Lincoln City
Formed one year after Rovers, in 1884, the club turned professional in 1891/92 and were founder members of the Second Division in 1892/93. The move to their current ground came about in 1895.
Founder members of the Third Division (North) in 1921/22 they won the title in 1931/32 though suffered relegation back to that league after just one season.
There were two more Third Division (North) titles in 1947/48 and 1951/52 and their stay in the Second Division lasted until 1960/61.
In 1986/87 Lincoln became the first club to be automatically relegated out of the Football League, though their stay in the Conference lasted just one season.
After reaching the League Two play offs in six successive seasons, club fortunes declined once again and 2010/11 saw them relegated to the Conference for a second time. There was no immediate return on this occasion, though, and wasn’t until 2016/17 that they returned to the Football League.
Promoted to League One at the end of the 208/19 season, they remain at that level and last season finished in 17th place with 52 points.
The 45 league meetings between the clubs have resulted in 19 wins for Rovers, nine draws and 17 Lincoln victories.
The sides haven’t met in either the FA Cup or League Cup but did play each other in the 2006/07 League Two play off semi final when Rovers were 2-1 winners at the Mem and 5-3 winners at Sincil Bank.
Rovers did the double over Lincoln in their Conference fixtures in 2014/15, winning 2-0 at the Mem and 3-2 at Sincil Bank.
The first ever league meetings between the sides took place in 1953/54, when Lincoln were 1-0 winners at Eastville on September 19th 1953 and Rovers 2-1 winners at Sincil Bank on February 6th 1954.
Our last meetings came in 2020/21, with Rovers 2-1 winners at Sincil Bank on October 10th 2020 and Lincoln 1-0 winners at the Mem on April 17th 2021.
Players to have played for both clubs include Junior Agogo, John Akinde, Harry Anderson, Dennis Bailey, Mustapha Carayol, Guy Branston, Cian Bolger, Jamie Clapham, Tom Davies, Bill Dodgin (Snr), Kevin Gall, Mark Foran, Josh Ginnelly, Jason Harris, Guy Ipoua, Jeff Hughes, Rene Howe, Errington Kelly, Aaron Lescott, Jefferson Louis, Paul Miller, Jason Perry, Nicky Platnauer, Anthony Pulis, Craig Stanley, Worrell Sterling, John Taylor, Lee Thorpe, Ciaran Toner, John Vaughan and Devon White,
As well as playing for both clubs, Bill Dodgin (Snr), is a former Rovers manager, while another former Rovers manager, John Ward, scored 91 goals in 241 league appearances for Lincoln.
Rovers players who have made their league debuts against Lincoln include Alfie Biggs (1953/54), Ray Seatherton (1955/56), George Collins and Brian Rideout (both 1960/61), Nicky Platnauer (1982/83), Paul Raynor (1984/85), Gerry Francis (1985/86), David Hillier and Martin Phillips (both 1998/99) and Andy Rammell (2002/03).
Rovers entertain Lincoln at the Mem on 17th September and travel to Lincoln for the return fixture on 11th February 2023.
There was a change of manager for Lincoln in the summer as Michael Appleton returned to Blackpool for a second stint as their boss and his successor is Mark Kennedy
A round trip to Lincoln’s LNER Stadium (Sincil Bank to most of us!) takes in 354 miles via the M5, M42 and A45.
Lincoln City FC
LNER Stadium
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN5 8LD
Keith Brookman
(images courtesy of Keith Brookman)