Lincoln City Football Club is 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 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 Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town.
Full name | Lincoln City Football Club | |||
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Nickname(s) | The Imps | |||
Founded | 1884; 138 years ago (1884) | |||
Ground | Sincil Bank | |||
Capacity | 10,780[1] | |||
Chairman | Clive Nates[2] | |||
Manager | Mark Kennedy | |||
League | EFL League One | |||
2021–22 | EFL League One, 17th of 24 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Current season |
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. They won the EFL Trophy in 2018 and the League Two title in 2018–19.
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 football association, and the first game Lincoln played was an emphatic 9–1 victory over local rivals Sleaford, on 4 October 1884. Originally they played at the John O'Gaunts ground, provided by wealthy local brewer Robert Dawber.
Lincoln turned professional in the 1891–92 season, and 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.[3] Their first home game was also against Sheffield United, this time, however, Lincoln won 1–0. Due to Dawber's death in 1895, Lincoln moved from the John O'Gaunts Ground to Sincil Bank.
They failed re-election to the Football League 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. The next would oscillate between the Third and Fourth division for the next 10 years, missing out on promotion to the Second Division in 1982 and 1983.
Lincoln were relegated to the Fourth Division at the end of the 1985–86 season, and the year after that they became the first team to suffer automatic relegation from the Football League. They regained their Football League place automatically via promotion as champions of the Conference at the first attempt. In the 1997–98 season, Lincoln were promoted from the Third Division (previously the Fourth Division), but were immediately relegated back on the next season. On 3 May 2002 Lincoln entered into administration.[4] Lincoln City were relegated again from League Two (previously the Third Division) on the last day of the end of the 2010–11 season. In the 2016–17 season of the National League (English football) (previously the Conference), Lincoln City under Danny Cowley were promoted as champions back to the Football League.
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.[5][6] In the quarter finals, they were defeated 5–0 at Arsenal.[7]
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.[8] On 12 May Lincoln drew 0–0 with Exeter City F.C in the first leg of the League Two Playoff.[9] In the second leg, on 17 May, Lincoln lost 3–1.[10]
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.[11] 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.[12] Promotion from League Two represented Lincoln's first season in the EFL League One since the 1998-99 campaign.
Lincoln began their first season in the third tier in over twenty years with relative success, victorious in their first three games against Accrington Stanley, Rotherham and Southend.[13][14][15] On 9 September 2019 the team's then manager, Danny Cowley, announced his departure to join Championship side Huddersfield Town, having guided Lincoln to two promotions in his previous three seasons alongside brother and assistant manager Nicky.[16]
On 20 September 2019, Lincoln appointed Michael Appleton as their first team coach.[17] At the time of EFL games being suspended on 13 March 2020, Lincoln were in 15th position in the league table. When the season was curtailed on 9 June 2020, Lincoln finished in 16th place on a points per game basis with 42 points from 35 games.
The 2020-2021 Lincoln finished the season in 5th place, qualifying for the playoffs. Lincoln faced Sunderland across the two legs of the semi finals, the first being at the LNER stadium which saw home fans attend a match for the first time since March 2020, around 3,145 fans were in attendance. Lincoln won the first leg, 2-0 withe goals from Tom Hopper and on loan Brennan Johnson. The second leg saw Sunderland score twice to cancel out Lincolns lead from the first leg. Tom Hopper scored in the 56th minute to restore Lincolns lead on aggregate 3-2, with that being the final scoreline. On 30 May 2021, Lincoln faced Blackpool in the play off final at Wembley. Just their second appearance Wembley, following the 2018 Checkatrade Final win over Shrewsbury. Lincoln got off to the best possible start, going 1-0 up after just 50 seconds after Blackpool player Turton turned in a Brennan Johnson cross. Two goals either side of half time from Blackpools Kenny Dougall ensured Lincoln missed out on promotion to the Championship.
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[18] and is colloquially known to fans as "The Bank". It is overlooked by Lincoln Cathedral.[19] 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.[20] Martin Peters paraded the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the ground in March 2010 as part of its global tour.[21] FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies played home games at Sincil Bank in their 2011 season.[22] The Ladies' club had previously hosted Arsenal Ladies there in an FA Women's Cup semi-final in March 2008.[23]
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.
Lincoln City currently sport a "traditional" Lincoln Imp badge, 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".[24] 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.
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 is largely red with white pinstriping down the length of the shirt, as well as black and white accents around the collar and cuff of the shirt. The shorts of the kit are also largely black, sporting red accents, and the socks red with black and white accents. Their away kit has never retained any single pattern or design, and areas varied vastly throughout the seasons, but is currently black across the shirt, shorts and socks with red accents on the edges of each piece. In recent years, the club have also released a third kit. Currently, the kit is green in colour, with a chevron pattern across it. This kit features white accents on the shirt, and white shorts with green accents.
This section does not cite any sources. (August 2021) |
The following tables detail the kit suppliers and sponsors of Lincoln City by year:[25]
Kit suppliers | ||
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Period | Supplier | |
1973–1978 | Umbro | |
1978–1983 | Adidas | |
1983–1985 | Lowfields | |
1985–1987 | Osca | |
1987–1990 | Spall | |
1990–1994 | Matchwinner | |
1994–1997 | Admiral | |
1997–1999 | Super League | |
1999–2001 | AVEC | |
2001–2004 | Imps Sport | |
2004–2006 | Lincoln City Collection | |
2006–2007 | Uhlsport | |
2007–2011 | Umbro | |
2011–2015 | Nike | |
2015–present | Errea |
Front of shirt sponsors | |
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Period | Sponsor |
1982 | J. Arthur Bowers |
1983–1989 | F&T Tyres |
1989–1990 | Wheel Horse |
1990–1991 | Pickford |
1991–1992 | Findalls |
1992–1998 | Lincolnshire Echo |
1998–2003 | Alstom |
2003–2004 | Siemens |
2004–2006 | The Community Solutions Group |
2006–2010 | Starglaze |
2010–2011 | GoCar |
2011–2013 | TSM |
2013–2018 | Bishop Grosseteste University |
2018–2019 | NSUK Asbestos Surveys |
2019–2020 | SRP Hire |
2020–2021 | Peregrine Holdings |
2021–2022 | Virgin Wines (Home 1/5) Light Source (Home 2/5) Buildbase (Home 3/5) University of Lincoln (Home 4/5) Branston Ltd (Home 5/5) SRP Hire (Away) |
2022–present | Branston |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Role | Name |
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Chairman | Clive Nates |
Vice Chairman | Jay Wright |
Director | Roger Bates |
Director (RICT) | Rob Bradley |
Director | Sunil Hindocha |
Director | Herman Kok |
Director | Greg Levine |
Director | David Lowes |
Director/Sportvest Partner | Sean Melnick |
Chief Executive Officer | Liam Scully |
Director - Gold Trust Members | Amanda-Jane Slater |
Director | Stephen Tointon |
Director | Chris Travers |
Strategic Advisor | Landon Donovan |
Role | Nat. | Name |
---|---|---|
Head coach | Mark Kennedy | |
Assistant head coach | Mike Garrity | |
Professional development phase lead | Tom Shaw | |
Goalkeeper coach | Scott Fry | |
Head of Performance | Ross Burbeary | |
Head of Performance & Recruitment Analysis | Joe Hutchinson | |
Physio | Kieran Walker | |
Assistant Sports Scientist | Harry Rossington | |
Performance Analyst | Jake Dayus | |
Kit Manager | Terry Bourne | |
Chief Scout | Marc Tracy | |
Performance coach | Mark Pease | |
Therapist | Tom Hallas | |
Director of Football | Jez George | |
Name | Nat. | From | To | Record | ||||||
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P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||||
John Strawson | September 1892 | February 1896 | 97 | 31 | 11 | 55 | 31.96% | |||
Alf Martin | 1896 | March 1897 | 35 | 9 | 11 | 24 | 25.71% | |||
James West | 1897 | 1900 | 106 | 34 | 22 | 50 | 32.08% | |||
David Calderhead | 1 August 1900 | 1 August 1907 | 256 | 89 | 53 | 114 | 34.77% | |||
John Henry Strawson | 1 August 1907 | 31 May 1914 | 195 | 52 | 40 | 103 | 26.67% | |||
George Fraser | 1 August 1919 | 31 May 1921 | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 21.74% | |||
David Calderhead Jr. | 1 April 1921 | 31 May 1924 | 118 | 37 | 28 | 53 | 31.36% | |||
Horace Henshall | 1 August 1924 | 1 May 1927 | 132 | 51 | 28 | 53 | 38.64% | |||
Harry Parkes | 1 May 1927 | 1 May 1936 | 395 | 187 | 78 | 130 | 47.34% | |||
Joe McClelland | 1 May 1936 | 1 January 1946 | 140 | 61 | 27 | 52 | 43.57% | |||
Bill Anderson | 1 January 1946 | 1 January 1965 | 855 | 307 | 189 | 359 | 35.91% | |||
Con Moulson | 1 January 1965 | 1 March 1965 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 00.00% | |||
Roy Chapman | 1 March 1965 | 31 May 1966 | 65 | 15 | 13 | 37 | 23.08% | |||
Ron Gray | 1 August 1966 | 1 July 1970 | 184 | 60 | 55 | 69 | 32.61% | |||
Bert Loxley | 1 July 1970 | 1 March 1971 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 37.50% | |||
David Herd | 1 March 1971 | 6 December 1972 | 82 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 36.59% | |||
Graham Taylor | 6 December 1972 | 20 June 1977 | 211 | 97 | 61 | 53 | 45.97% | |||
George Kerr | 20 June 1977 | 1 December 1977 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 27.78% | |||
Willie Bell | 21 December 1977 | 23 October 1978 | 40 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 27.50% | |||
Colin Murphy | 6 November 1978 | 1 May 1985 | 309 | 121 | 88 | 100 | 39.16% | |||
John Pickering | 1 July 1985 | 20 December 1985 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 16.67% | |||
George Kerr | 20 December 1985 | 7 March 1987 | 61 | 17 | 17 | 27 | 27.87% | |||
Peter Daniel | 7 March 1987 | 1 May 1987 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 16.67% | |||
Colin Murphy | 26 May 1987 | 20 May 1990 | 103 | 39 | 26 | 38 | 37.86% | |||
Allan Clarke | 3 June 1990 | 30 November 1990 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16.67% | |||
Steve Thompson | 1 November 1990 | 31 May 1993 | 128 | 48 | 36 | 44 | 37.50% | |||
Keith Alexander | 1 August 1993 | 16 May 1994 | 48 | 13 | 13 | 22 | 27.08% | |||
Sam Ellis | 1 August 1994 | 4 September 1995 | 56 | 21 | 12 | 23 | 37.50% | |||
Steve Wicks | 4 September 1995 | 16 October 1995 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 00.00% | |||
John Beck | 16 October 1995 | 6 March 1998 | 130 | 48 | 42 | 40 | 36.92% | |||
Shane Westley | 7 March 1998 | 11 November 1998 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 30.00% | |||
John Reames | 11 November 1998 | 1 June 2000 | 87 | 30 | 21 | 36 | 34.48% | |||
Phil Stant | 1 June 2000 | 27 February 2001 | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 31.58% | |||
Alan Buckley | 28 February 2001 | 25 April 2002 | 69 | 16 | 24 | 29 | 23.19% | |||
Keith Alexander | 5 May 2002 | 24 May 2006 | 213 | 81 | 69 | 63 | 38.03% | |||
John Schofield | 15 June 2006 | 15 October 2007 | 51 | 21 | 12 | 18 | 41.18% | |||
Peter Jackson | 30 October 2007 | 2 September 2009 | 92 | 32 | 21 | 39 | 34.78% | |||
Chris Sutton | 28 September 2009 | 28 September 2010 | 51 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 28.00% | |||
Steve Tilson | 15 October 2010 | 10 October 2011 | 37 | 11 | 7 | 19 | 29.73% | |||
David Holdsworth | 31 October 2011 | 17 February 2013 | 71 | 21 | 19 | 31 | 29.57% | |||
Gary Simpson | 27 February 2013 | 3 November 2014 | 58 | 23 | 15 | 20 | 39.65% | |||
Chris Moyses | 3 November 2014 | 12 May 2016 | 64 | 22 | 15 | 27 | 34.38% | |||
Danny Cowley | 12 May 2016 | 9 September 2019 | 176 | 95 | 42 | 39 | 53.98% | |||
Michael Appleton | 23 September 2019 | 30 April 2022 | 143 | 55 | 33 | 55 | 38.5% | |||
Mark Kennedy | 12 May 2022 | current | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 38.5% | |||
Football League Third Division North / League One (3rd tier)
Football League Fourth Division / League Two (4th tier)
Conference / National League (5th tier)
Football League Trophy
Football League Group Trophy
Conference Championship Shield
Lincolnshire Senior Cup
Pontin's Reserve League Cup
Fred Green Memorial Trophy3
John Reames Memorial Trophy
Midland League / Central League
Highest league finish
FA Cup
EFL Cup
FA Trophy
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