The FPA guests for Saturday's home game against Southampton are hosts Gavin Gordon and Matt Carmichael, Grant Brown and Paul Miller.
Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon was a striker who made his senior debut for Hull City just two months after his 16th birthday and went on to make regular first team appearances for the Tigers before he was sold to the Imps in November 1997 when he was still just 18-years-old.
In his first season, he helped City win promotion and was a first team regular. In 2000-01 he scored 10 goals by early December and was then sold to Cardiff City for a six-figure fee. He later played for Notts County. Gavin is chairman of the Former Players Association.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Swansea City, away 8 November 1997
Football League: 87 appearances plus 12 as substitute, 28 goals
FA Cup: 9 appearances, 2 goals
Football League Cup: 2 appearances, 1 goal
Other: 4 appearances plus 1 as substitute
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
Grant Brown
Grant Brown made a record number of appearances during his lengthy career with the Imps having first signed on loan from Leicester City in August 1989 as part of the deal which saw Tony James sold to the Foxes. Grant immediately established himself as a regular in the back four and although he went back to Leicester when his loan ended in November 1989, he returned soon afterwards and signed on a permanent basis for what at the time was reported as a record fee paid by City of £60,000.
Grant went on to make over 450 senior appearances for the Imps and was given a testimonial in 2000 when Middlesbrough visited Sincil Bank. He was voted Player of the Season in 2001-02 which was his final season as a player. Grant later returned to take charge of City’s youth team and was also first team assistant manager for a time and on three occasions served as caretaker manager. He finally left Sincil Bank in the summer of 2016.
Lincoln City record
Debut: vs Aldershot, away 26 August 1989
Football League: 401 appearances + 6 as substitute, 15 goals
FA Cup: 18 appearances
Football League Cup: 22 appearances, 1 goal
Other: 21 appearances plus 1 as substitute, 2 goals
Paul Miller
Paul Miller played in midfield and first made his name with Wimbledon where he spent seven years. He made 80 top flight appearances for the Dons including their first ever Premier League match against Leeds United.
Paul moved on to Bristol Rovers before signing for the Imps in August 1997. He spent four years at Sincil Bank, making over 100 first-team appearances and was a member of the 1997/98 promotion winning team. He has since continued to live in the Lincoln area.
Lincoln City record
Debut: vs Chester City, away August 9 1997
Football League: 93 appearances plus 22 as substitute, 11 goals
FA Cup: Five appearances plus one as substitute
Football League Cup: four appearances
