Still proud of the Imps: Lincoln City lose 5 – 0 to Arsenal in historic FA Cup match
Lincoln City’s long and historic FA Cup run finally came to an end this evening in front of a sell-out crowd at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal. Manager Danny Cowley has led the Imps on a fantastic journey, and has battled against the odds time and time again. This evening was just a step…
Lincoln City’s long and historic FA Cup run finally came to an end this evening in front of a sell-out crowd at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal.
Manager Danny Cowley has led the Imps on a fantastic journey, and has battled against the odds time and time again. This evening was just a step too far for the National League side who were playing one of the best football teams in the country.
In the end the class of Arsenal shone through. They respected the Imps enough to field a full first team, and those players showed their quality. Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez all scored. They may have killed the game, but they couldn’t kill the spirit of the Lincoln players. In the end despite the 5-0 scoreline, Arsenal applauded the Lincoln fans and players. Beaten? Yes. Defeated? No.
The cup run has seen Lincoln City make a lot of friends, but it has also helped generate a lot of revenue that will go towards building a stronger club for years to come. March 11th 2017 will be a day that Lincoln City fans will still be talking about in 100 years time.
A brave FA Cup journey
Just under 9,000 Lincoln fans witnessed the end of the FA Cup run, but the record breaking campaign began inauspiciously in front of 2,600. The 4th qualifying round brought Lincoln a 0-0 draw against Guiseley, and just 177 Lincoln fans travelled away for the replay, witnessing a 2-1 victory.
National League North side Altrincham were visitors to Sincil Bank in the first round proper, and they too put up a strong resistance. Goals from Sean Raggett and Alan Power put the hosts ahead, and they hung on despite a late scare to win 2-1. Their reward was a home tie with League One Oldham and that is where the journey truly began.
In front of the TV cameras and a bumper home crowd, City registered a fine 3-2 win already knowing their reward would be a trip to Ipswich. Theo Robinson was again the goal hero, scoring twice.
The invasion of Ipswich saw Lincoln fans set a new record for visiting supporters at Portman Road, and the 5,000 Imps fans were not disappointed. Twice Lincoln led through Theo Robinson, only to be pegged back twice by Ipswich’s Tom Lawrence. The event was made more memorable by the ‘impvasion’ hashtag that trended number one in the country for a short while. Lincoln City began to make national headlines, and they haven’t stopped since.
The 2-2 draw meant a replay ten days later, again screened live but this time on the BBC. Nathan Arnold settled a tight game in the final minutes, meaning Lincoln would appear in the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 1976.
Championship high-flyers Brighton were expected to end our brave run, but they under-estimated Danny Cowley’s team. They fielded an inexperienced blend of youth and reserve team players that were not a match for the organised and well-prepared Lincoln side. The only surprise in the 3-1 win was that Lincoln did not add more.
Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley. Photo: Lincoln City FC
Records continued to fall as the name of Lincoln City went into the fifth round draw for the first time in over 100 years. A trip to Premier League side Burnley that came up next, a just and fitting reward for such a fine run.
The odds were stacked against Lincoln, but once again they wrote a page of history. Sean Raggett’s 90th minute winner meant a non-league club would be into the Quarter Finals for the first time in modern history. Club records had been falling since round three, but this was the pinnacle: the first ever Lincoln appearance in the last eight.
It was Arsenal who finally ended the wonderful FA Cup adventure in front of 60,000 supporters. In the end the undoubted talent of world class opposition proved too much for the Imps, but there was no disgrace in defeat.
See more coverage from today on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
Whatsapp
