After a lesson-learning tonking from Lincoln City in our first-ever match, our meetings since have been a little more even. The Imps easily brushed us aside in our FA Cup Second Round tie in December 1998. But our first season in the same league as ’em couldn’t have gone much better as we took six points off them. The 2010-1 campaign ended up with them going down into the Conference, which meant it’d be six years before we’d end up on the same pitch as them. The problem is they came back stronger.
After two seasons with us in League Two, the Imps were back in the third tier in 2019; holding onto that status for a good few years.
The story of the Imps is one that goes back a long, long time. The club were formed in 1884 as amateurs; turning professional seven years later and then going on to become founder members of Football League Division Two. If you’re thinking the next stage of the tale is just one long, boring outline of their time as an eminent member of the Football League, you’d be wrong. Lincoln City weren’t re-elected in 1908; thrown back into the non-league wilderness… for one season.
The Imps actually lost their Football League status twice more (1911 and 1920). And each time they were back in the fold within a season. From that point, they’d become part of the furniture; winning a few third tier titles and hitting the heights of the second tier on two occasions. The mid-1980s were a bit of a mare though. The Imps were relegated to the Conference in 1987. But, yep – you guessed it. One crack was all it took to return. On one hand, it’s great resilience. And on the other? Foolish to be relegated again.
In fact, the six years they spent in the Conference in the 2010s was the longest they’d be outside the city walls since the 19th century.
Lincoln City: Record vs Boro'
Pl
W
D
L
F
A
GD
Pts*
WR%
Overall
10
3
2
5
8
14
-6
11
30%
Home
5
2
0
3
4
5
-1
6
40%
Away
5
1
2
2
4
9
-5
5
20%
League
9
3
2
4
7
10
-3
11
33%
Cup
1
0
0
1
1
4
-3
n/a
0%
* league points only
Lincoln City: Result-by-Result (Boro' Scoring First)
How to get to Lincoln City – Travel Information – Distance: 105 miles
By Road
Go north on the A1(M) and A1 as far as Grantham; this is the bulk of the journey at more than 84 miles. After you pass Grantham services (off from the A1), you’ll come up to an Esso petrol station on the right. You want to turn right here onto Toll Bar Road (and trust us). Keep going into the village of Marston and carry on through; following the road round to the left at the village hall.
You’ll come to Charterwood Kennels and a right turn very shortly. Here, turn right off Main Street. In 3.5 miles, keep going straight onto Stragglethorpe Lane for another couple of miles. This will bring you out onto the A17. Turn right here, and then immediately left for the village of Brant Broughton. Go through this village and stay on this road; it does get a bit twisty for a short spell.
Keep going more or less straight on as the road changes names; eventually, you should arrive at a T-Junction with Blackmoor Road. Turn right here, and then left straight away onto Low Road. After about four miles, you should come to the A1434. Turn right onto this, and follow the road around to the left.
Continue straight to go onto the A15 and then go straight at the next roundabout for the B1262. In half-a-mile, turn right onto Scorer Street; it’s then the first right for Sincil Bank.
Station: LINCOLN CENTRAL
Services to: NEWARK NORTH GATE (for STEVENAGE, LONDON KINGS CROSS)
If you fancy a stroll, Lincoln Central train station is around 15 minutes from the ground. Turn left out of the station and walk to the traffic lights. Take a left on to the High St – heading over the level crossing and carrying on for 10 mins. Next, take a left turn onto Scorer Street. Walk along Scorer Street and cross the Sincil Drain River. Turn right after the bridge and the ground is straight ahead.
