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Yeo Awaits
News
20th March 2006
Imps' striker Simon Yeo faces an anxious wait for news on
the injury that could end his season.
Last Saturday, Yeo was injured via a tackle by Boston
United's Gary Silk during Lincoln City's match at York
Street. The initial prognosis of Yeo's injury did not
look good but those initial fears of a broken right leg
or ankle have not been proven.
Yeo is to undertake a scan later this week, with the
worst scenario being the finding of medial ligament
damage. Should this be the case, then Yeo will miss the
rest of the 2005/06 season. Anything else and Yeo should
return to fitness before the season's end.
There could also be a knock-on effect because Yeo's
contract at Lincoln City expires in June. However, Imps'
boss Keith Alexander has previously looked after his
injured players by extending their contracts whenever
they have found themselves in this situation.
Yeo was a late entrant to the Football League at the age
of 28 when Lincoln signed him from non-league Hyde United
in May 2002, where he had been a prolific goalscorer.
Lincoln had previously considered Yeo in 1999, after he
was recommended to them. Three years later, they had to
beat off competition from Burton Albion, the UniBond
First Division Champions, who in April 2002 had been
favourites to secure a deal for Yeo.
Yeo scored 13 League goals during his last season at Hyde
but these goals failed to prevent Hyde from being
relegated from the UniBond First Division, only Bishop
Auckland's substandard ground did that!
A former Army teammate of ex-Imp Dave Cameron; Yeo has
also played for Northern Ireland club Coleraine.
He had a mixed first season in league football but he
finished it as a local hero. At the beginning of the
2002/03 season, Yeo had quickly become a fans' favourite
with his willingness to shoot and score from distance.
Unfortunately, a barren six month goal-less spell
followed, but in May 2003, his goalscoring ability
returned to secure Lincoln a play-off position. Three
more vital goals were scored over two legs against
Scunthorpe United to help Lincoln book their place in
their first ever national final. Alas, there was no dream
ending, as Lincoln lost 5-2 to Bournemouth in the
play-off final.
The 2003/04 season saw Lincoln overcome a poor start to
reach the play-offs for a second successive season. This
time, a two-leg defeat on aggregate to Huddersfield Town
meant that it was another season in League Two.
Yeo achieved a personal milestone during the 2004/05
season when he became one of the few Lincoln City players
to score over 20 goals in a season. His eventual total
was 23 goals, which helped Lincoln to reach the League
Two Play-off Final. Off-the-field events contributed to a
2-0 defeat against Southend in the final, to condemn
Lincoln to yet another season in League Two.
Many of Lincoln's players, including Yeo, decided that
they would leave the club rather than face another
depressing season in League Two. Yeo's chosen destination
was New Zealand, where he signed for NZ Knights on a
three-year contract in June 2005.
Despite 4 goals in 11 appearances for NZ Knights, he
failed to settle in New Zealand and opted for a return to
England. Lincoln managed to secure his signature despite
strong competition, and he rejoined The Imps on January
1st 2006.
Since returning to Lincoln City, he has scored five goals
in eleven matches and has contributed significantly to
Lincoln's late push for a play-off place.
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