LET’S LOOK AT:
LINCOLN CITY (PART FOUR)
Given the way that Lincoln have tended to ‘yo-yo’ from one division to another, it was no surprise that the Imps, back under the management of Colin Murphy, were promoted back to the football league at the first time of asking, finishing two points above runners up, Barnet.
In their first season back in the league, the Imps finished in 10th place. Following their return to the Football League, Lincoln became a steady club in the 4th tier (renamed Division 3 following the introduction of the Premiership in 1992) for a number of seasons only rarely threatening to make the play-offs.
However, in 1998 they finished 3rd and were promoted to Division 2 (the old Third Division, now League One). The club had been managed by John Beck but he was sacked two months before the end of the season and replaced by his assistant, Shane Westley. The Champions that season were Notts County, captained by one, Ian Hendon!! However, once again, their stay was short as they finished second from bottom in Division 2 the following season and were relegated.
On returning to Division 3, Lincoln’s performances slumped and by 2002, they finished 22nd, two places off of the bottom. However, former Barnet striker, Keith Alexander, in his second spell as Lincoln manager, took the club to the play-offs the following season, an achievement that, unfortunately for the Imps, they were to repeat over the next four seasons as Lincoln failed on each occasion to either win automatic promotion or to win the play-offs. Definitely, a case of ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’.
In 2007/08, the club finished 15th in the now renamed, League Two and last season, they finished 13th. This season, 2009/10, has been very disappointing and, as at this moment, the Imps are currently 22nd, just two places off of the bottom, under new manager, Chris Sutton. The Imps’ fans will be hoping that the New Year brings an improved set of results for the club.