Keith Alexander had been back in charge at Lincoln for just over a year and in that year, he had brought several players out of no-where to become household names (in Lincoln) and when the Imps had lost their opening 2 games in the 2003/4 season, the Imps boss decided to bring in a relatively unknown striker before the weekend’s game against Torquay, he brought in Leyton Orient striker, Gary Fletcher. The 22 year old has been tipped for success with Orient after he had been on good form for Northwich Victoria, a side who were then managed by Keith Alexander.

Whilst playing for Northwich, Fletcher came up against Orient in the FA Cup in the 2000/1 season and almost eliminated his future employers with a brace in an exciting 3-3 draw. The Vics would lose the replay but Orient were soon after the young striker, who also went on loan to Hull. Fletcher signed for the O’s in the summer of 2001 but went on a long barren run and his only goal for Orient came over a year after he joined in a League Cup game with QPR.

 So Keith had signed his old striker, a habit he also repeated with Francis Green and Adie Mike (who also scored in those Northwich vs Orient games) and he went straight into the squad to face Torquay. I’ll admit I was sceptical as he first game didn’t make him seem like a wise buy and the goalless draw the week after against Doncaster did little to improve my opinion, however, what took him over a year to achieve at Orient, took just 9 days to happen at City.

The Imps travelled to Bury, having failed to score in their opening 4 games, however, midway through the half, Fletcher rounded Garner and he broke the net (literally) as his shot snuck over the line and forced a Bury defender to tackle the goal and cause it too collapse. The Imps however would lose the game 2-1. Inspired by Fletcher, the Imps beat leaders York at Sincil Bank and went on a run of 1 defeat in 18 matches.

Fletcher was turning into a striker who worked in patches, he was excellent on the ball and had plenty of shots but he’d go on mini runs with a goal but then go on a goal scoring streak. After that goal at York, he didn’t score for 7 games but then scored 5 goals in 7. Fletcher was proving to be a nightmare for the defenders to deal with and he appeared to be able to score from any situation and in a 2-2 draw with Cambridge, Fletcher showed just how cheeky he can be when he back heeled a ball on the volley and it sailed over the goalkeeper into the game, a great bit of skill and a great goal.  

Then came the game that Fletcher must have been really looking forward to, Orient away. Fletcher wasn’t a popular figure at Brisbane Road but he silenced his critics as early as the 3^rd minute when he latched out to a back pass, rounded the keeper and coolly slotted into the corner of the goal. However, early in the 2^nd half, Fletcher scored arguably the best goal seen under Keith Alexander’s tenure. Fletcher picked the ball up in midfield and started running at goal, he burst past a few challenges before worming his way past the challenges of 4 defenders at once before unleashing an unstoppable shot, even the home fans were clapping. Fletcher went off 2 minutes later and was given a standing ovation from all areas of the ground and it was no surprise that the Imps rarely threatened after that.

Fletcher’s final goal of the 2003/4 season came in the Playoffs, he had been the main reason City had got into the playoffs with 19 goals in his debut season for the Imps and midway through the 2^nd half in the 1^st leg at Sincil Bank, Yeo’s shot was saved, Futcher’s hit the post and the ball rebounded to Fletcher who had an easy tap in. The season would end on a sour note for Fletcher as the Imps crashed out of the playoffs on aggregate.

Despite the disappointment, it was a great first season for Fletcher, he was the leading scorer, resurrected his career and was more popular than cult heroes, Mark Bailey and Simon Yeo. The summer of 2004 saw the disappearance of Gary Fletcher as it was announced that the Liverpool born striker had married his girlfriend and as an act of love, had take on her name and he was now Gary Taylor-Fletcher. GTF started the 2004/5 season in fantastic form as he scored in each of the opening 6 games, equalling a post-war record.

However, Fletcher’s form suddenly nose dived and goals started coming few and far between. He only scored twice more before the Christmas period, one of those goals and Yeovil was pretty special though as he was a great example of close control. GTF and Yeo were the club’s 2 best strikers and seemingly had a great relationship both on and off the field but then, it all seemed to change and all of a sudden, they were constantly moaning at each other on the pitch and blaming each other for each other’s missed chances. GTF even set up 2 of Yeo’s hatrick goals in the away game at Grimsby but despite joining in the celebrations, it was obvious that the two didn’t like each other.

When GTF scored a great goal against Oxford 2 weeks after the Grimsby game, Yeo could be seen moaning at GTF for not giving the striker the ball so he could have a go at scoring.  A goal at Cambridge seemed routine. GTF was actually have an unlucky streak as he had several goals disallowed in various games. GTF’s final goals for the Imps came over the Easter weekend. His first was City’s 4^th in a convincing 4-1 win at Rushden when he produced a lunging volley that went past the Rushden keeper.

A few days later and the Imps were live on the Sky cameras and with 10 minutes to go, the Imps were 1-0 up against Scunthorpe. It was pretty even and Scunthorpe looked like possibly sneaking an equaliser before Green sent the ball down the wing. GTF was the only striker there and he ran onto the ball and look up before sending a beautiful volley over Musslewhite and going in just off the back post. Guess who was at that back post? Yep, Mr Yeo who didn’t even applaud the brilliant goal. It proved to be his final goal for City but it was a good way to go out. 

The season ended in disappointment again at GTF went off in the first half off extra time in the Playoff Final, it was 0-0 but with Yeo already off, the Imps’ chances of scoring went with GTF going off and City lost the final 2-0. So we then get to Keith’s contract talks with the players, Yeo had already confirmed he was leaving for New Zealand leaving GTF as the only regular goalscorer, or did it?

GTF had been offered a new contract by Keith Alexander and sat down a few days after the playoff finals with the Imps boss. Keith told the striker that he wasn’t going to offer the promised contract and GTF was surprisingly released. Keith’s excuse was that GTF’s contribution during the season hadn’t been up to standard, that coming from the man who brought Asamoah to the club. So after 80 league games and 26 league goals, most memorable, for the Imps, arguably the best all-around striker the Imps had was gone.  

So GTF was left scouring the country for a new side. During the season he had been heavily linked with a move to Huddersfield and despite several offers from other league clubs, GTF decided to take Peter Jackson up on the offer of a contract with the League 1 club and it turned out to be a great decision for the striker. He was part of a promising strike force including Powel Abbott, Andy Booth and young striker, Jon McAliskey. 

2005/6 started slowly for GTF, however, a trip to Chesterfield prove to be a memorable day for the striker as he scored his first professional hatrick as he inspired the Terriers to a 4-2 win. His side won the battle of the former Lincoln players as he travelled to Richard Butcher’s Oldham and GTF was by far the happier as he scored twice in a 3-0 win. Singular goals against Colchester and Bournemouth gave Huddersfield 2 points. However, after a long barren spell without a goal came a moment that will live in the striker’s memory. 

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