Everyone loves an underdog and it was Lincoln City who captured the public imagination in last season’s FA Cup.The Imps, who were in the National League at the time, reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after sealing victories over the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley.They then faced Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the quarter-finals last March, where their journey came to an end.The non-league outfit held their own until first-half stoppage-time when Theo Walcott broke the deadlock.The floodgates subsequently opened and Arsene Wenger’s side secured a 5-0 victory. But Lincoln’s players had done themselves proud.One Lincoln player who left the club that summer, following the club’s promotion to League Two, was defender Bradley Wood.The 26-year-old dropped down to the National League North to sign for Alfreton Town - but the right-back has just made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Bradley Wood banned for six years

It’s been confirmed that Wood has been banned by the Football Association for six years over two match-fixing offences - both of which took place in Lincoln’s FA Cup run.

A FA tribunal ruled that Wood had “influenced a football betting market” by earning two yellow cards in matches against Ipswich and Burnley.

He was found to have committed 25 betting-relate breaches in all and has been banned from football until March 8, 2024.

Furthermore, he has been fined £3,725 and ordered to pay costs of £1,550.

The footage that led to Wood being banned

Per the Mirror, two people known to Wood placed bets on the two matches that gambling firms noticed were "atypical in the context of the caution betting market”.

"The gravamen of the case against Mr Wood is that he planned to be cautioned, told personal acquaintances of that plan so that they and others to whom the information was passed placed bets," read the FA's written judgement.

You can see the two bookings that led to Wood’s six-year ban here…

He'll regret that for the rest of his life.

Lincoln chief executive releases statement

Lincoln's chief executive Liam Scully, meanwhile, has released the following statement and revealed his shock when he found out about the allegations:

"This football club takes its own integrity, and the integrity of football as whole, extremely seriously so were shocked and saddened to be informed of the allegations,” he said.

"We acted quickly when we were first informed and have, at the request of the FA and for the sake of Bradley Wood, kept the allegations private until the matter was resolved.

"We wholeheartedly condemn any behaviour which could tarnish the reputation of football as a sport and have given the FA our complete support in conducting the investigation.

"It is important to note, however, that these charges relate to the individual actions of a single player and it is accepted by everyone that they played no part in the results of games.

"We are relieved the matter has now been brought to a conclusion."