Part 4 of the 93
By Nathan Jackson
June 18 2008
The fourth part of the 93 sees 15 more players represent the Imps. In amongst those are two Smith's, two Robinson's and several players who might as well not have been here. Infact, only one person on this list made over 50 appearances in a Lincoln City shirt.
To start off this list is one of the current players. Martin Pembleton. The young midfielder has played 6 games for the Imps so far after making a surprise progression into the first team in 2007/8.
Simon Rayner, much like some other recent goalkeepers, never really got a look in when Marriott wasn't either injured or suspended. The Canadian played just one match when Marriott wasn't injured or suspended, making a further 6 to complete a career at Sincil Bank that could easily be forgotten.
Speaking of players who could easily be forgotten, Ellis Remy made just two appearances for the Imps at the beginning of 2003/4.
The player in this list to make the most appearances for City was the only player to have three spells at the club in the last 5 years. Marcus Richardson joined twice on loan from Hartlepool before making it permanent. He scored 14 goals in his 57 appearances over those three spells but left in a heap of controversy that we can't go into for legal reasons.
Lee Ridley made 15 appearances on loan from Cheltenham Town last season and that was also the same number of times that he was outpaced by attacking players.
The leading goalscorer in the 2005/6 season was Marvin Robinson. The striker joined the Imps in the summer of 2005 and barely made an appearance at first. However, he eventually made 40 appearances for the Imps and his 11th goal came in the Playoff Semi Final game at Grimsby Town. He soon left to join Macclesfield Town.
Steve Robinson certainly didn't know where the goal was, missing an open goal at Stockport County. That was the closest he came to scoring in his 12 appearances at the club.
Craig Rocastle was a rare thing for City, a loanee from a Premiership side. He joined from Chelsea and played all of two games before being shipped back.
City have a habit of having players who are prolific at reserve team level, graduate to the first team and are a bit rubbish. Oliver Ryan was a striker who always tried, no-one can deny him that. It's just a pity that every single shot he had went straight at the goalkeeper or out of play. He failed to score in his 39 games during the last 5 years.
There was a quote about Kevin Sandwith in the 2004/5 Playoff Final that said "If he doesn't come into training smelling of booze then you know something's wrong!" A great way for a professional to act. That might explain his lacklusture performances in the majority of his 42 appearances, scoring just twice along the way.
Ben Sedgemore was a popular man in the terraces but that didn't stop him getting released at the end of the 2003/4 season. He made 31 appearances during that season, failing to score despite some outrageous efforts from 35/40 yards.
If there was ever a player who could put his first touch out of play on every single occasion, it was Ryan Semple. He played just 4 games for the club before then moaning that he wasn't getting enough chances in the first team....it might have had something to do that he was as fragile as a glass figurine from poundland in front of an impending wrecking-ball.
Another player who barely played was Adam Smith. The loanee from Chesterfield played 3 games for City and was yet another loan player who barely got a chance.
Unfortunately, one loanee to get far too many chances was Ben Smith. "Butterfingers" Ben cost us quite a fair few points in his 9 games at the club in 2007/8. He would win promotion with Doncaster Rovers during that season.
Finally, Mark Stallard left the Imps a few weeks ago after 21 goals in 71 appearances, a very respectable amount. However, 17 of those goals came in his first season and an injury plagued second season saw him fail to put in a lot of effort during the majority of his games.
