The FPA guests for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against West Ham United are Matt Carmichael, Tony Cunningham, Phil Hubbard and Warren Ward.
Matt Carmichael
Matt Carmichael was signed by Colin Murphy in August 1989. At the time he was planning to join the Met Police after having previously served in the British Army but Colin offered him a professional contract and his career changed track. He was initially used as a striker and scored on his debut against Scunthorpe United but later converted to centre back. He was voted the Supporters Player of the Season in 1991/92 and made over 150 first-team appearances before moving on to Scunthorpe in July 1993. Matt later played for Preston, Mansfield, Doncaster and Darlington.
Debut vs Scunthorpe United, home 19 August 1989
Lincoln City record
Football League: 113 appearances plus 20 as substitute, 18 goals
FA Cup: four appearances plus one as substitute
Football League Cup: nine appearances plus one as substitute, one goal
Other: seven appearances plus one as substitute, two goals
Tony Cunningham
Tony Cunningham was a powerful striker who was brought to Lincoln by Colin Murphy from non-league club Stourbridge in May 1979. He made an instant impact on his debut in a League Cup tie against Barnsley when he was up against the former England defender Norman Hunter. Tony had too much pace and power for the ex-England man and marked his first City game with a goal. Tony remained a regular first-team player during his three full seasons at Sincil Bank and finished as leading scorer with 15 league and cup goals in 1981/82, when the Imps narrowly missed out on promotion to the second tier. He was sold to Barnsley in September 1982 and later played for clubs including Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester City, Newcastle United making a total of almost 500 senior appearances before ending his career with Wycombe Wanderers.
Debut vs Barnsley, home (Football League Cup) 11 August 1979
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 111 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 32 goals
FA Cup: five appearances plus one as substitute
Football League Cup: 13 appearances, eight goals
Other games: six appearances, two goals
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
Warren Ward
Warren Ward played for City as a striker during the 1985/86 season finishing as joint leading scorer with Neil Redfearn – despite only scoring eight goals. Warren's first Football League appearances were for York City before signing for the Imps. He made his Lincoln debut in a League Cup game against his former club and a few days later made his first Football League appearance for City, scoring in a 3-3 draw with Doncaster Rovers. He was loaned to Exeter City during the second half of the season but returned in April and scored three goals in the final five games of the season.
Debut vs York City away 20 August 1985
Lincoln City record:
Football League: 15 appearances plus six as substitute, eight goals
Football League Cup: one appearance
Other: one appearance
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