones has signed on for the game against the British Heart Foundation.
The Stacey West are set to face the BHF on Friday, May 22nd, in aid of the Lincoln City Foundation. As Director of Football, it is my job to put a squad together, a blend of former Lincoln City players, people connected to the site, and maybe a ringer or two if we can tempt anyone! We’ve already signed National League hero Terry Hawkridge, and now we’re moving to secure more great signings.
The game is taking place at Ashby Avenue, home of Lincoln United, and it’s going to be much more than a game of football. We’re putting together a fun evening in conjunction with British Heart Foundation FC, and it’s going to be epic. We’re going to drip-feed the different fun things we have planned, but for now, you just need to save the date.
The match sponsor is Fox Electrical (huge thanks to Stew for his support), and we have other sponsorship opportunities available – please get in touch if you’re interested.
Two Former Imps On Board
We secured the signing of Terry Hawkridge early, wanting some promotion expertise to add to the players we already have, and now we’re delighted to get Craig Stones on board as well. The midfielder was a regular around the squad under John Beck, making a debut in April 1997 as we hammered Swansea 4-0. He appeared again a week later from the bench as we drew 3-3 with Exeter, finishing ninth in the table.
The following season, the Scunthorpe-born academy graduate really burst onto the scene. He bagged in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup against his home town, appearing in the final as City lifted the trophy. He also had an impact on the first team, stepping up in an injury crisis. His first six starts saw City win four, draw two and concede just a single goal.
Stones appeared 18 times in total across league and cup as City finished third, winning promotion to the third tier. However, the 1998/99 season was a big step up with Manchester City, Fulham and Stoke among our opponents. Stones played once as we lost 4-0 at Gillingham. He appeared for the reserves as well, scoring against a Newcastle United side boasting the likes of Louis Saha and Andreas Andersson, among others. There was another Lincolnshire Senior Cup goal against Gainsborough Trinity as well.
He played his final matches in the 1999/2000 season, finished the campaign on loan at Grantham Town, making seven league appearances and scoring once. After three seasons as a professional, he was released by the Imps and moved into non-league football, joining Spalding United before a move to Brigg Town.
A switch to Gainsborough Trinity followed, where he made nine league appearances and scored once, before returning to Brigg Town and helping them lift the FA Vase with a 2–1 final victory over AFC Sudbury. Later spells took him to Sleaford Town and Bottesford Town, although his time at Sleaford was disrupted by a serious leg injury that ruled him out for a full season, before he eventually returned and continued his non-league career.
He will now join Stacey West FC as we look to get one over on my old marathon buddy, Jasper Cauldwell. They’re already getting plenty of practise in, but we’ve got another former Imp announcement coming soon, as well as a special guest manager as well.
Stacey West FC Squad: Chris Laming, Ollie Burton, Luke Wagstaff, Terry Hawkridge, Stewart Aisthorpe, Josh Chapman, Craig Stones, Josh Russell, Kyle Fox, Kyle Kennealey, Chris Marren and many more TBC
We have two more former Imps in the final negotiations, as well as a top former Lincoln United midfielder. Better get my signing pen out as DoF to make sure they get over the line!
Comments Welcome!