Position: right-back or central defender.

Lincoln City career: 77+(7) appearances and 10 goals between August 2004 - May 2006.

Clubs: Linfield, Ballyclare Comrades, Coleraine, Lincoln City, Leicester City and Ipswich Town.

Gareth McAuley was a surprise signing for Lincoln City just 48-hours before the commencement of the 2004/05 season. He joined on a two-year deal with Lincoln paying £10,000 to Irish League club Coleraine for his services.

The signing of McAuley ended the then Imps' boss Keith Alexander's near eight-month chase for the player, which began in early 2004 when Lincoln's management staff watched him play for Coleraine. However in June 2004, it appeared that Alexander would be thwarted in his bid for McAuley as former Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy offered McAuley the opportunity to train with Stockport County then of League One. Further negotiations between Stockport and Coleraine broke down, thereby allowing Alexander to steal the player from Stockport's grasp.

At the time, Coleraine manager Marty Quinn explained: "I am delighted for Gareth particularly after the way Stockport let Gareth down. At no time did Sammy McIlroy get in touch with me. I'm not impressed at all.

"Lincoln have been watching Gareth since the beginning of the year and stepped in when Stockport said they were unable to go ahead with negotiations."

McAuley joined Coleraine from Crusaders in July 2002; he also played in the Irish League for Linfield and Ballyclare Comrades.

It quickly became apparent that McAuley was destined for greater things, but instead of extending his contract during the 2004/05 season, Lincoln City waited. By the time he was offered a new contract in November 2005, it was too late because over ten clubs were tracking McAuley. In May 2006, he decided to leave Lincoln City for Leicester City via the Bosman ruling. He had previous rejected a transfer to Crewe Alexandra after Lincoln had accepted a £150,000 offer in January 2006.

McAuley was already a Northern Ireland "B" International before he arrived at Lincoln City. He won five full international caps for Northern Ireland during his time at Lincoln, which makes him Lincoln City FC's most capped player of all time.

McAuley made an instant impact at Leicester City and was appointed their captain in October 2007. In January 2008, Ipswich Town had two bids rejected by struggling Leicester City. However, following Leicester's relegation to League One in 2008, McAuley decided to leave the club so Leicester accepted a £1.5 million from Ipswich in June 2008.

It was a tough start for McAuley in his Ipswich career as he failed to show his best form. Luckily he settled in and became an instant first choice for Ipswich and was also appointed their captain. His performances at club level persuaded Northern Ireland to give him a starting place in their international team.

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Position: central defender.

Lincoln City career: 95+(5) appearances and 8 goals between March 2004 - May 2006.

Clubs: Scunthorpe United, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Bristol City.

A Football League tribunal was required to act in the transfer of Jamie McCombe from rivals Scunthorpe United after United attempted to renege on their written word to the player that he could leave Scunthorpe.

In February 2004, Lincoln agreed terms with McCombe and the defender was expected to sign for The Imps until the end of the 2003/04 season. McCombe was made available on a free transfer after receiving written confirmation from Scunthorpe United chief executive Don Rowing that he was free to depart the club.

Upon receiving that confirmation, McCombe's agent Craig Allardyce - who himself is a former Lincoln City trialist, as well as being the son of Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce - offered his player to Lincoln. The various parties agreed terms; however, Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws blocked the deal. Lincoln promptly referred the matter to the Football League who ruled that Scunthorpe could not keep McCombe if another club gave them seven days notice that they intend signing McCombe.

McCombe has been described by Scunthorpe as "one of the brightest prospects outside of the Premiership." Aston Villa once offered him a trial but he suffered a difficult 2002/03 season that saw him lose his place in the Scunthorpe first-team. Shortly before joining Lincoln, he made seven appearances on loan at Conference club Halifax Town, which included scoring a debut goal.

McCombe initially signed for Lincoln until the end of the 2003/04 season. He has since transformed into a vital member of Lincoln's first team and seems destined for higher things.

McCombe enjoyed an excellent 2005/06 season, which saw him take over the captaincy of the team. As reward for his consistent form, he was voted the Lincoln City Player of the Season and the Away Player of the Season.

Luckily, Lincoln City's supporters thought that he was under contract until the end of the 2006/07 season. Alas, included in this contract was a release clause that allowed McCombe to speak to other clubs if a certain offer was made. Lincoln City have never revealed how much this fee was, but Crewe Alexandra claimed it was a mere £5,000. Crewe spoke to McCombe but they were beaten to his signature by Bristol City, who acknowledge that they paid a nominal fee for McCombe. The transfer sparked anger and disappointment among Lincoln City FC's supporters.

Unsurprisingly the signing was a success for Bristol City as McCombe helped them win promotion to the Championship in his first season at the club. His influence was such that he was named as Bristol City's Player of the Season for 2006-07. The following season saw Bristol City reach the Championship Play-off Final with McCombe again proving an influential figure.

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Position: Goalkeeper.

Lincoln City career: 6+(1) appearances between August 2004 - June 2007.

Clubs: Bournemouth, Barry Town, Port Talbot, Lincoln City, Alfreton Town, Torquay United and Crawley Town.

Simon Rayner joined Lincoln City in August 2004 on a free transfer from Port Talbot, of the Welsh League, although the transfer was subject to International clearance.

Rayner has represented Canada at youth, Under-20 and Under-21 levels, and is highly-rated in both Canada and England. He agreed a contract with City after impressing during a trial spell at Lincoln, thereby ending then manager Keith Alexander's search for a new goalkeeper. Prior to his trial, Alexander had given trials to Clint Davies (formerly of Bradford City), and Steve Croudson (formerly of Boston United).

Lincoln beat off strong competition for Rayner's signature, including Swansea City, where was on trial before linking up with Lincoln. In April 2004, Newcastle United gave him a trial, while Millwall were also been linked with him. The signing of Rayner appeared to have finally provided current Imps' goalkeeper Alan Marriott with strong competition.

Rayner spent nearly two years between August 2000 and February 2002 as a trainee at Bournemouth. He left Bournemouth to sign for Welsh League club Barry Town, where he played in Europe. He made 31 appearances for Port Talbot during the 2004/05 season, as well as helping Canada qualify for the FIFA World Youth Championship and taking part in Canada's Men's World U-23 Olympic Team's qualifying matches for this year's Olympics.

Despite this pedigree, Rayner has been unable to displace Alan Marriott as first choice Lincoln City goalkeeper. He had a brief hope during the early part of the 2005/06 season when he deputised for the suspended Marriott. Alas for Rayner, he was dropped when Marriott's suspension had been served.

In January 2006, Rayner joined non-league Alfreton Town for a three month loan spell. During his loan spell, he impressed as an ever present but did make a couple of noticeable errors.

The 2006/07 season is likely to prove a pivotal season for Rayner if he is ever going to make the breakthrough at Sincil Bank. That prediction proved true, although it was bad news for Rayner as he failed to progress at Lincoln. In June 2007, he was released from Lincoln City and he joined Torquay United, where he had spent two months of the 2007/08 season on loan.

Rayner became the first choice goalkeeper at Torquay for most of the two seasons that he spent at the club. In June 2008, he decided to leave Torquay in favour of rival Conference club Crawley Town, where he also became first choice.

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