Lincoln City Academy has had plenty of graduates since the turn of the millennium. From Lee Frecklington to Danny Hone, we talk you through some of our own that have made over 100 league appearances since the 90s.
Ahead of the Under-18s' FA Youth Cup Second Round tie against South Shields tonight, we take a look at some of our current and former Imps who have stepped foot on Sincil Bank.
Danny Hone
Son of Mark, Danny was a graduate of the Academy system in 2008, having made numerous appearances as an Under-18, for the First Team in 2007.
Hone made his debut for the Imps against Chester City in 2007, in Jackson's first game in charge, coming on as a substitute for the injured Lee Beevers.
Also Youth Team skipper, Danny played alongside former Premier League centre-half Adie Moses in his breakthrough season, before continuing his form into the following season in Peter Jackson's first full season in charge.
Danny's first goal came away at Rochdale in January 2008, before scoring a stunning volley at the beginning of the following season, again against Rochdale at Sincil Bank.
Danny left the Imps at the back end of 2011 having made 100 appearances for his hometown team, scoring four times.
Lee Frecklington
Arguably the most talented of the 100+ club from the Academy system, Frecklingotn made his City debut in the then-named LDV Vans Trophy in 2003, aged 18.
He made one further appearance in the LDV Vans Trophy that season, before making his league debut away at Rochdale the following campaign.
Freck's breakthrough season came in the 2005/06 season under Keith Alexander, making 20 appearances, albeit the majority of them as a substitute, but scored his first City goal in a victory at Stockport County.
Frecklington played his part in three play-off campaigns, and continued to impress following Keith Alexander's departure, which earned him a move to Peterborough United in 2009.
After spells away in Sky Bet League One and the Championship, Frecklington returned 'home' in January 2018 and was named club captain in August 2018.
Lee has over 400 league appearances to his name, with 64 goals (153 appearances and 28 league goals for the Imps).
Jack Hobbs
Despite only making one appearance for the Imps as a 16-year-old, Hobbs has had a successful career at numerous Premier League and EFL clubs.
When Hobbs came on as a 16-year-old against Bristol Rovers in January 2005, many were eagerly anitcipating what was to come with the young defender. What did follow was a departure for Premier League giants Liverpool.
Hobbs had to wait until 2007 to make his debut for the Reds, coming on as a substitute in a 4-2 win at Reading in the then-named Carling Cup. He then made his Premier League debut in a 4-0 win over future-club Bolton Wanderers.
After spells with Leicester City, Scunthorpe United, Hull City and Nottingham Forest, Hobbs joined Bolton in the summer of 2018, where he has made 11 appearances since his arrival.
Darren Huckerby
Nottingham-born Darren Huckerby was handed a scholarship by the Imps in 1992 and progressed to being arguably one of the most successful products of the Club's youth system, as just over three years later he was on his way to Newcastle United for a Club record fee of £400,000.
A regular scorer at youth team level, Darren marked his Football League debut by netting within five minutes of coming on as a substitute at Shrewsbury to inflict the Shrews' first defeat in 17 matches, while aged just 17.
Darren netted in two of the final three games of the 1994/95 season, including one in a 3-1 win at Division Three champions Carlisle United on the final day, whilst his form in the opening stages of the following campaign had the scouts flocking to Sincil Bank to check out the form of the pacey front man.
Nineteen of his 31 League and cup appearances came in the 1995/96 season but it was a performance at Mansfield Town on November 1st, in front of the watching Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, that was to signal his departure from the Imps.
He joined the Magpies for a fee of £400,000 whilst Keegan also sent a full-strength side including new signing Alan Shearer to Sincil Bank for a pre-season friendly the following summer as part of the deal.
Huckerby became a household name among Premier League followers, as he left Newcastle United for Coventry City for a fee of £1 million, with Leeds United. paying quadruple that for the former Imp in 1999.
At the back end of 2000, Huckerby signed for Manchester City for £3 million, helping Manchester City gain promotion to the Premier League with 26 goals, before battling with the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler for his place.
