FPA guests | Northampton Town (H)

FPA guests vs Northampton Town
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The FPA guests for Tuesday's home game against Northampton Town are host Matt Carmichael, plus former apprentice guests Tony Drinkell, Andy Ottewell, Pete Brankin, Paul Buckthorp and Tom Wilkinson.

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. Matt is vice chairman of the Former Players Association.

Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Scunthorpe, home 19 August 1989
Football League: 113 appearances plus 20 as substitute, 18 goals
FA Cup: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute
Football League Cup: 9 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 1 goal
Other: 7 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals 


Tony Drinkell

Tony Drinkell was just 15 when he joined the Imps as an apprentice in the summer of 1971. Tony, who had already played senior football for Scartho in the Lincolnshire League, appeared for City in the FA Youth Cup and went on to play regularly for the A team and also for the reserves during his time at Sincil Bank. 

He left City in 1974 and went on to appear for Louth United, Immingham Town and Ross Sports. He still plays regularly, appearing for Grimsby Corinthians walking football team and this season has captained the England Over 70s team.


Andy Ottewell

Andy Ottewell was an apprentice at Sincil Bank between 1971 and 1973 appearing as a striker for the reserves and youth team. He went on to play in the Lincolnshire League for teams including Ruston Sports as well as playing local Sunday League football. Andy is a member of the Former Players Association committee.


Pete Brankin

Pete Brankin was a striker who spent two seasons as an apprentice with the Imps after signing for the club in July 1971. In his first season he scored a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup tie and in 1972-73 was leading scorer for both the reserves and A team only to be released at the end of the season.  

Pete spent several seasons playing in Australia with great success and then he returned to the UK appearing for Worksop, Lincoln United, Holbeach and Sleaford Town.


Paul Buckthorp

Paul Buckthorp was a full back and midfield player who played for City's A team at the age of 17 and then went on to play a number of games for the reserves in the North Midlands League. 

He left the club in 1972 and went on to play for Lincoln United, who at the time played in the Yorkshire League, and for Adelaide Park, one of Lincoln's most successful Sunday League teams. He also played for Brigg Town and Grantham as well as for the Lincolnshire representative team. 

He was later a coach at Norwich City before returning to Lincoln as a coach in the centre of excellence under Ian Whyte.


Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson was a forward who started in Lincoln City's centre of excellence under Ian Whyte in 1995. He went on to earn a scholarship under John Schofield and made a single first team appearance for the Imps at Carlisle in March 2006.  

After retiring from football he trained as a physiotherapist thanks to a grant from the Professional Footballers Association  and is now head of physiotherapy at the Park Hospital, Nottingham.