The FPA guests for Saturday’s game against Oxford United are Roger Holmes, Simon Yeo and Darren Horrigan.
Roger Holmes
Roger Holmes signed amateur forms for the Imps in May 1958 when he was just 15 years old having previously been playing for Limestone Rangers in the Gainsborough League. Roger made his reserve team debut four days after his 16th birthday and in September 1959, signed as a professional having already broken into the first team who were then playing in the Second Division (now the Championship).
Roger was a skilful player who appeared in several different positions including winger, inside-forward and right half, and made over 300 first team appearances for City. He featured in every game of the Football League Cup run in 1967-68 when the Imps reached the fourth round and finished the season as leading scorer with 14 league goals plus another three in the League Cup. The following season he suffered a serious injury in the home game against York City which put him out of action for a lengthy period. Roger played his final game for the Imps in a 3-2 home win against Peterborough in October 1971 and is now involved in our Former Players Association as a committee member.
Debut vs Brighton, away 18 April 1960
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 276 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 36 goals
FA Cup: 13 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 16 appearances, 3 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.
Simon left Sincil Bank in the summer of 2005 to play in New Zealand but returned in January of the following year. He departed again in the summer of 2006 to Peterborough United and later played for Chester City and Macclesfield Town. He holds the club record for most Football League appearances from the bench and for most goals scored when coming on as a sub. Simon continued to play non-league football for a number of years including a spell playing for his former Imps colleague Simon Weaver at Harrogate Town.
Debut vs Kidderminster Harriers away 10 August 2002
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 85 appearances plus 50 as substitute, 42 goals
FA Cup: 4 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 2 appearances plus 1 as substitute 2 goals
Other: 9 appearances plus 7 as substitute, 6 goals
Darren Horrigan
Darren Horrigan was a young goalkeeper who joined the Imps as a trainee from Birmingham City. He appeared regularly in the youth and reserve teams and was regularly on the first team bench as sub keeper. Darren moved on in the summer of 2004 and later played for several north-east clubs including Spennymoor, Bishop Auckland and Tow Law.
Debut vs Southend United, home 16 March 2002 as substitute
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 1 appearance as substitute
Click HERE to purchase hospitality tickets for the game.
