WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
We catch up with Lincoln City’s 1980-81 promotion side
COLIN MURPHY had laid the foundations for a promotion challenge at the end of the previous campaign when the Imps went on a 12-match unbeaten run.
He had to revamp a side put together by the legendary Graham Taylor, who spectacularly claimed a Division Four title in 1976.
And he had a simple formula – assembling a squad that combined youth and some Non-League hard men which saw them touted amongst the favourites for the Division Four title.
Even losing Mick Harford, who had scored 15 goals before Newcastle United came knocking at Christmas, failed to put them off their stride.
Steve Thompson was one of the players who Murphy brought in from Non-league football and gave a chance in the Football League.
“Colin had done his shopping in Non-League because he had to dismantle Graham Taylor’s team and build his own one,” he said.
“I joined from Boston United, Trevor Peake came from Nuneaton and Tony Cunningham from Stourbridge.
“Lennie Lawrence came in with him and did a lot of the scouting, especially in NonLeague. Most of us had played for the England Non-League team.
“Colin wanted young, hungry players. He also bought in George Shipley from Southampton for about £60,000.”
The Imps claimed the runners-up spot two points behind champions Southend United, with Doncaster Rovers and Wimbledon filling the other promotion places.
Murphy’s side weren’t out of the top three from the end of August, but five successive midwinter draws cost them the chance of lifting the title.
“In terms of experience, there was very little,” added Thompson. “Phil Neale had played with Graham Taylor’s great team that had won promotion.
“Even though he was in his early 20s, he had played quite a few games. Trevor Thompson and Nolan Keeley were experienced – they had been at West Brom and Norwich.
“John Saunders, who I replaced, was there, so we had little splatterings of experience. Colin was only in his mid 30s and came in with lots and lots of enthusiasm.
“We spent a lot of time on the training ground, he got us superbly fit, and he spent a lot of time coaching the team. We were a formidable side; we had strength, pace and aggression.” 1. Derek Bell: Forward, won a promotion with Barnsley. Has been a director of DMB Plant in Lincoln and has scouted for a number of clubs.
2. Steve Ward: A full-back who only made two appearance. Is now living in his native Sheffield. 3. Gerard Creane: Defender who went onto manage Lincoln United and works as a roofing contractor.
4. Tony Cunningham: Striker, studied law and joined Andrew Jay & Co Solicitors in Gainsborough and is now working for the company in Lincoln.
5. John Saunders: Centre-back who became chairman of Worksop Town and ran the social club until his death in January 1998, aged 47.
6. Steve Thompson: Centrehalf who went into management with Lincoln, Southend, Sheffield United, Cambridge and Southend. Is now a pundit for BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
7. Stuart Hibberd: Midfielder, returned to live in his native Sheffield where he became the director of a company supplying bathrooms.
8. Ian Travis: A player who didn’t break into the Football League.
9. Lennie Lawrence: Went into coaching with Plymouth Argyle in 1978 and has had a highly successful managerial career. Is now first team management consultant at Stevenage.
10. Stuart Naylor: England B international goalkeeper went into coaching and has served both Bristol clubs, City and Rovers. 11. Mick Harford: England international striker won a League Cup at Luton before going into management and coaching. He is now the Hatters’ chief recruitment officer.
12. Nolan Keeley: Midfielder, coached at Cambridge United then returned to his native Norfolk where he has coached several clubs.
13. Colin Boulton: Goalkeeper, won two Football League crowns with Derby. Became a policeman and then worked for Mitre.
14. Wayne Biggins: Striker who won an Autoglass Trophy with Stoke. Runs a Sheffield business making pallets and packing cases.
15. Trevor Peake: Central defender who was an FA Cup winner with Coventry City. Has coached at Luton and Coventry and is now assistant academy director at Leicester City.
16. Kevin Fox: Goalkeeper who has settled in Northamptonshire and works in logistics and distribution.
17. Bert Coxley: Remained with the club until retiring in 1987. He sadly died in October 2004, aged 74, following a long illness. 18. David Burrows: Full-back who lives and works in his native Newark.
19. Trevor Thompson: Defender who used to manage Lincoln Moorlands Railway and now works as a painter and decorator.
20. Phil Turner: Midfielder, who worked in community care in Derbyshire and has been assistant manager of Grantham Town. 21. Craig Ramsay: Forward who for 29 years was the youngest Football League scorer in the club’s history. Settled in Jakobstad, Finland, where he has become a football coach.
22. John Sheridan: Won a promotion under Brian Clough at Hartlepool and worked with Murphy at a series of clubs.
23. Colin Murphy: He went on to hold various management and coaching posts at home and abroad before retiring in January 2009.
24. Gordon Hobson: Forward, the Imps’ player of the year in 1985 has been finance director of a yacht sales and charter business, Fairview Sailing.
25. George Shipley: Midfielder, went into coaching and then became football in the community personnel manager at Newcastle United.
26. David Hughes: Midfielder, returned to live and work in his native Birmingham.
27. David Carr: Central defender who became manager of Hythe in his native Kent. Died from cancer in June 2005, aged 48.
28. Andy McLaughlan: An apprentice who didn’t make an appearance in the Football League.
29. Dave Gilbert: Midfielder, who won two promotions with Grimsby Town and another with Northampton Town. Is now group manager with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.