Imps Should Provide Inspiration To All Of Us

[Flaxman's Alibi]

The last time I went to Sincil Bank was a cold Tuesday night in the Conference. It was a drab local derby and the crowd was a pitiful 2734, with 1100 Mansfield fans (I'm sure if it was on a Saturday there could quite easily have been more visitors than home fans). I vividly remember commenting to my mate and my eldest daughter: "these are finished, if we go up we'll never be back to Lincoln for a match."
There were times when Stags were in the Conference when I'd felt the same way. You could feel the doom and hear the death knell being rang. Fortunately we were saved but that familiar feeling was very evident on that night in Lincoln.

So to yesterday, and what a transformation. It seems like the town has gone City balmy: shirts everywhere, shop fronts sporting Lincoln colours, a vibrant stadium and a positive air throughout the place. The difference over 4 years is remarkable. Now it's easy to point out that Imps have had the perfect storm of: a young and talented management team, been unbeaten at home for a year, won a title and, of course, had the essential ingredient of a huge FA Cup run. But the way that everyone seems to have got on board is very impressive. And it shows you what can happen when all of the pieces fall in to place.

What I'd be interested to know is - how do the glory Premier League fans in Lincoln make of it? We know in Mansfield that the progress of our club is strangled by them. These people view the local club as a bad joke; it's inherent in Mansfield but can it be reversed?
I work with a Leeds fan from Lincoln, who has started attending Sincil Bank. He said to me weeks ago: "you have to understand that all of these new Imps fans haven't seen them lose. Some of them don't yet know what it's like to see."

It's an important thing for Lincoln to plan for a couple of things: How do they keep the majority of these supporters if the team begins to lose; or it the manager leaves and things change?

Equally it's important for all lower league clubs to research what's happening there and considering, if something likewise happened here, how do we embrace the situation and include positive measures to keep new fans when things inevitably go pear-shaped? Because we are all up against the shadow of the big clubs and their draw.

The Cowley's have actually saved Lincoln City and should be admired for what they've achieved at a club which was getting 2500-3000 gates. City fans who stuck by them through the non-league must be pinching themselves. Clubs across the lower leagues should be inspired by it and prepare for it possibly ever happening to them. There's little point in getting a massive spike in support, only to lose it because there wasn't a plan. Because as nice as it is right now for Lincoln, many of these fans are on loan - it's how you work, right now, to keep as many as possible for life.

It's also a big reason why the capacity at our own Field Mill (which itself can be vibrant or a morgue) should always be at its maximum and why Bishop Street should be redeveloped. It might be us requiring space for 10,000 fans in a year's time. Don't dismiss it as stupid, because I'm sure Lincoln fans would have given you a funny look a year ago over a similar suggestion.

Cap doffed to Lincoln. Welcome back to a much needed rivalry.

 

[Kenneth E End]

The proof will be in the pudding in a couple of years time when the club isn't doing as well as it did last season. Will attendances hold up?

 

[Imp in Branston]

The city has also grown a lot since the last time we were regularly doing okay in the FL. We have thousands of students and with that increase of population I know a lot of old fans that have returned that said they would never return to SB. Couple that with a decent home record and record breaking cup run, a lot more women and families now attend SB and the transformation has been swift and remarkable. It's not uncommon to see more Lincoln shirts and stuff than the Prem poo ones in around the city.

It's not just down to Danny and Nicky either, our chairman has finally got things right after saving the club and putting his hand in his pocket to keep the club alive when gates were dwindling. He persuaded a SA hedge fund manager to invest in the club and with his contacts we have steadied the ship and have now started looking at the things the fans have moaned about for ages. He isn't investing mega bucks either but some other businessmen he knows have been persuaded to come on board to add vital business acumen along with other knowledgeable people that offer a variety of skills in generating funds and to try to help move the club forward. People were very critical of how things were done behind the scenes at the club. We were working on a skeleton staff because we simply couldn't afford them. There is still a long way to go but with the appointment of experienced people like Liam Scully from Donny as the New CEO, hopefully we can keep the old, and the new fans at SB for a reasonable time.

The acid test will be what happens when DC leaves, think he is under contract until 2021? I imagine things will be in place for his successor before he leaves. By then the new ground is being worked upon in the background and that seems to be a huge factor in our chairmans thinking. A lot of people reckon it won't happen, but with the amount of building going on in the city at the moment and the council looking to be behind the move, it could signal a new era of growth like it has at Chesterfield and Shrewsbury.

 

[Son of Cod]

Can't wait for them to sell out the Osmond End and get a right old WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE SHIT from the whole of Blundell Park.

 

[Luke Imp]

Anyone who thinks our attendances will remain at 7k-9k, as they have done the last year, are a little naïve. The chances are obviously that it'll end up going down to our usual L2 attendances of 3.5k-5.5k at some point, depending on how we're doing, although I'd hope slightly higher given that the City has significantly grown and improved since our last L2 season only 6 years ago.

In terms of PL fans in Lincoln, there are, or used to be, a lot who support Forest. They're the main ones we lose. The closest clubs we have are Hull, Leicester, Forest and Derby who are all 40-60 minutes away so not exactly right on our doorstep but close enough to lose a few. You get kids in the usual Madrid, Barca, United shirts but there's not a real dominant PL supported club around here and Lincoln isn't really what I'd call a 'football city' as such. It takes a lot to get people interested, which is why the FA Cup run ended up being so important.

Certainly a huge opportunity here now, though. Not just the feel good factor, but we hardly even tap into the Uni and that's 15,000 students this year. But, as we all know, it's all about winning games. I'm one who thinks the Stadium will start moving in the next 3 or 4 years. There's been too much effort, plans, studies gone/going into it for there not to be some serious things going on behind the scenes and when the Uni are on board for some kind of sports campus, Councils etc love that kinda thing. Would have been perfect if that was starting to kick off now alongside the attendances.

The work to get these people in wasn't just last season. There were all sort of things going on prior to that and a real push to get more families involved and last season accelerated that. There are certainly more women and children at games now and the family area has ballooned from about 200 to 2,000 with a waiting list. I think that down the years we've been particularly good at doing initiatives and I see that as one of our strengths, but again, it comes back to what happens on the pitch - free bus travel for an ST holder, as we get, isn't going to swing someone into attending if we're not winning. Nor is being able to cash in any in-used season ticket games at the end of the season, or any other STH perk.

What the current attendances do show, though, is that there are people out there who want to come and watch us and I don't think 9k is a top figure either if we're doing well.

Let's be right though, and being incredibly simplistic, we've just won games. It's nothing ground breaking. People turn up if you're winning and they don't if you're not. The only difference here is that we've reached a figure no-one really thought was there. Had our attendances been 5k-6k like the last decent season we had in L2 in 2006/07, then no-one would have battered an eyelid I don't think.

 

[Gladders]

Win games, be successful and fans show up, who'd have thought it?

Very inspirational

 

[GodsGift]

Not quite as black and white as that, Freelaf. Averaging 8/9k instead of our usual L2 average of 5/6k (when we're doing well) is a massive jump. The whole demographic of our fanbase has changed as well, with huge numbers of families, women and children. I do worry about what will happen when the Cowleys inevitably move on but I'm reassured about what is happening behind the scenes at the moment. We're definitely in safe hands at the moment but things can change drastically in football, so we definitely need to take advantage of this momentum in the next year or two. If we can get to League One by say, 2019/2020 and have a 15,000 seated stadium ready on the horizon then who knows where this club can go.

 

[Kenneth E End]

a 15,000 seated stadium ready on the horizon then who knows where this club can go.

You don't need a stadium of that size. See Darlington.

 

[GodsGift]

You don't need a stadium of that size. See Darlington.

Why don't we? The capacity of our current stadium is over 10k. The original plan for a new ground was 12k but our current average must be around the 9k mark now, which is the highest in League Two. And we're selling out the home ends. I'm not naive, our crowds won't stay at this level forever but if we can get to L1 in the next couple of seasons, why not go for a bigger stadium?

Darlington is completely different, the capacity of that ground was 25,000 for god's sake.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

The 'potential' of Mansfield Town FC and Lincoln City FC are very different IMO. Although the original posters sentiments / and points made are valid , the ceiling is a lot lower in North Nottinghamshire than it is in the beautiful historic one horse (two at best) town of Lincoln

 

[Imp in Branston]

You don't need a stadium of that size. See Darlington.

Our chairman has been quoted as saying that the cost of building a 12k stadium over a 15k is pretty negligible. I would be happy with 12'000 though, that way it wouldn't look as bad if/when things go back to the norm.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Shows what you can do with a forward-thinking council and board doesn't it? Somehow I don't think we'll ever get a new stadium.

If by some miracle we do make it into League 1, I'd think we'd average maybe 6000 and the council would use that as a reason for not building 14000 seater stadium. Grimsby just doesn't have the football bug anymore, though I'm sure if Fenty left, we'd see a definite return of a few stayaways.

 

[Kenneth E End]

but our current average must be around the 9k mark now, which is the highest in League Two. And we're selling out the home ends. I'm not naive, our crowds won't stay at this level forever but if we can get to L1 in the next couple of seasons, why not go for a bigger stadium?

Because a stadium is a longer term investment over 50+ years rather than based on 2 years of success. I'm pleasantly surprised by Lincoln's support base this season, but please don't tell me that this is going to be the norm going forward because there has been no evidence historically of that.

 

[GodsGift]

Because a stadium is a longer term investment over 50+ years rather than based on 2 years of success. I'm pleasantly surprised by Lincoln's support base this season, but please don't tell me that this is going to be the norm going forward because there has been no evidence historically of that.

I literally just said I don't expect our crowds to stay at this level. My point is, we have momentum on our side right now and a huge opportunity to grow this football club. Grimsby had a similar sort of momentum following their promotion although it was their away followings which were impressive rather than their home crowds, but some bad decisions from up above (Fenty) has stalled that. If we can get a new training ground by the end of the year, make some progress with the plans for a new stadium and keep the Cowleys for another season or two then there's every chance we can maintain this.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

What you need to do is call the chippies in and get a stadium made out of wood. Guaranteed recipe for future success.

 

[Son of Cod]

Because a stadium is a longer term investment over 50+ years rather than based on 2 years of success. I'm pleasantly surprised by Lincoln's support base this season, but please don't tell me that this is going to be the norm going forward because there has been no evidence historically of that.

Good post, I can't believe GodsGift and the rest of the Lincoln fans think these crowds are going to stay like this forever.

 

[Stringy]

What a dreary bunch of naysayers. I say go for it; if you continue saying that the crowds will never continue then that will become the reality. Don't allow pessimism to halt your fantastic progress.

I certainly can't remember anything as remarkable as this happening in my time supporting League Two football. What has happened to Lincoln is revolutionary, and other clubs should be looking to capitalise on this and make it a revolutionary change in League Two football.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Bristol Rovers did quite well.

 

[Lamby]

Pimps are better

 

[Son of Cod]

Love all the Mansfield fans seeing a crowd for the first time and getting all gooey eyed. Impressive crowds? Yes. Revolutionary? Give over, Stringbow.

 

[Stringy]

Love all the Mansfield fans seeing a crowd for the first time and getting all gooey eyed. Impressive crowds? Yes. Revolutionary? Give over, Stringbow.

Perhaps you're caught in a little bubble of doom and gloom down at Grimsby. Their crowds have quadrupled in recent years and everyone's buying into the new ethos. Optimism I am convinced can win you points. 'It's not that good' and 'It'll never last' is your typical small town mentality, and means you never progress as a town or a football club. Lincoln are breaking away from that mould.

 

[Davidimp]

The grimsby fans have been sniping about our attendances since we got 7000 v Oldham and they said it wouldn't last then, well 9 months on and the crowds are still growing.
Our next home game is Tuesday week v Barnet be interesting to how many get over the 5700 ST holders.
We have really got lots of families going to games, my daughter loves going now, first two seasons I took her she wasn't that keen but since last season she can't to go.
We're certainly a player or 3 short of really challenging but I'm sure if we in the top half when the window re-opens I would expect to add quite a few.

 

[Aber gas]

This is weird. Am I being monumentally whooshed? I'm not sure why people are creaming themselves over a couple of decent crowds. Portsmouth, Plymouth and Gas have all had bigger crowds in league 2. Pull yourselves together, especially Mansfield

 

[GodsGift]

This is weird. Am I being monumentally whooshed? I'm not sure why people are creaming themselves over a couple of decent crowds. Portsmouth, Plymouth and Gas have all had bigger crowds in league 2. Pull yourselves together, especially Mansfield

People are talking about us because of the sudden increase in support (2.5k to 9k in a year). The three clubs you mention have always been well supported.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I think the point is that when Lincoln inevitably start to lose a few games, the people that have started turning up (families, wives and kids) will be the first ones to stop turning up too.

I only started to really notice Lincoln 'fans' on Twitter once it hit December and January, when they (strangely enough) had the cup run and were top of the table. It's quite easy to tell who is a new fan because they're always tweeting players stuff like "You were amazing today, thanks for taking the time to have a picture with my lad! #UTI"

 

[Son of Cod]

Perhaps you're caught in a little bubble of doom and gloom down at Grimsby. Their crowds have quadrupled in recent years and everyone's buying into the new ethos. Optimism I am convinced can win you points. 'It's not that good' and 'It'll never last' is your typical small town mentality, and means you never progress as a town or a football club. Lincoln are breaking away from that mould.

We are in a spot of doom and gloom, yes. We've just seen how quickly the rug of positivity can be swept from underneath your feet. Of course, this won't happen with the Cowleys and Lincoln though.

The grimsby fans have been sniping about our attendances since we got 7000 v Oldham and they said it wouldn't last then, well 9 months on and the crowds are still growing.
Our next home game is Tuesday week v Barnet be interesting to how many get over the 5700 ST holders.
We have really got lots of families going to games, my daughter loves going now, first two seasons I took her she wasn't that keen but since last season she can't to go.
We're certainly a player or 3 short of really challenging but I'm sure if we in the top half when the window re-opens I would expect to add quite a few.

We haven't been sniping about your attendances, we have been sniping about the ridiculous superlatives you've taken every opportunity to lavish upon yourselves.

 

[GodsGift]

We are in a spot of doom and gloom, yes. We've just seen how quickly the rug of positivity can be swept from underneath your feet. Of course, this won't happen with the Cowleys and Lincoln though.


We haven't been sniping about your attendances, we have been sniping about the ridiculous superlatives you've taken every opportunity to lavish upon yourselves.

Come on, SoC. We hadn't finished in the top half for a decade before winning the league with 99 points and reaching the quarter final of the FA Cup. It would be a bit weird if we didn't get a bit excited...

 

[Soup Ladle]

I think what Lincoln are doing is inspirational. Unbelievable increase in support and I also thought they were finished as a club.

Shows that teams can come back from Conference obscurity and flourish if there's good planning on and off the pitch.

Massive example for us to follow. Our support has stuck with us so far, getting 3.5-4k (no away fans) but we do get a fair bit more if we're doing well. Getting some good results and keeping the prem gloryhunters coming is the key. Whatever Lincoln are doing is working and we should all respect that.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

This is weird. Am I being monumentally whooshed? I'm not sure why people are creaming themselves over a couple of decent crowds. Portsmouth, Plymouth and Gas have all had bigger crowds in league 2. Pull yourselves together, especially Mansfield

Have you ever been to Lincoln? It's not remotely comparable with large city's like Bristol, Plymouth and Portsmouth. And they've gone from being down and out to filling their stadium within less than a year.

Anyone who doesn't find it impressive are either in denial or just mard-arses that can't recognise what a feat it is.

I have no love for Lincoln, they're one of our local rivals; however, hats off at the grand job they've achieved in totally turning their faltering club around. I guarantee that 95% of clubs at this level would love the same level of public support that has spiked at Lincoln.

 

[Davidimp]

Why don't just block all posts by Lincoln fans then you wont have to read it will you
Grimsby a miserable place full of miserable people.
Odd that the last two teams we've played at homeare the ones mentioning our crowds atmosphere etc more so than us, just smacks of the green eyed monster from up the A46 and don't like the fact we've had a good run and kicked on of late and you guys haven't