Former City captain training with non-league club

John Finnigan, former captain of Lincoln City, has started training with Bishops Cleeve in a bid to potentially restart his playing career. Finnigan signed for City from Nottingham Forest before going on to play for Cheltenham and Kidderminster.

Finnigan was captain of the Imps under Phil Stant and Alan Buckley, but the club's financial difficulties saw him leave for Cheltenham Town towards the end of the 2001/2 season. He played for Cheltenham Town for several years before moving onto Kidderminster, eventually becoming coach and manager. He left Aggborough earlier this year and has since gained a job in a school.

“Finners spoke to big Julian Alsop about popping along to training and he’s come to our last session,” said Cleeve's manager Paul Collicutt. "He’s had a lot of injuries and he’s got a new job at Winchcombe School but wants to ease himself back into playing. He already knows a lot of my lads through being around the scene for a few years and it will be good to have him around. We’ve not spoken about taking it further as yet but if the opportunity arose we would obviously jump at the chance.”