Imps promoted into League One after draw

Lincoln City were promoted to League One after Shay McCartan’s goal helped the Imps to a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

George Lloyd equalised for Cheltenham in the second half, but Lincoln held on for a crucial point to ensure they will be playing up in League One next season.

Great atmosphere at Sincil Bank on Saturday. Photo: Rob Beezley

The Imps will hope to seal the League Two title with positive results in their remaining games.

When the management duo of Danny and Nicky Cowley arrived from Braintree in May 2016, the Imps were enduring a turbulent time in the Conference after relegation from the Football League in May 2011. What a turnaround it has been from the Cowley brothers.

Arrival of the Cowleys

The Cowley brothers received the 2018 Lincoln Civic Award. Photo: Stuart Wilde / CoLC

The Cowleys arrived at Sincil Bank with good credentials after having led Braintree to the National League play-off final.

Their first season (2016/17) saw Lincoln become the first non-league side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The cup run included beating Championship sides Ipswich and Brighton and Premier League outfit Burnley before eventually losing at Arsenal.

Not only did the Imps enjoy the fantastic cup run, but they also secured a return to the Football League after seven wins on the bounce culminated with promotion at Sincil Bank against Macclesfield. That season also saw Lincoln lift the National League title after finishing top of the table.

Award and Wembley success

Goal hero Elliott Whitehouse celebrating with his Lincoln City team-mates at Wembley. Photo: Lincoln City Football Club

In April last year Danny and Nicky were named as winners of the 2018 Lincoln Civic Award. It was presented to them at a private ceremony in the city’s Guildhall. The duo were also named as The Lincolnite people of the year for 2018.

More success followed in the 2017/18 campaign as a goal from Elliott Whitehouse helped Lincoln lift the Checkatrade Trophy with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury in their first trip to Wembley in 133 years.

The Cowleys also led Lincoln to a seventh-placed finish and into the play-offs in the club’s first season back in the Football League. Unfortunately it ended in play-off heartache after defeat over two legs against Exeter.

Third season in charge

Lincoln City have led the way at the top of League Two for large parts of the 2018/19 season.

This season also saw the Imps reach the third round of the FA Cup where they battled bravely in a narrow 2-1 defeat agains Everton.

Nick Cowley inside the new facility. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Danny Cowley inside the new training facility. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Cowleys were originally contracted to the League Two club until the summer of 2021, but last April the club announced the duo will now stay until 2022 after putting pen to paper for a further year.

The Cowleys have definitely brought a massive wave of positivity back to Sincil Bank.