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. 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.
Chart of table positions of Lincoln City in the Football League
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.
Lincoln fans do a card display before a match against Swindon
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 on the last day of the end of the 2010–11 season after a home defeat to Aldershot Town.[5]
In the 2016–17 season, Lincoln City under Danny Cowley were promoted as champions back to the Football League.[6] 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 Burnley1–0 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.[7][8] In the quarter-finals, they were defeated 5–0 at Arsenal.[9]
On 5 April 2019, Lincoln announced that Nettleham Ladies FC would be rebranded as Lincoln City Women from 1 June.[14] Lincoln were confirmed as the champions of League Two on 22 April 2019, after a 0–0 draw against Tranmere Rovers, having been top of the table since 25 August 2018.[15] Promotion from League Two represented Lincoln's first season in the third tier since the 1998–99 campaign.
On 9 September 2019, 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] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Football League matches were suspended on 13 March 2020 with Lincoln in 15th place. Clubs voted to end the season in June 2020 with final league positions decided on a points per game basis with Lincoln subsequently being placed in 16th.
In the 2020–21 season, Lincoln finished the season in 5th place, qualifying for the play-offs. Lincoln faced Sunderland in the play-offs, the first match fans could attend since the COVID-19 pandemic which Lincoln won 2–0.[18] In the second leg, Sunderland took a 2–0 lead to level the tie, however, Tom Hopper scored to send the Imps into the play-off Final.[19] On 30 May 2021, Lincoln faced Blackpool in the 2021 EFL League One play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. Lincoln took the lead after 50 seconds thanks to an own goal from Ollie Turton, however, Blackpool hit back with two goals from either side of half time from Kenny Dougall as Lincoln missed out on promotion.[20]
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[21] and is colloquially known to fans as "The Bank". It is overlooked by Lincoln Cathedral.[22] 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.
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.
Badge and colours
Badge
Lincoln City currently sport a "traditional" Lincoln Imp badge, synonymous with the success of the 1970s and 1980s. The badge was returned in 2014, with general manager John Vickers billing it the start of a "new era".[27] 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 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.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
The following tables detail the kit suppliers and sponsors of Lincoln City by year:[28]
Blackpool Football Club is a professional association football club based in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which will compete in EFL League One, the third tier of English football, following relegation from the 2022–23 EFL Championship.
Barnsley Football Club is a professional football club based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, which compete in EFL League One. Nicknamed "the Tykes", they were founded in 1887 by Reverend Tiverton Preedy and moved into Oakwell stadium the following year. The club's colours were originally blue, but were changed to red and white in 1904. The club's main rivals are fellow Yorkshire clubs Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United.
Rotherham United Football Club, nicknamed The Millers, is a professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, which compete in the EFL Championship. The club's colours were initially yellow and black, but changed to red and white around 1930. Since 2012 they have played home matches at the New York Stadium, having briefly moved to the Don Valley Stadium from their original home at Millmoor in 2008.
Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, following their victory in the 2022 National League play-off Final. Nicknamed "the Mariners", the club was founded as Grimsby Pelham Football Club in 1878, changed its name to Grimsby Town a year later, and moved to its current stadium, Blundell Park, in 1898.
Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed 'The Stags', they play in a blue and yellow kit. Since 1919, Mansfield have played at Field Mill, which is now an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 9,186. Their main rivals are Chesterfield and Notts County.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club are a professional football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England, that will compete in the EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football, following relegation from the 2022–23 EFL League One. They have played their home games at The New Lawn since 2006, when they moved from their original home at The Lawn Ground.
Tamworth Football Club is an English association football club based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The club participates in the National League North.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club is a football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. Established in 1873, the club became members of the Football League in 1893 and remained members of the Second Division until 1912, making Gainsborough one of the smallest towns in England to have had a Football League team. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at the Northolme.
Sutton United Football Club is a professional football club from Sutton, South London, England, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They play home games at Gander Green Lane in Sutton about 11 miles south-southwest of central London.
Notts County Ladies Football Club was a women's football club based in Nottingham, England. Like the club's male affiliate Notts County FC, they played their home games at Meadow Lane.
FC Halifax Town is a professional association football club based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. They currently compete in the National League, the fifth tier of English football, and play at the Shay. They replaced Halifax Town A.F.C., which went into administration in the 2007–08 season.
Luke Mathew Waterfall is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League Two club Grimsby Town.
Shaun Mark Pearson is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League Two side Grimsby Town. He has announced he will be retiring from professional football when his contract ends on the 30th June 2023.
Jon Anthony Nolan is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two side Tranmere Rovers. He will become a free agent when his contract ends on 30 June 2023.
Samuel George Frederick Habergham is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for Wealdstone in the National League
The 2018–19 season is Lincoln City's 135th season in their history and their second season back in League Two after missing out on the League Two playoff final in the 2017/2018 season. Along with League Two, the club also participates in the FA Cup, and has been eliminated from the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
Jack Tyler Diamond is an English footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Sunderland.
Founded in 1884, Lincoln City F.C. 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.
Callum Damian Peter Morton is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Salford City.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
