The FPA guests for Saturday's home game against Stockport County are host Gavin Gordon, Paul Smith, Simon Yeo, Trevor Swinburne and Matt Carmichael.
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
Paul Smith
Paul Smith was an attacking player who was signed by Colin Murphy from Port Vale in September 1987 at the start of City's Vauxhall Conference campaign following relegation out of the Football League.
Paul cost a record non-league transfer fee and made his debut in a 4-1 win at Stafford Rangers.
He played regularly over the remainder of the season, helping the Imps to the title and a return back to the Football League at the first attempt.
He went on to make over 250 first team appearances for City before departing in the summer of 1995.
He began his career at Sheffield United and had a spell on loan with Stockport where he scored five goals in seven league appearances.
Paul moved on to Port Vale in 1986 and then arrived at Sincil Bank.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Stafford Rangers, away 5 September 1987
Football League: 219 appearances + 13 as substitute, 27 goals
FA Cup: 7 appearances plus 2 as substitute, 1 goal
Football League Cup: 10+2 appearances
Vauxhall Conference: 33 appearances, 8 goals
Other: 20 appearances, 4 goals
Simon Yeo
Simon Yeo signed from non-league Hyde United in August 2002, scoring on his home debut against Rochdale and 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.
He was the Supporters' Player of the Year and leading scorer in 2004-05 but left in the summer to play in New Zealand.
He returned in January of the following year only to depart again in the summer of 2006.
Simon later played for Peterborough United, Chester City and Macclesfield Town.
Lincoln City record:
Debut: vs Kidderminster Harriers away, 10 August 2002
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
Trevor Swinburne
Trevor Swinburne began his long goalkeeping career as an apprentice with Sunderland in the late 1960s and finished it with the Imps 20 years later.
During his time at Sunderland he was understudy to Jim Montgomery and made several first team appearances before moving on to Carlisle United in the summer of 1977.
Trevor made over 250 first team appearances for Carlisle during his six years with the club and was an ever-present in their team which won promotion to the old Second Division in 1981-82.
He then played for Brentford and Leeds United before signing for City in February 1986 as a replacement for Stuart Naylor. Trevor made regular appearances for the Imps until retiring in the summer of 1987.
He was the first chairman of the Lincoln City Former Players Association when it was formed in 2017 and was a key figure in developing the organisation.
Lincoln City record
Debut: vs Blackpool, away 25 February 1986
Football League: 34 appearances
FA Cup: 3 appearances
Football League Cup: 3 appearances
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
