Lincoln City are Lincoln’s only league football team, playing out of the 10,000 capacity Sincil Bank stadium. Formed in 1884, the ‘Red Imps’ currently ply their trade in League Two, the fourth tier of professional football in England. Traditionally, the side have found themselves towards the lower ends of English professional football, enjoying very limited success in both league and cup competitions. But in recent years former manager Keith Alexander steered them to the League Two end of season playoffs on four occasions, two of which saw them reach the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Unfortunately they managed to lose on all four occasions, setting a football league playoff record.

The Imps (a nickname given due to association with the Lincoln Imp in the Cathedral – click here for more information) have traditionally worn a red and white striped kit, with the exception of a few seasons in the late 60’s and early 70’s when they opted for a predominantly red outfit. The city traditionally has a long association with the colour red, stretching back to wool dyers in the middle ages. The well known ‘Lincoln Green’ cloth often associated with Robin Hood is believed to be a linguisting misunderstanding of ‘Lincoln Grain’, a cloth famous throughout the country for its excellent quality and bright red colour.

Amongst their ranks of former players and managers Lincoln can include two England national team managers, a cricketing legend and one of the world’s great goalkeepers. Graham Taylor spent five seasons at Sincil Bank at the start of this managerial career, eventually taking up the job of national team manager after spells at Watford and Aston Villa; current England boss Steve McLaren played 8 games for Lincoln whilst on loan from Derby County in 1987; unknown to many Lincoln fans, Fred Trueman also played for the club whilst on his national service in the RAF; and former Liverpool goalkeeping legend Bruce Grobelaar made the last two appearances of his career for the Imps.

Tickets for Lincoln City matches can usually be bought on matchdays on the gate, and range from £15 to £18 depending on the opposition. Games with fierce local rivalry, such as those against Boston, Peterborough, Hull, Scunthorpe and Notts County can attract crowds of around 6,500. Parking around the ground can be scarce, though the maze of streets around Sincil Bank can sometimes reward the plucky driver with a space. A better option is to park in one of the car park towards the south end of the city centre and walk down the high street to the ground.

Of the stands which make up Sincil Bank, the Co-op on the largest and noisiest. For those looking for a slightly more sedate atmosphere the St Andrews stand is probably more suitable. On matchdays (usually Saturdays with kickoff at 3pm) it is advisable to get into the ground nice and early to avoid the crowds and ensure a ticket. For more information on the club, along with details of upcoming fixtures visit the official Lincoln City FC website by clicking here.