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Lincoln City F.C.

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Lincoln City
File:Lincoln city (2014).png
Full nameLincoln City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Imps
Founded1884; 140 years ago (1884)
GroundSincil Bank
Capacity10,120[1]
ChairmanClive Nates[2]
ManagerDanny Cowley[3]
LeagueEFL League One
2023–24EFL League One, 7th of 24
Websitehttp://www.redimps.co.uk
Current season

Lincoln City Football Club are a professional association football club based in the city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. The team compete in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the "Imps" after the legend of the Lincoln Imp, they have played at the 10,120-capacity Sincil Bank since their move from John O'Gaunts in 1895. Traditionally they play in red and white striped shirts with black shorts and red and white socks. They hold rivalries with other Lincolnshire clubs, particularly Football League sides Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town.

Founded in 1884, Lincoln won the Midland League in 1889–90, their first full season playing league football. They moved on from the Football Alliance to become founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892, remaining there until they failed re-election in 1908. They won immediate re-election after winning the next year's Midland League, and would repeat this feat after failing re-election again in 1911 and 1920. Founder members of the Football League Third Division North in 1921, they won promotion as champions in 1931–32, but were relegated two seasons later. Crowned Third Division North champions again in 1947–48, they were relegated the next year, but would remain in the second tier for nine seasons after again winning the Third Division North title in 1951–52. Two successive relegations left them in the Fourth Division by 1962, where they would remain until Graham Taylor's title winning campaign of 1975–76.

Relegated in 1978–79, they secured promotion again two years later but suffered a double relegation to find themselves in the Conference by 1987. Lincoln made an immediate recovery however, regaining their Football League status with the Conference title in 1987–88. They were promoted again in 1997–98, but were relegated the next season. They reached the play-offs in five consecutive seasons, from 2002 to 2007, losing in the final twice (2002–03 and 2004–05) and the semi-finals three times, which is a competition record. However they exited the division at the other end when they were returned to the Conference after relegation at the end of the 2010–11 campaign. A six-season stay in non-league was ended when Cowley brothers Nicky and Danny led the club to the National League title in 2016–17, as well as a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – this made them the first non-league side to reach that stage in 103 years. Though they lost in the League Two play-offs the next year, they did win the 2018 EFL Trophy Final. In the 2018-2019 season they were champions of League Two and gained promotion to the third tier for the first time in 20 years.

History

Football in the city of Lincoln had been prominent since the 1860s although not strictly connected to the modern day club. After the disbanding of Lincoln Rovers (formerly Lincoln Recreation) in 1884, Lincoln City FC was formed as an amateur association, turning professional in the 1891–92 season. Originally they played at the John O'Gaunts ground (provided by wealthy local brewer Robert Dawber) before moving in 1895 to their current ground, Sincil Bank. Current Lincoln City managers Danny Cowley and Nicky Cowley have brought a new sense of pride within the city for their main football club.

The first game Lincoln played as an amateur team was an emphatic 9–1 victory over local rivals Sleaford, on 4 October 1884. George Hallam set two records for the club that day: he scored the first ever goal for the club, and also the first ever hat-trick. Their first competitive game at home also ended in an emphatic manner, beating Boston Excelsior 11–0, with Edwin Teesdale scoring four goals. At this time, before the club gained entry into the Football League and professional status, the County Cup was their main priority; Lincoln won it for the first time in the 1886–87 season with a 2–0 replay victory over neighbours Grimsby Town F.C., after the initial match had finished 2–2.

Lincoln soon helped to form what was then the Second Division in 1892–93 season, as an increasing number of clubs wished to join the Football League. Their first game in the Football League was a 4–2 away defeat to Sheffield United on 3 September 1892.[4] Their first home game was also against Sheffield United, this time, however, Lincoln won 1–0. The first game at Sincil Bank in 1895, after moving from the John O'Gaunts Ground due to Dawber's death, was a 0–0 friendly draw with local rivals, Gainsborough Trinity. The first competitive fixture at the ground was against Arsenal, the game ended 1–1.

In January 1907 The Imps knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup after a replay. Managed by David Calderhead, two late goals salvaged a home draw in the first leg. In the replay in London, an injury time goal by Norrie Fairgray took Lincoln through. Chelsea returned at the end of the season to poach Calderhead to become their manager.

Up until the 1920s Lincoln spent most of their time swinging between the Second Division and the more localised leagues, the Midland and also the Central league. After then, however, in the 1921–22 season, Lincoln, along with several other clubs from the Central and Midland leagues, founded the Third Division (North). The newly founded league and the Second Division would take turns in becoming Lincoln's home up until the early 1960s where they would drop a further division to the Fourth Division in the 1962–63 season.

Their championship honours include three Division 3 (North) championships in 1931–32, 1947–48 and 1951–52, a Division 4 (now League Two) championship in 1975–76 (when they were managed by future England manager Graham Taylor).

It was the 1975–76 season where the club broke the record for most points for a whole season when 2 instead of 3 points were awarded for a win with 74 points in total (this was and still is the record number of points achieved under the 2-point system); the record of winning the most games (32) and losing the fewest (4), was also set.[5][6][7] City also become the first club in nearly a decade to score over 100 league goals (111 in total). They also won 21 out of 23 home league games in this season (the other 2 were drawn) and also won 11 games away from home, another impressive bout from the club. It was the season where, Graham Taylor recalls, "teams were petrified of coming to Sincil Bank".[8]

In 1982 and again in 1983, Lincoln narrowly missed out on promotion to the Second Division. In 1985, Lincoln were the opposition at Bradford City when the Bradford City stadium fire claimed the lives of 56 spectators – two of them, Bill Stacey and Jim West, were Lincoln fans, and subsequently these fans had the Stacey-West stand named after them.

Lincoln were relegated on the last day of the following season, and the year after that they became the first team to suffer automatic relegation from the Football League. This was a dramatic decline for a club who had almost reached the Second Division four years earlier and has been linked to the trauma arising from the disaster. This marked the fourth occasion on which Lincoln were demoted from the Football League, a record that still stands. They regained their Football League place automatically via promotion as champions of the Conference (beforehand it was done by re-election) at the first attempt with a long ball game devised by eccentric manager Colin Murphy and held on to it until the end of season 2010–11. On 8 September 1990, Lincoln were the opposition when David Longhurst suffered a fatal heart attack during the first half of a game against York City at Bootham Crescent. The game was abandoned at halftime.

The Lincolnshire derby, between Lincoln City and local rivals Boston United, being played at Sincil Bank

With Lincoln entering administration at the end of the 2001–02 season, Alan Buckley was relieved of his duties as manager on financial grounds[9] with Keith Alexander placed in charge of all football matters. On 3 May 2002 Lincoln successfully petitioned to go into administration[10] but the financial crisis would leave the first team squad bereft of players as the day saw five senior players – Jason Barnett, Grant Brown, David Cameron, Steve Holmes and Justin Walker – released at the end of their contracts[11] with a sixth, Lee Thorpe, departing for Leyton Orient.[12] A hectic day finished with confirmation of Alexander's official appointment as team manager.[13]

In 2002–03, Alexander was given the task of keeping the team in the football league; he proved the many pundits and fans who believed that Lincoln would be relegated and sent out of business due to financial irregularities wrong. With a team made up of cheap ex-non-league players and the lower paid members of the previous season's squad, he took them to the play-off final which they lost 5–2 to Bournemouth. The team was rewarded with a civil reception in Lincoln, and an open-top bus ride through Lincoln, an event usually reserved for the winners of such competitions; it was awarded to the team because of the massive achievement.

In 2003–04 Alexander again confounded the critics by coaching the Imps to another play-off position, this time losing to eventual winners Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals. Alexander, one of the very few black managers in the Football League, had a very serious brain injury (a cerebral aneurysm) halfway through the season, but made a full recovery. In the 2004–05 season they again qualified for the play-offs, for the third year running, and in the semi-finals Lincoln beat Macclesfield Town 2–1 on aggregate over two legs but lost in the final against Southend United 2–0 after extra time.

Lincoln fans do a card display before a match against Swindon

In the 2005–06 season, Lincoln City lost narrowly to then Premier League side Fulham in the second round of the 2005–06 League Cup, taking the match to extra-time before the London side won 5–4 in the final minute. In the league, Lincoln again reached the play-offs after many fans and critics believed that they would finish in the mid-table after losing many of their first team regulars from the previous three campaigns. In January both Alexander and former assistant manager Gary Simpson were put on gardening leave by the board. Alexander was soon after reinstated; however, Simpson did not return. Shortly after, over a disagreement with other board members over the way the club was being run and certain personnel, two prominent board members, Ray Trew and Keith Roe departed from the club. Lincoln brushed this saga to the side though, and finished 7th in League 2 after only losing 3 games since the new year. Lincoln were to face local neighbours Grimsby Town in the play-offs, a side they had beaten 5–0 at Sincil Bank earlier in the season. However, once again it was not to be, as Lincoln lost 3–1 on aggregate to become the first team ever to lose four consecutive play-off competitions.

After speculation that he would take up the vacant managerial role at Peterborough United, Keith Alexander left his position as manager of Lincoln City by mutual consent on 24 May 2006, stating that he could take the club no further, and shortly after on 15 June John Schofield was appointed his successor, with John Deehan as Director of Football. When John Deehan was the Director of Football, the club enjoyed a close link with Premier League outfit Aston Villa. As well as Villa hosting a behind closed-doors friendly with City earlier in the 2006–07 season, Paul Green, a promising youngster, made a permanent move to the club, whilst goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik featured several times on the substitute bench during his loan spell at City. Deehan also brought in Ryan Amoo, a youth player who he worked with at Villa, who has since left the club since his contract expired. For the fifth year in a row, under a different manager, however, Lincoln City reached the League Two play-offs after finishing 5th in the league (the highest position that they have qualified for the play-offs in). Once again, however, they lost, this time to Bristol Rovers in the semi-finals courtesy of a 2–1 defeat away and a 3–5 defeat at home. The failure to succeed in five successive play-off competitions is a record for any club.

Chart of table positions of Lincoln City in the Football League.

The team started the 2007–08 campaign poorly, managing just two wins before a winless streak that lasted from 25 August to 24 November. During this winless streak the Managerial team of John Schofield and John Deehan were sacked, and replaced with former Huddersfield Town manager Peter Jackson. Jackson quickly earned the nickname "Lord of the Imps" due to his shared name with Peter Jackson, the director who made the Lord of the Rings films. Jackson parted company with the club on 2 September 2009 due to poor home form in the previous season and a poor start to the 2009/10 season.

On 28 September 2009, the Lincoln hotseat was handed to former Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers, Celtic and England striker Chris Sutton. His assistant was named as Ian Pearce, another former Premier League player. The club had been managed by coach Simon Clark following the sacking of Peter Jackson and his assistant Iffy Onuora. It was announced that Sutton would take the reins from Clark on 30 September. Sutton led Lincoln City to the third round of the FA Cup, after beating Northwich Victoria in a second-round game televised live on ITV1. City were drawn with Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in the third round. The tie was played on 2 January 2010 at the Reebok Stadium, with Lincoln losing the game 4–0 and crashing out respectfully to the Premier League side. League form improved in January, with the team profiting from new loan and permanent signings. Loan signing Davide Somma became an instant hero, scoring 9 goals in his 14 games on loan and ending up being Lincoln's top goalscorer for the season.

Sutton resigned in September 2010, citing personal reasons. However, he later revealed it was due to disagreements over spending with the club's board. On 15 October, the Imps hired Steve Tilson as the club's new manager. Under new management, things looked up for the Imps and by Christmas, Tilson's side were 11th. The good run ended abruptly, and Lincoln started to slip down the table. After a run of nine losses and a draw in the final ten games, Lincoln City were relegated from League Two on the last day of the end of the 2010–2011 season. They needed a win in their final game against Aldershot Town to survive, but lost 3–0. With relegation rivals Barnet winning their final game, Lincoln finished 23rd and were relegated. Almost 8,000 supporters watched the game.

Following relegation to the Conference Premier, Tilson released all but three members of the squad, telling them they had no future at Sincil Bank. By early October, Lincoln were one point above the relegation zone and the management were coming under fire after a run of one win in four; Tilson was sacked as manager on 10 October 2011 following a 4–0 defeat at Tamworth. Following the duo's sacking, Grant Brown was put in temporary charge.

Brown remained in charge for four games, winning the first but none of the subsequent three, before former Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth was confirmed as manager. Holdsworth managed the Imps to safety but only by 8 points; furthermore, Lincoln lost to Isthmian League outfit Carshalton Athletic in the FA Trophy and suffered its earliest FA Cup exit since 1924–25.

Lincoln were one game away from facing Liverpool in the FA Cup third round the following season, but were denied by a second round replay defeat to Mansfield Town. On 17 February 2013, David Holdsworth left the club by mutual consent following twelve games without a win. On 27 February 2013, Gary Simpson, a former assistant of Keith Alexander during his time at the club, was appointed manager until the end of the season. Safety was secured on the final day with a 5–1 away win against Hyde.

After a good start to the 2013–14 season, Lincoln went on a run of just two wins in seventeen games, which saw the Imps embroiled in relegation trouble once more. From the start of February to the end of the season, Lincoln lost just three games, and finished 14th in the league, their best placing since relegation. Gary Simpson was placed on gardening leave on 3 November 2014. Assistant manager Chris Moyses was placed in temporary charge and then appointed permanently on 8 December 2014. Lincoln finished 15th that season. 2015–16 would prove to be largely a season of mid-table stability, eventually culminating in a 13th-place finish. Just before the season ended, Moyses announced that he would leave the club in order to focus on his business interests outside of football, and was subsequently replaced by Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley.

City started the 2016–17 season with mixed form, winning two and losing two of their opening four games. This was followed by a run of victories that resulted in the Imps sitting top of the table after a victory at Tranmere, the first time the club had topped any table in ten years. The form again dipped with defeats to Dover and Barrow in late September, but that would be the last time that the Imps would taste defeat in any competition until a last minute defeat to Guiseley on Boxing Day. During that run the Imps travelled to run-away leaders Forest Green and would have fallen twelve points behind with a defeat, but three goals in the final 30 minutes turned around a 2–0 deficit.

The good form continued into the New Year as the Imps gradually started to pull clear of the group. Despite a bit of a dip of form in March, Cowley would go on to lead the Imps to a National League title and a return to League Two for the first time since their relegation six years earlier.[14] The club ended their second spell in non-league with draws against Maidstone and Southport, the latter of whom were the club's first opponents back in non-league, bringing it full circle.

In the 2016–17 FA Cup, Lincoln beat Championship side Ipswich Town, in a replay, after progressing past Guiseley, Altrincham and Oldham Athletic, before defeating Championship leaders Brighton and Hove Albion at Sincil Bank to make the fifth round of the FA cup for the first time since the end of the Victorian era. On 18 February, Lincoln went on to beat top flight side Burnley 1–0 to historically go through to the FA Cup quarter final, the first time a non-league club had progressed to the last eight since 1914.[15][16] In the quarter finals, they were defeated 5–0 at Arsenal.[17]

In the 2017–18 season, on 6 February 2018, Lincoln beat Chelsea U21s in the semi-final of the 2017–18 EFL Trophy, taking them to Wembley Stadium for the first time in the 134 years of the club. They went on to win the final against Shrewsbury Town on 8 April 2018. The winning goal was scored by Elliot Whitehouse in the 16th minute and was the only goal of the match.[18] on May 12, Lincoln drew 0–0 with Exeter City F.C in the first leg of the League Two Playoff.[19] In the second leg, on 17 May, Lincoln lost 3–1.[20]

In the 2018–19 season, on 5 April 2019, Lincoln announced that Nettleham Ladies FC would be rebranded as Lincoln City Women from 1 June.[21] Lincoln won League Two, on 22 April 2019, after a 0–0 draw against Tranmere Rovers, having been top of the table since 25 August 2018.[22]

Stadium

The Lincolnshire Echo Stand at Lincoln's Ground, Sincil Bank.

The club have played at Sincil Bank since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120[1] and is colloquially known to fans as "The Bank". It is overlooked by Lincoln Cathedral.[23] Former Lincoln City chairman John Reames re-purchased the ground from the local council in 2000 at a cost of £175,000. The club had sold it in 1982 for £225,000 to fend off the threat of eviction, arranging a 125-year lease.

Sincil Bank hosted England's 2–0 win over Scotland in the Victory Shield on 28 November 2008.[24] Martin Peters paraded the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the ground in March 2010 as part of its global tour.[25] FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies played home games at Sincil Bank in their 2011 season.[26] The Ladies' club had previously hosted Arsenal Ladies there in an FA Women's Cup semi-final in March 2008.[27]

Rivals

Lincoln City is one of three professional football clubs in Lincolnshire. Lincoln City's main rivals are Grimsby Town and Scunthorpe United, which at various points fans have considered one bigger than the other. Other prominent Lincolnshire rivals of the past include Gainsborough Trinity and Boston United, however meetings are nowadays limited between the clubs.

Nottinghamshire clubs Mansfield Town and Notts County are also considered rivals, and Peterborough United, Hull City and York City are clubs that have had some sort of rivalry with The Imps in the past. Lincoln United, the other football club based in Lincoln, are further down the footballing pyramid and are not a considered rival.

Crest and colours

Crest

File:Lincoln City F.C. logo.png
Lincoln City's logo used until 2001

Lincoln City currently sport a "traditional" Lincoln Imp badge, a crest synonymous with the success of the 70s and 80s. The badge was returned in 2014, with general manager John Vickers billing it the start of a "new era".[28] Between the two spells the club used two badges, the first of which being the city's heraldic shield with the letters "L.C.F.C" inscribed onto it. This badge was used until 2001, when the club used a similar design; however, it featured a yellow imp in the centre, with the nickname of "The Imps" written across.

Colours

Traditionally, the colours and design of the Lincoln City strip are a red and white striped shirt along with black shorts and red socks. This varied in the late 1960s and early 70s, the club opted to field a predominantly red strip with white shorts, and also in the 2000–01 season when the shirt was quartered red and white with white shorts. Currently, the home kit sports the red and white stripes, with a large white box in which the sponsor is placed. Other elements include the club logo in the piece of fabric down the side of the shirt. The shorts as well now sport a primarily black scheme with a red stripe down the side. Their away kit has never retained any single pattern or design, and areas varied vastly throughout the seasons, but is currently grey in colour, with blue accents.

Since 2015, the club's kits have been manufactured by Errea. Previous manufacturers have included Umbro (1973–78, 2007–11), Adidas (1978–83), Lowfields (1983–85), Osca (1985–87), Spall (1987–90), Matchwinner (1990–94), Admiral (1994–97), Super League (1997–99), Avec Sportswear (1999–2001), Imps Sport (2001–04), Lincoln City Collection (2004–06), Uhlsport (2006–07), and Nike (2011–15). Their current shirt sponsors are SRP Hire.

Previous sponsors have included J.Arthur Bowers (1982), F&T Tyres (1983–89), Wheel Horse (1989–90), Pickfords (1990–91), Findalls (1991–92), Lincolnshire Echo (1992–98), Alstom (1998–2003), Siemens (2003–04), The Community Solutions Group (2004–06), Starglaze (2006–10), GoCar (2010–11), TSM (2011–13), Bishop Grosseteste University (2013–18) and NSUK Asbestos Surveys (2018–19).

Current squad

First team

As of 2 September 2019.[29]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Josh Vickers
3 DF England ENG Harry Toffolo
4 MF Northern Ireland NIR Michael O’Connor
5 DF England ENG Jason Shackell (vice-captain)
6 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Cian Bolger
7 MF England ENG Tom Pett
8 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Lee Frecklington (captain)
10 MF England ENG Jack Payne
11 MF Portugal POR Bruno Andrade
12 MF England ENG Ellis Chapman
16 MF England ENG Michael Bostwick
17 FW England ENG Tyler Walker (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
18 MF England ENG Jorge Grant
19 MF Wales WAL Joe Morrell (on loan from Bristol City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF England ENG Callum Connolly (on loan from Everton)
21 GK England ENG Grant Smith
22 DF Wales WAL Aaron Lewis
23 DF Wales WAL Neal Eardley (third captain)
24 DF England ENG Max Melbourne (on loan from West Brom)
26 MF England ENG Harry Anderson
27 DF England ENG Jamie McCombe
28 MF England ENG Jake Hesketh (on loan from Southampton)
29 FW England ENG John Akinde
31 MF England ENG Ben Sault
32 DF England ENG Gianluca Bucci
33 DF England ENG Ben Coker
34 DF England ENG Ziyad Al-Oyouni
35 DF England ENG Joshua Woodcock

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW United States USA Jordan Adebayo-Smith (at Boston United until 1 January 2020)
15 MF Finland FIN Alex Bradley (at Harrogate Town until 30 June 2020)

Club management

Coaching staff

Role Nationality Name
Manager England Danny Cowley
Assistant Manager England Nicky Cowley
First Team Coach/Under-23 Manager England Jamie McCombe
First Team Goalkeeping Coach England Andy Warrington

Managerial history

Name Nat From To Record
P W D L Win %
John Strawson England Sep 1892 Feb 1896 97 31 11 55 31.96%
Alf Martin England 1896 Mar 1897 35 9 11 24 25.71%
James West England 1897 1900 106 34 22 50 32.08%
David Calderhead Scotland 1 August 1900 1 August 1907 256 89 53 114 34.77%
John Henry Strawson England 1 August 1907 31 May 1914 195 52 40 103 26.67%
George Fraser Scotland 1 August 1919 31 May 1921 46 10 10 26 21.74%
David Calderhead Jr. Scotland 1 April 1921 31 May 1924 118 37 28 53 31.36%
Horace Henshall England 1 August 1924 1 May 1927 132 51 28 53 38.64%
Harry Parkes England 1 May 1927 1 May 1936 395 187 78 130 47.34%
Joe McClelland England 1 May 1936 1 January 1946 140 61 27 52 43.57%
Bill Anderson England 1 January 1946 1 January 1965 855 307 189 359 35.91%
Con Moulson Republic of Ireland 1 January 1965 1 March 1965 8 0 0 8 00.00%
Roy Chapman England 1 March 1965 31 May 1966 65 15 13 37 23.08%
Ron Gray England 1 August 1966 1 July 1970 184 60 55 69 32.61%
Bert Loxley England 1 July 1970 1 March 1971 32 12 4 16 37.50%
David Herd Scotland 1 March 1971 6 December 1972 82 30 30 22 36.59%
Graham Taylor England 6 December 1972 20 June 1977 211 97 61 53 45.97%
George Kerr Scotland 20 June 1977 1 December 1977 18 5 4 9 27.78%
Willie Bell Scotland 21 December 1977 23 October 1978 40 11 13 16 27.50%
Colin Murphy England 6 November 1978 1 May 1985 309 121 88 100 39.16%
John Pickering England 1 July 1985 20 December 1985 24 4 6 14 16.67%
George Kerr Scotland 20 December 1985 7 March 1987 61 17 17 27 27.87%
Peter Daniel England 7 March 1987 1 May 1987 12 2 5 5 16.67%
Colin Murphy England 26 May 1987 20 May 1990 103 39 26 38 37.86%
Allan Clarke England 3 June 1990 30 November 1990 18 3 6 9 16.67%
Steve Thompson England 1 November 1990 31 May 1993 128 48 36 44 37.50%
Keith Alexander Saint Lucia 1 August 1993 16 May 1994 48 13 13 22 27.08%
Sam Ellis England 1 August 1994 4 September 1995 56 21 12 23 37.50%
Steve Wicks England 4 September 1995 16 October 1995 7 0 2 5 00.00%
John Beck England 16 October 1995 6 March 1998 130 48 42 40 36.92%
Shane Westley England 7 March 1998 11 November 1998 30 9 5 16 30.00%
John Reames England 11 November 1998 1 June 2000 87 30 21 36 34.48%
Phil Stant England 1 June 2000 27 February 2001 38 12 10 16 31.58%
Alan Buckley England 28 February 2001 25 April 2002 69 16 24 29 23.19%
Keith Alexander Saint Lucia 5 May 2002 24 May 2006 213 81 69 63 38.03%
John Schofield England 15 June 2006 15 October 2007 51 21 12 18 41.18%
Peter Jackson England 30 October 2007 2 September 2009 92 32 21 39 34.78%
Chris Sutton England 28 September 2009 28 September 2010 51 14 14 23 28.00%
Steve Tilson England 15 October 2010 10 October 2011 37 11 7 19 29.73%
David Holdsworth England 31 October 2011 17 February 2013 71 21 19 31 29.57%
Gary Simpson England 27 February 2013 3 November 2014 58 23 15 20 39.65%
Chris Moyses England 3 November 2014 12 May 2016 64 22 15 27 34.38%
Danny Cowley England 12 May 2016 Present 172 93 48 31 54.06%

Honours and achievements

League

Football League Third Division North (3rd tier)

Football League Fourth Division / League Two (4th tier)

Conference / National League (5th tier)

Cup

Football League Trophy

Football League Group Trophy

  • Runners-up (1): 1983

Conference Championship Shield

  • Winners (1): 1988

Other/Youth and Reserve

Lincolnshire Senior Cup

  • Winners (38): 1886–87, 1890–91, 1891–92, 1893–94, 1907–08, 1909–10, 1911–12, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1955–566, 1961–62, 1963–646, 1965–666, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2013–14,
  • Runners-up (32): 1892–93, 1894–95, 1896–97, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1908–09, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1922–23, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15

Pontin's Reserve League Cup

  • Winners (1): 2006–07

Fred Green Memorial Trophy3

  • Winners (1): 2006–07

John Reames Memorial Trophy

  • Winners (1): 2013–14

Midland League / Central League

  • Winners (4): 1889–90, 1908–09, 1911–125, 1920–21
  • Runners-up (1): 1932–33
  • Third-placed (1): 1928–29

Highest finishes

Highest league finish

FA Cup

EFL Cup

FA Trophy

Club records

Source[30]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "10 Things You Never Knew About The Imps". Wrexham Football Club. 22 ULOL PRE. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2017. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Lincoln City appoint new chairman". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Lincoln name new manager". BBC Sport. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  4. ^ Steve Pearce (1997). "Shoot, The ultimate stats and facts guide to English League Football, p.130". Boxtree.
  5. ^ Steve Pearce (1997). "Shoot, The ultimate stats and facts guide to English League Football, p.56". Boxtree.
  6. ^ "EFL Official Website - Homepage". www.efl.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Record Breakers & Makers 1967–1987". Lincoln City FC Official Website. Premium TV.
  8. ^ Brian Halford (2000). "Past Imperfect, The Story of Lincoln City F.C. Was that they were 'indestructable' ". The Parrs Wood Press. p. 144.
  9. ^ "Boss Buckley leaves the Imps". Official Website. Lincoln City FC. 25 April 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "City go into administration". Official Website. Lincoln City FC. 3 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Five Set For City Exit". Official Website. Lincoln City FC. 3 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Thorpe in Orient switch". Official Website. Lincoln City FC. 3 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Alexander appointed City manager". Official Website. Lincoln City FC. 3 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Lincoln City sealed their return to the English Football League after a six-year absence, thanks to Terry Hawkridge's brace against Macclesfield". BBC. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
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  30. ^ The Lincoln City FC Archive Archived 8 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Lincooln City FC, 26 March 2009