The Woking Link : Gavin McCallum

As part of a new feature we will look at a career of someone who has played for both, and ahead of our game against Woking, where better to start than Canadian Gavin McCallum, who currently plays for the Cards.

Signed From : Hereford United

Debut : 7th August 2010 vs Rotherham United

Final Game : 1st November 2011 vs Alfreton Town

Before he signed for Lincoln only 100 Imps fans had seen McCallum perform to his potential. Those 100 fans made the trip down to Edgar Street on a very cold Tuesday evening in February 2010 and despite a relatively even game, McCallum's brilliance produced the win for the hosts, scoring two good goals.

Born in Canada, McCallum has been playing football in England since 2005 when he was snapped up by Yeovil Town. He spent spells on loan at Tamworth, Crawley and Dorchester Town before being released and signed up by Weymouth. Moves to Havant and then Sutton followed before he was given a chance at League football again with Hereford.

McCallum made 27 appearances for Hereford, scoring 8 times from midfield and this level of goalscoring saw him called up to the Canadian international side against Venezuela. McCallum marked the call up with a debut goal for this country.

Such was the level of impact by McCallum in the game at Edgar Street, Sutton signed him up at the end of the 2010 season, much to the ire of Hereford who were desperate to keep him.

McCallum formed part of a new look Lincoln side that was based on the best players that Sutton had seen against the Imps during the pre-season. The Canadian international was also part of a growing international profile of the Imps squad, with his team-mates coming from places such as Gambia, Grenada and Sierra Leone, amongst many others.

After several failed attempts to score from being placed up front, McCallum was moved out to the wing but he failed to cement a place in the first team.

He finally got off of the mark for the Imps with a stunning volley against Wycombe, however, it wouldn't result in a win for the Imps. McCallum didn't score many for the Imps but the goals he did score were all astonishing goals.

By this time McCallum was one of those players who was regularly getting criticised for lack of effort from Imps fans. He played without really being that concerned about things and breaking into a sweat was something that was also equally uncommon.

No-one criticised his ability, but the questions came when he wasn't really putting in the effort. 

McCallum was kept as the club were relegated based on the simple fact that he was under contract, however, despite an impressive pre-season, McCallum again failed to really impressive and he was one of several Lincoln players who's final appearance for the club came in the FA Cup replay defeat to Alfreton.

A loan spell at Barnet followed but only two appearances for them left it unsurprising that it wasn't made permanent and McCallum was soon released from the Imps.

The Canadian signed for Woking and gained regular first team football at a reasonable sized club for the first time in his career and judging by their forums, McCallum is quite popular amongst their fans.

McCallum stated in a recent interview that he is expecting a mixed/poor reception from Lincoln fans.