Top 20 Players : 13th - Mark Bailey

Mark Bailey may have only represented City for three seasons, but he was one of the most popular players with the fans during the last ten years, playing for City in the Playoffs two years running, followed by playing against the Imps a year later in the end of season lottery for Macclesfield.

MARK BAILEY (2001-2004)

SIGNED FROM NORTHWICH VICTORIA

Mark Bailey was one of the first signings that Alan Buckley made as Lincoln City manager, although it was definitely a push from Buckley's assistant, and former Northwich manager, Keith Alexander, that convinced Buckley to bring in the defender. Although he didn't feature regularly at first, Bailey was always assured and reliable in the defence, probably helped by the fact that he had City legend, Grant Brown, as mentor and friend.

Bailey survived the mass cull that took place at the end of the 2001/2 season to try and get rid of outgoing expenses. He was again playing under Alexander after Buckley was effectively made redundant by the Imps. It was under Alexander that he excelled, and in a defence that contained Paul Morgan, Ben Futcher, Simon Weaver and Stuart Bimson, Lincoln had easily the best defence in the League, conceding just 37 goals in 46 League games, not once conceding more than two goals during the 46 game season. Even most Premiership sides would be proud of only conceding just 37 goals...and they play eight less games.

The defender scored his first goal for City in a proud day for the Imps. His goal mattered little other than to restore a little pride, making it a 4-2 deficit at the time to Bournemouth. Bailey joined the rest of the players in being distraught at ending an otherwise brilliant season with a heavy defeat, but then came a great sense of pride that was felt by the club that the Imps had basically stuck two fingers up at the so called "expects".

A few months later and Bailey was again a regular in the defence and was starting to find the net a bit more regularly, netting via a deflected free kick in an LDV Vans Trophy game at home to Telford. However, that wasn't his most memorable goal of the season, that took place on the border of Scotland. With the Imps 1-0 up at a Carlisle side who were fighting bravely against relegation, the Imps won a free kick with Matt Glennon up trying to score. The ball was played to Bailey and he just booted it as hard as he could.......the ball bounced two or three times before entering the net....surely he couldn't have meant it?

Several weeks later and the Imps made the Playoffs and after losing the first leg 2-1, the Imps went to Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium and 66 seconds after Richard Butcher had drawn the Imps level on aggregate, Mark Bailey hit a venomous shot from the edge of the area to give City a 2-0 lead, alas, it ended 2-2 and Huddersfield went through. Despite a pitch invasion from Huddersfield fans, Bailey made his way through and was one of the few who had stayed to applaud the fans (the rest left for safety) and that was to be the last time City fans saw him in an Imps shirt.

A few months later and Bailey had signed for Macclesfield Town, saying that he wanted more security for his family. The ambitious Silkmen had a decent squad that included Jon Parkin, Paul Harsley, John Miles and many other good players, so it appeared a good move by Bailey and it paid off as Macclesfield made the Playoffs.......facing Lincoln. It was a third straight failure for both Bailey and City though. Bailey's Macclesfield lost to City in the semi finals, but Lincoln then lost to Southend in the Final.

Bailey wasn't the first Imp to leave City for Macclesfield during the summer this century. Kevin Sandwith (seen below battling Bailey just months before joining him), Marvin Robinson, Martin Gritton and Ben Wright have all joined Macc from Lincoln in the summer months.

Bailey subsequently battled injury and faded into non-League.