The FPA guests for Saturday's match against Peterborough United are Roger Holmes, Mark Hone and Phil Neale.
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. Roger finished that 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. He is 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
Mark Hone
Mark was a midfielder who signed for the Imps from Southend United in the summer of 1996, making his first-team debut when he came on as a substitute at Torquay United on the opening day of the season. Mark made 53 Football League appearances, with a further 13 appearances in cup games during his two seasons at Sincil Bank. He scored a total of four league and cup goals. In his first season Mark appeared in both legs of the Football League Cup second round tie against Manchester City when City won 4-1 at Sincil Bank and 1-0 at Maine Road – two games which will long live in the memories of those Imps fans who were there. Mark was also a regular the following season when City won promotion to third tier football. He left the club in the summer of 1998 and later played for Kettering Town, Welling United, Lincoln United and Spalding United. His son Danny also played for City, making them among the few father and sons to have both appeared for the club in the Football League.
Debut vs Torquay United, away 17 August 1996 as substitute
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 48 appearances + 5 appearances as substitute, 2 goals
FA Cup: 4 appearances, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 7 appearances + 1 appearance as substitute, 1 goal
Football League Trophy: 1 appearance, 0 goals
Phil Neale
Phil Neale was a member of the Imps hugely successful 1975/76 team and made over 350 first-team appearances during his 11 seasons with the Imps. Phil was first signed as an amateur while he was studying at Leeds University, making his first-team debut in January 1975. He signed professional forms for City later the same year and from then onwards he was a regular in the defence before leaving Sincil Bank in May 1985. Phil combined his football with a career as a cricketer. He briefly played for Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship before joining Worcestershire. He made over 350 first class appearances scoring over 17,000 runs for Worcestershire and twice captained the team to the County Championship. He was team manager of Northamptonshire and then Warwickshire before being the England team operations manager for 21 years until his retirement. He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to cricket.
Debut vs Swindon Town, away (FA Cup), 4 January 1975 as substitute
Lincoln City Record:
Football League: 327 appearances plus 8 as substitute, 22 goals
FA Cup: 16 appearances plus 2 as substitute
Football League Cup: 11 appearances plus 1 as substitute
Other games: 4 appearances
Click HERE to purchase hospitality tickets for the game.
