The Bad: Elliot Parish
Elliot Parish was dropped into an almost impossible situation at Lincoln City. Trevor Carson had been recalled by Sunderland, Steve Tilson was unwilling to restore Joe Anyon, and the young Aston Villa goalkeeper arrived in March 2011 without any senior experience.
His professional debut could hardly have gone worse, with City losing 6-0 at home to Rotherham United. Parish played nine times, conceded 23 goals and collected only one point as the Imps tumbled out of the Football League. He received little protection from a fragile defence, but he also looked completely out of his depth.
After spells with Cardiff City and Wycombe Wanderers, Parish joined Bristol City following a successful trial in July 2013. He made his Robins debut in a 2-1 League Cup victory over Premier League Crystal Palace and became a regular, making 19 league appearances before losing his place following the arrival of Simon Moore.
Parish left Bristol City for Blackpool in August 2014 and later represented Colchester United, Accrington Stanley, Dundee and St Johnstone. He won both Scottish domestic cups with the latter before moving into coaching, eventually becoming Atlanta United’s goalkeeper coach in 2025.
Parish recovered from his nightmare at Sincil Bank and built a respectable professional career, including a reasonable spell with Bristol City. However, for Lincoln supporters, he will always be associated with nine matches, 23 goals conceded and one of the most disastrous runs in the club’s history.
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