Position: goalkeeper.

Lincoln City career: 5 appearances between July 2001 - February 2003.

Previous clubs: Leeds United, Torquay United, Gillingham, Carlisle United, Rotherham United, Lincoln City, Gainsborough Trinity and Kettering Town.

Current club: Harrogate Town.

Paul Pettinger is a former England youth international who began his career at Leeds United in 1992. During the four years that he spent at Leeds, he failed to break into their first team squad. However, he did see first team action on loan at Torquay United and Gillingham.

Pettinger joined Carlisle United in 1996 but again failed to find regular first team football. A year later, he left Carlisle and returned to Yorkshire to play for Rotherham United. Despite spending four years at Rotherham, he only made nineteen appearances although ironically he finished Rotherham's 2000/01 promotion season as first choice by making thirteen consecutive appearances.

It was therefore slightly surprising when Rotherham decided to release him in June 2001 on a free transfer. Lincoln City's then manager Alan Buckley was in desperate need of cover for Alan Marriott and quickly persuaded Pettinger to move to Sincil Bank.

When Marriott had a poor spell, Pettinger was given his opportunity but he failed to grasp his chance and Marriott soon returned to the side. He was somewhat injury prone at Lincoln and his various niggling injuries meant that Buckley was forced to name youth teamer Darren Horrigan as substitute goalkeeper on several occasions during the 2001/02 season.

In March 2002, Pettinger joined Kettering Town on a month's loan, following ex-Imp Ian Bowling's horrific head injury.

Alan Marriott's superb form during the 2002/03 season saw Pettinger loaned to Gainsborough Trinity in order for him to gain first team football. In February 2003, he joined Gainsborough on a permanent basis when his contract was severed by Lincoln City FC. He rejoined Kettering Town for the 2003/04 season and currently plays for Conference National club Harrogate Town.

Position: striker.

Lincoln City career: 0+(1) appearances between January 2006 - June 2007.

Previous clubs: Grantham Town, Grays Althetic and Lincoln City..

Tom Wilkinson is a product of Lincoln City FC's youth academy, having signed his first ever professional contract in July 2006.

Wilkinson was already a familiar name to Lincoln City's supporters as he was a part of The Imps' first team squad on several occasions during the latter half of the 2005/06 season. He had already made his first team debut for Lincoln City, when he came on as a substitute during Lincoln City's 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United in March 2006.

The road to professional footballer has not been easy for Wilkinson, as he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury while playing for the youth team. It took a long time for him to recover but his fortunes since returning from injury - i.e. becoming part of the Imps' first team squad - prove that Wilkinson could emerge as a promising future player for Lincoln City FC.

He spent part of the 2005/06 season on loan at Grantham Town. During the 2006/07 season he spent a time on loan at Grays Athletic. However, he sustained an injury that forced him to retire from professional football in June 2007.

Position: striker.

Lincoln City career: 28+(15) appearances and 10 goals between June 2005 - January 2007.

Previous clubs: Walsall, Exeter, Nuneaton, Barnsley, Kidderminster Harriers, Tamworth, Hucknall Town and Lincoln City.

Present club: AFC Telford.

Gary Birch joined Lincoln City in June 2005, thereby ending former Imps' boss Keith Alexander's elusive search for a target man; although Birch is also classed a utility player.

As a striker, Birch has a reasonable goal scoring record. A loan spell at Nuneaton in December 2001 saw him score three times in five matches. During the 2003/04 season, he had a similar spell at Barnsley where he scored twice in eight appearances.

Birch began his career as a trainee at Walsall in July 2000, making 75 appearances but only scoring 7 goals. Loan spells at Exeter City, Nuneaton and Barnsley interspaced his 75 appearances for Walsall before he finally left in December 2004 to join Kidderminster Harriers. He made 14 appearances for Kidderminster, scoring three goals, but was unable to help Harriers escape relegation from the Football League.

Following Harriers' relegation, he was one of ten players who were released by the club in May 2004. At the time, Harriers' manager Stuart Watkiss stated that several players were being released purely for financial reasons, although he did not stipulate which players he was referring too.

Birch agreed a one-year contract with Lincoln City FC and he became an instant first team player. This faith was rewarded by a host of goals from Birch during the opening matches of Lincoln City's 2005/06 season. However, he struggled for form after Christmas and lost his first team place to Simon Yeo.

Birch's contract at Lincoln City FC expired on June 30th 2006. He was offered a new one year deal but talks between the two parties broke down after six weeks of negotiating, meaning that Birch was destined to leave Lincoln City FC after the club withdrew their offer to him. However, in a shock twist, Birch returned to the club less than 48 hours after "leaving" after he decided to sign his contract offer; the club allowed him to do so.

Several weeks later, in August 2006, Birch made a surprise transfer to Conference club Tamworth on a month's loan deal. A few months later he joined Hucknall Town in a similar deal before eventually agreeing to terminate his contract at Lincoln City by mutual consent. Shortly afterwards he joined non-league AFC Telford.