January 8, 2021 4.53 pm This story is over 38 months old

Former Imps’ defender joins Grimsby

He’s recovered from a knee surgery

Former Lincoln City full-back Sam Habergham has joined Lincolnshire rivals Grimsby Town on a contract until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old will be eligible for the Mariners’ trip to Port Vale on Saturday, January 9 after becoming Paul Hurst’s first signing since taking over as manager.

Habergham helped Lincoln City to promotion back to the English Football League in 2017, but he has not played since having surgery on a knee injury in 2019.

He was released from his contract at Lincoln City after having not played a game during the 2018-19 season and became a free agent.

Habergham, who will wear the number 36 shirt at Grimsby, spent the last week with his new team-mates and featured for Grimsby’s Under-23s in their 2-1 win over Scunthorpe United on Wednesday.

The defender progressed through the Academy system at Norwich City before joining Tamworth in 2011. He later moved to Braintree Town where he spent four seasons and made a total of 190 appearances.

He followed his former manager Danny Cowley to Lincoln City in 2016 and helped the Imps to secure the National League title in 2017 and to lifting the EFL Trophy at Wembley the following season.

He suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of the 2017/18 season and had successful surgery before a lengthy period of rehabilitation, but he is now fit and raring to go.