Another Ex-Imp Joins NZ Knights

Lincs. UK Banner Exchange

7th August 2006

Former Lincoln City defender Matt Carbon is to leave England behind in search of a better football career in New Zealand.

Carbon, who is a free agent, has agreed to join A-League club New Zealand Knights. NZ Knights are a familiar name to Lincoln City's supporters as this is the club that former Imps' striker Simon Yeo joined in June 2005. Yeo stayed for just six months of a three-year contract before returning to England, where he rejoined Lincoln City.

Carbon had been linked with a return to Lincoln City following his June release from Barnsley. Despite Imps' fans expressing a wish to see Carbon return to Sincil Bank, he did not appear to be on the wanted list of Lincoln City FC's management team.

Instead, Carbon was expected to sign for either Notts County or Peterborough United. Both clubs are managed by former Lincoln City managers, who knew Carbon from his time at Sincil Bank.

Steve Thompson's Notts County had emerged as the original favourites to sign Carbon. However, he has most recently been training with Keith Alexander's Peterborough United. Understandably, Carbon has rejected League Two football in favour of New Zealand.

Carbon enthused: I know a number of players already in the A-League, some of them here at the Knights and know just how tough a competition it is already proving to be."

Carbon began his career as a trainee at Lincoln City in 1993 under the supervision of then Imps' youth team coach Alexander and Thompson, who was the then Lincoln City manager. Carbon gained a regular first team place after Alexander was promoted to Imps' manager, and he made 83 appearances for The Imps.

In March 1996, he was sold to Derby County in a £400,000 transfer, then aged just 20. This allowed him to play for the England Under-21 side after joining Derby.

Carbon stayed at Derby for 18 months before leaving to join West Bromwich Albion in a £800,000 deal. A move to Walsall transpired in July 2001 but injuries interfered with his Walsall career during the three years that he spent there.

Carbon made a shock return to Lincoln City in October 2003, when he joined on a month's loan. The idea was for him to regain his fitness but the plan was scuppered when he sustained another injury in his one and only appearance during the loan spell.

Walsall released Carbon in May 2004 and speculation naturally linked him to Lincoln City. However, this was too ambitious as several higher league clubs were also interested. In the end, Carbon opted for Barnsley, where he stayed until June 2006.