Arguably one of the most popular City strikers of all-time, Newark-born Percy Freeman started out at Stourbridge before he was spotted by West Brom, joining them in April 1968 as understudy to England international Jeff Astle.

Unable to displace Astle in the Baggies' starting line-up, Percy left West Brom having made just three appearances in the top flight and was brought to Sincil Bank by Bert Loxley on a free transfer.

He was an instant success in the red and white stripes of Lincoln City, scoring in his first four home matches which included League Cup victories over Grimsby Town and Sunderland whilst his brace against Brentford will be best remembered as it came in a game during which the goalposts at the railway end collapsed.

By the end of the season he had scored 14 times in League and cup and after playing throughout the David Herd era was dealt a blow following the appointment of Graham Taylor as manager when an offer of £11,500 from Reading for his services was accepted.

Whilst at Reading he played regular first team football for a season and a half with but less than two years later he became disillusioned and left football briefly to work as a scaffolder.

After a brief return with the Royals, Percy was persuaded to return to Sincil Bank by the man who sold him, Graham Taylor, for a fee £10,000 less than he was sold for.

The rest, they say, was history with the big man netting 23 times from his 35 League appearances as the Imps clinched the 1975/76 Fourth Division championship in record-breaking style.

It was a side led by Graham Taylor who, at the age of 31, was just a year older than Percy when the Championship was clinched. Both left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1977 - Freeman retiring from the professional game to concentrate on his roofing business and Taylor being lured to Watford by Elton John.

Percy was handed a testimonial against Sheffield United in May 1977 whilst he later went on to play for Boston United before he managed a number of county non-League sides including Nettleham, Boston FC and Stamford.