Recently, we conducted a vote to find the top 25 Lincoln City players of the 21st Century.
With more than 660 votes, we can now reveal the winners! There is a video on YouTube and an audio podcast, but if you prefer the written word, then we’ve got you covered.
25 – Lasse Sorensen
Lasse Sorensen earns his place in the top 25 not only because of what he achieved on the pitch, but because of the connection he built with supporters during his time at Sincil Bank. His spectacular halfway-line goal against Wycombe Wanderers will live long in the memory, as will his relentless performances down the right flank, where he made the wing-back position his own.
Sorensen seemed to embody everything supporters want from a player, giving everything for the shirt and embracing the club at every opportunity. His famous Imp celebration may not have been the slickest ever seen, but it perfectly captured the enthusiasm and authenticity that made him such a popular figure.
24 – Nathan Arnold
Nathan Arnold arrived at Lincoln City carrying the baggage of previous associations with Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town, but it did not take long for supporters to look beyond that. A key figure in Danny Cowley’s first title-winning side, Arnold brought creativity, flair and an ability to produce big moments when they mattered most.
While many remember the goals against Ipswich Town and Gateshead, his influence stretched far beyond those headline-grabbing occasions. During the first half of the National League title-winning season, he was one of City’s most important attacking outlets, providing the spark and quality that helped transform a hard-working side into genuine champions.
23 – Jovon Makama
Jovon Makama’s inclusion reflects not just the player he became, but the journey he undertook at Lincoln City. There were moments earlier in his career when it would have been difficult to imagine him ranking among the club’s favourite players of the century, but his development into a dangerous, powerful attacking threat changed perceptions completely.
His eventual departure brought a landmark transfer fee and helped break through a barrier that many supporters had long wanted the club to reach. More importantly, however, he left with genuine affection from the fanbase, having overcome setbacks and fulfilled the potential many had always believed was there.
22 – Anthony Scully
Anthony Scully’s place on this list is thoroughly deserved, particularly given how easy it can be for players from that 2021/22 period to be slightly overlooked. He was not always easy to define positionally, never quite a winger, never quite a centre-forward and perhaps never fully used as a number ten, but his output was impossible to ignore.
With 25 league goals in 85 league appearances, he offered City a consistent attacking threat and a goal every three games. He had good feet in tight spaces, could cut in from the left and bend efforts beyond goalkeepers, and remains a player whose contribution looks better the further removed we become from it.
21 – Liam Bridcutt
Liam Bridcutt remains one of the best footballers I have seen in a Lincoln City shirt, certainly in terms of pure understanding of the game. Injuries meant we probably never saw as much of him as we would have liked, but when he was fit and at his peak, particularly during the 2020-21 play-off season, he was outstanding.
He could sit as the lone pivot, allow others to play with freedom, and still appear wherever danger threatened. The best way to describe him is that he filled cracks before anyone else had noticed they existed, drifting into spaces, covering gaps and making the whole side function.
20 – Jorge Grant
Jorge Grant is one of those players whose reputation will probably grow with time, because he was an outstanding footballer in a side that did not get the final reward its performances deserved. In the 2020-21 season, he was as influential as anyone, capable of playing wide on the left, as a number ten, or deeper in midfield alongside Liam Bridcutt.
He had quality in delivery, danger around the box and the intelligence to adapt his game depending on what the team needed. It was no surprise he earned a move to the Championship, even if the destination was not one many Lincoln supporters would have chosen for him.
19 – Gareth McAuley
Gareth McAuley only made 72 league appearances for Lincoln City, but it felt like he was around for far longer because of the impression he left. Signed from Coleraine, he initially had to work his way into the side before becoming part of a formidable defensive unit under Keith Alexander.
He was excellent in the air, strong, composed and capable of chipping in with goals, and there was always a sense that he had the tools to play higher. The fact he went on to enjoy such a fine career after leaving City, including international football and Premier League appearances, only adds to the pride supporters feel when looking back on his time here.
18 – Jamie Forrester
Jamie Forrester arrived at Lincoln as an experienced forward and quickly showed exactly why he had enjoyed the career he had. His record of 30 league goals in 81 appearances speaks for itself, and his partnership with Mark Stallard remains one of the best traditional strike pairings many of us have seen in red and white.
Forrester was not about blistering pace, but he did not need to be, because his brain was often several steps ahead of the defenders around him. In and around the penalty area, there was always confidence that if he lined up a chance, he was likely to finish it.
17 – Neal Eardley
Neal Eardley came to Lincoln after a difficult spell with injuries, and that was probably the only reason a player of his quality was available to us in the first place. Once here, he became one of the most dependable full-backs the club has had in recent memory, bringing calmness, consistency and class to the right side of defence.
He rarely seemed to make mistakes, rarely dropped below a seven out of ten, and looked a cut above the level for much of his time with City. Off the pitch, he was also one of the nicest players to deal with, thoughtful, articulate and generous with his time.
16 – Richard Butcher
Richard Butcher is always difficult to write about without a sense of sadness, because he was a footballer we lost far too early. On the pitch, he brought energy, quality and drive to Keith Alexander’s side at a time when City needed that extra bit of class in midfield. He arrived from non-league football and quickly looked at home, becoming one of the players from that era who was clearly capable of stepping up.
His later return should have been handled better, but none of that should take away from what he gave the club. In my mind, he remains a Lincoln City legend and would probably have ranked higher had more younger supporters seen him play.
15 – Lee Frecklington
Lee Frecklington was one of our own, and that always gave his story an extra emotional pull. As a young midfielder breaking through, he played with fearlessness, carrying the ball from deep, linking play and offering a goal threat from central areas.
His 169 league appearances and 28 goals underline how important he was before moving on to prove himself higher up the pyramid, most notably with Rotherham United. When he returned, he still had a role to play in one of the great modern City moments, scoring the penalty that helped take us to Wembley before being part of the side that won there.
14 – Brennan Johnson
Brennan Johnson is the highest loan player on this list, which says plenty about the impact he made in a single season. There were moments when he took criticism, particularly in the COVID campaign when most supporters only saw him from a distance, but his quality was obvious and his contribution was significant.
Goals, assists and that ability to carry the ball at pace made him one of the standout players in a side full of them. His career since leaving Lincoln has only reinforced what we saw: a player destined for the top, and one who was briefly, but memorably, a Lincoln City hero.
13 – Sonny Bradley
Sonny Bradley’s inclusion after just one season says a huge amount about the impact he has made. He might not have worn the armband, but he felt like a captain in so many ways, leading through dominance, presence and consistency at the back.
His aerial strength, particularly inside his own penalty area, was vital to the way City defended, and when the ball needed winning, he was usually the man there to win it. In a team as good as the current one, it would have felt wrong not to see some of its key figures represented, and Bradley fully deserves his place.
12 – Paul Farman
Paul Farman’s place on this list is about much more than appearances or clean sheets. He came through the difficult National League years, had spells where his place was under threat, and still showed the attitude and determination needed to become a major figure in the 2016-17 promotion season.
All he ever seemed to want was to play in the Football League, and he eventually helped Lincoln get back there. There were mistakes, as there are with all goalkeepers, but his character, longevity and connection with the club made him one of the most popular players of that era.
11 – Paul Morgan
Paul Morgan was a superb defender and one of the most intelligent centre-halves I have seen play for Lincoln City. He was not the biggest, and he was not the sort of centre-back whose reputation was built purely on heading everything away, but he read the game beautifully and timed tackles as well as anyone.
He stayed through administration, became a key figure in the play-off years, and gave the side real leadership and composure. In a modern back three, with his ability to anticipate danger and use the ball, I think he would have been outstanding.
10 – Alan Marriott
Alan Marriott was Lincoln City’s number one for almost a decade, making 393 league appearances and giving the club remarkable service. From 2001 onwards, he was a constant presence in goal through the Keith Alexander era, the John Schofield years and beyond, playing 40 or more games in seven different seasons.
He was not the tallest goalkeeper, but he was excellent in the air, a fine shot-stopper and a player capable of keeping City in games almost single-handedly. He deserved a testimonial, and the way his departure was handled still rankles, but his place among the great Imps goalkeepers is secure.
9 – Tendayi Darikwa
Tendayi Darikwa had a huge task when he arrived, because replacing Lasse Sorensen looked far from straightforward. Instead, he became one of the most important players in the side, giving City leadership, experience, athleticism and quality down the right.
As captain of the team that won promotion to the Championship, his name is already guaranteed a place in Lincoln folklore. He is a more complete player than many expected us to find, a goal threat as well as a defensive presence, and his influence on the current squad has been enormous.
8 – Peter Gain
Peter Gain was a wonderful footballer, the sort of player who could make something beautiful happen even in a team built on grit, hard work and directness. Signed initially on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, he stayed through administration and became one of the defining players of the Keith Alexander era.
He had outstanding technical ability, scored spectacular goals and always seemed to find the ball, even when City’s style was not exactly designed around patient midfield play. The fact that he ranks this highly more than 20 years later says everything about his talent and impact.
7 – Harry Anderson
Harry Anderson’s position at number seven may surprise some, but his Lincoln City career was packed with success and memorable contributions. Across his spells with the club, he was part of a National League title win, the Checkatrade Trophy success, the League Two title and the League One play-off campaign.
He was direct, powerful and relentless when running at defenders, while his ability to win corners and free kicks in dangerous areas was perhaps underrated. He was not always the most delicate player, but once he got moving, defenders knew they had a serious problem.
6 – Simon Yeo
Simon Yeo was always likely to feature near the top of a list like this, because few players from the modern era carry the same cult status. His Lincoln career was not perfect, with barren spells and moments of chaos along the way, but that was part of the appeal.
At his best, particularly around the 2004-05 season, he was outstanding, forming a brilliant attacking threat alongside Gary Taylor-Fletcher and producing the sort of moments that still live in the memory. He remains closely connected to the club and the city, and for many supporters, he is one of the great icons of the Keith Alexander years.
5 – Michael Bostwick
Michael Bostwick was everything supporters love in a Lincoln City player: committed, aggressive, powerful and utterly reliable. He could play in midfield or at centre-back and look equally at home, bringing a physical edge and leadership that helped define one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history.
His tackle against Peterborough United would probably be enough on its own to secure cult hero status, but there was so much more to him than that. Off the pitch, he was quiet and unassuming, but once he crossed the white line, he became an absolute monster.
4 – Conor McGrandles
Conor McGrandles has had a fascinating Lincoln City journey, and his place at number four feels like recognition for both versions of the player we have seen. In 2020-21, he was the energetic box-to-box midfielder who played a huge role in the play-off campaign and was voted Stacey West Player of the Year.
After leaving and returning, it perhaps took time for everyone to fully appreciate his value, but he has since become one of the most important players in the current side. This season, in a deeper role, he has been outstanding, and there is no longer any doubt about just how good he is.
3 – Harry Toffolo
Harry Toffolo was an excellent left-back for Lincoln City, but his place this high is about more than his ability on the pitch. Like Lasse Sorensen, he seemed to understand what it meant to represent the club and the community, and that helped him build a strong bond with supporters.
He was energetic, reliable, technically sound and clearly destined for bigger things, as his career after leaving Sincil Bank proved. To go on and play in the Premier League only confirmed the level of player City had at the time, and he remains one of the most fondly remembered figures of the Cowley era.
2 – Jack Moylan
Jack Moylan’s place at number two may carry an element of recency, but it is hard to argue against the emotion and quality behind it. He scored the goal that created the iconic Championship moment, but his season was about far more than that single strike.
Moylan brought unpredictability, goals, assists and the ability to change games with moments of individual brilliance, whether turning things around at Wycombe Wanderers or popping up in decisive areas at the right time. In a side built on collective strength, he still found a way to stand out, and that says everything about his talent.
1 – Matt Rhead
Matt Rhead takes top spot, and it feels absolutely right. Across 196 appearances and 49 goals, he became the focal point of the Cowley revolution, the platform on which so much of Lincoln City’s modern success was built. He was big, awkward, clever, brave and far better technically than some outside the club ever gave him credit for, with soft feet, strong link-up play and a habit of producing moments of outrageous quality.
Opposition supporters hated him, City supporters loved him, and without his goals, presence and personality, it is hard to imagine the club being where it is today.
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