Winter Sports
Phil Kime knows all about multi-tasking. The Lincoln City Head Groundsman's duties include washing the kit, litter picking and cleaning the toilets, all jobs that he is prepared to undertake to help his beloved ‘Imps’ return to the Football League
Laurence Gale MSc reports I
n football, two of the hardest leagues to get promotion from are the Championship and the Conference, with both offering large financial incentives to those who succeed. Lincoln City Football Club are one such club who are struggling to return to league status following relegation to the Conference in season 2010-11. This after five unsuccessful attempts to reach Football League One via the play-offs during the noughties. Lincoln’s claim to fame is that they are one of the longest serving league club never to reach the top flight at any stage in their history, which stretches back to the late 19th century. The club’s Sincil Bank ground has been their home since 1895 and now offers modern facilities to rival any of the lower league outfits. Much of the modernisation over the years has been with the help of donations from their Supporters Trust and, even playing in the Skrill Conference Premier, regular home crowds of 2,500 are not uncommon. However, the club are acutely aware that a return to league status would see that figure rise considerably, bringing with it significant financial benefits. Sincil Bank is an all-seater stadium with a capacity of over 10,000 and is split into five distinct areas - the Lincolnshire Co-operative Stand, the St Andrews/Lincolnshire Echo Stand, the Bridge McFarland Stand, the Visitors Stand and the Stacey West Stand, named after two unfortunate souls - Bill Stacey and Jim West - who lost their lives in the fire at Bradford City when Lincoln City were the opposition.
Sincil Bank Stadium is, somewhat imposingly, overlooked by the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral. As with many clubs at this level, multi
Impish Phil Kime - chief cook and shirt washer! 60 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
behaviour
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