The FPA guests for Saturday’s game against Portsmouth are Sam Ellis, Dennis Booth, Simon Yeo, Phil Hubbard, and Ron Harbertson.
Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis was a centre-half and captain of City’s record-breaking 1975/76 team. Sam was voted the Supporters Player of the Season both in that campaign and in the following season when City were in the old Third Division. Sam was a key member of the team that Graham Taylor built and was important not only for his excellent defending but also for his ability to score goals both from open play and from the penalty spot. His final tally of 41 goals from 194 appearances is outstanding for a defender and in 1974/75 he finished as leading scorer with 15 league and cup goals. Sam began his career at Sheffield Wednesday playing for the Owls in the 1966 FA Cup final and winning England U23 caps while at Hillsborough. He moved on to Mansfield Town before signing for City in the summer of 1973. He left Lincoln in the summer of 1977 and followed Graham Taylor to Watford, helping his new team win the Fourth Division championship. Sam later managed Bury, Blackpool and the Imps and was a highly respected coach who worked for clubs including Manchester City, Leeds United, Burnley and Middlesbrough.
Debut vs Scunthorpe United, home 25 August 1973
Lincoln City record:
Football League 173 appearances, 33 goals
FA Cup: 13 appearances, four goals
Football League Cup: eight appearances, four goals
Dennis Booth
Dennis Booth was a midfielder who first signed for City on loan from Southend in February 1974. During his time on loan he scored a hat-trick of headers in just seven minutes as City defeated Bury 4-3 - which was the only time in his career that he managed three goals in a game. Dennis signed permanently for City in the summer of 1974 and was an important player in the Imps’ 1975/76 team which won the Fourth Division title. He moved on in October 1977 to play for Watford. In total he made almost 550 senior appearances during his 20-year playing career.
Debut vs Reading, home 17 February 1974
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 162 appearances, nine goals
FA Cup: 13 appearances
Football League Cup: 10 appearances plus one as substitute, one goal
Phil Hubbard
Phil Hubbard is a Lincoln-born player who was one of the Imps’ first apprentices following the introduction of a youth set-up in the mid-1960s. He made his initial appearances for the club as a forward but played in several different positions including right back during his time at Sincil Bank. He became a regular first-team player in 1968/69 and finished as leading scorer in 1970/71 when he was voted Player of the Season. Phil continued to score regularly in 1971/72 and by Christmas had 18 goals, including a hat-trick in a memorable 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup. Phil was then sold to Norwich City, then in the Second Division. He moved on to play for Grimsby Town before returning to Sincil Bank in August 1976. Phil spent three further seasons with City and had a spell playing in the USA before signing for Boston United in November 1979.
Debut vs Chester, away 19 February 1966
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 250 appearances plus 11 as substitute, 53 goals
FA Cup: 16 appearances plus two as substitute, one goal
Football League Cup: 16 appearances, six goals
Simon Yeo
Simon Yeo needs little introduction to City supporters. He was a key player under Keith Alexander's management having been signed from non-league Hyde United in August 2002 and scored on his home debut against Rochdale. Yeo continued to be a prolific scorer throughout his time at Sincil Bank. The highlights of his career included scoring against Torquay on the final day of the 2002/03 season to secure City a place in the play-offs, where he came off the bench in both semi-final legs against Scunthorpe United with dramatic effect – scoring twice in the last 20 minutes to earn the Imps a 5-3 win at Sincil Bank and then netting the winner in the second leg at Scunthorpe. In January 2005 he scored a hat-trick in City's win at Grimsby Town making him the first player in City's history to score a hat-trick in a league game at Blundell Park. Simon appeared in both play-off finals at the Millennium Stadium. He was the Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2004/05 when he was the Imps' leading scorer with 23 league and cup goals.
Debut vs Kidderminster Harriers away 10 August 2002
Lincoln City record
Football League: 85 appearances plus 50 as substitute, 42 goals
FA Cup: four appearances, one goal
Football League Cup: two appearances plus one as substitute, two goals
Other: nine appearances plus seven as substitute, six goals
Ron Harbertson
Ron Harbertson, at 93 years of age, is one of the oldest former Imps players. Ron was a forward whose career began at Newcastle United and he went to play for clubs including Bradford City, Brighton, Grimsby and Darlington before joining City in March 1958 when the club looked certain for relegation into the Third Division. However the Imps had a dramatic change of form winning the final six games of the season to avoid the drop, with Ron scoring in each of the matches. He was a regular in the City team before departing to play for Wrexham in March 1960. Ron then had a short spell with Darlington before returning to Sincil Bank for the 1961/62 season.
Debut vs Liverpool, away 15 March 1958
Lincoln City record
Football League: 86 appearances, 25 goals
FA Cup: five appearances, one goal
Football League Cup: one appearance, two goals
The match against Portsmouth is now sold out - click here to watch on iFollow Imps.
