Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton said the LNER Stadium has felt “eerie” without fans this season, but is looking forward to welcoming them back for the League One play-offs.

Lincoln City are preparing for a two-legged play-off semi final against Sunderland, with the first game taking place at the LNER Stadium on Wednesday, May 19 and the return fixture at the Stadium of Light three days later.

The Imps finished in fifth place after the 46-game League One regular season, securing a spot in the play-off positions to fight for a chance to play at Wembley and earn promotion to the Championship.

The Imps will welcome Sunderland to the LNER Stadium next week. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The players have exceeded expectations this year, with boss Michael Appleton saying he only targeted a top half finish at the start of the campaign, but he is keen for the club to progress.

Speaking to The Lincolnite ahead of Wednesday’s match, Michael Appleton said he is looking for his young squad to perform on the big stage, as over 3,000 fans prepare to return to the stadium for the first time in over a year.

“I hope that our young players thrive and I am glad that we’ve got one or two experienced players back in the team to help them do that.

“I believe that we’ve been starved without fans for so long, with 3,000 fans in it might feel like the place is full!

“At times you can hear a pin drop in here and it’s been quite eerie, I hope it gives them that extra little lift they might need to get through it.”

Pitchside at the LNER Stadium, the calm before the storm. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The Imps have faced the Black Cats three times this season, losing twice and drawing once.

Appleton said: “I think both teams have learned a lot about each other, I think that’s why it might be a tight occasion over the two games.

“It could come down to a little bit of luck or a poor decision, the losers might have to deal with a poor decision as the officiating has been a little bit loose to say the least, as we are well aware.”

There will soon be 3,000 fans in the stadium. | Photo: The Lincolnite

He is referring to a highly controversial last-minute penalty that was given against Lincoln during their 3-3 draw with Peterborough United on May 1, ending hopes of automatic promotion.

“A lot of people I’d spoke to said they’d never seen anything like that, it was a bad one”, said Appleton.

The Imps’ focus is now on Sunderland, with Lincoln just three games away from a place in the Championship next season, something fans must surely have only been dreaming about this time last year.

You can also see what forward Anthony Scully had to say ahead of the game, as he praised the exciting brand of football introduced by Appleton:

The number of coronavirus vaccine jabs being given out in Lincolnshire increased by nearly 10% last week, according to the latest figures.

Data released on Thursday shows altogether 676,851 jabs have taken place in the county between December 8 and May 9 — a further 42,145 in the last week, and nearly 10% up on the 38,553 jabs given the week before.

The latest figures show that some 449,400 Lincolnshire residents have received their first vaccine dose and 227,451 have been given their second.

Of those over the age of 40, a total of 397,508 have received their first vaccination and another 207,426 have had their second.

Some 51,892 people aged under 45 have received their first dose, with a further 20,025 receiving a second jab so far. This includes those aged between 16 to 64 who are clinically vulnerable and at more risk of serious symptoms of coronavirus.

Office for National Statistics estimates put the total adult (16+) Lincolnshire population at 629,926, meaning that around 71.3% of residents have now received their first jab and 36.1% their second.

In North Lincolnshire, a total of 154,131 (55,727 second doses) vaccines have been distributed and 122,445 (36,662 second doses) have received a jab in North East Lincolnshire.

Grantham’s vaccination centre at the Mere’s Leisure Centre has given out 100,000 vaccinations in just five months.

The achievement comes just five months since the Meres Local Vaccination Centre opened and only eight weeks since it celebrated reaching 50,000 vaccinations.

The 100,000th vaccinated person in Grantham.

Darren Altus, Operations Director, K2 Healthcare, Grantham and Sleaford Area Primary Care Networks said: “From the beginning when we were vaccinating people over the age of 80, to now when we’re focusing on first vaccinations for people 40 and over, as well as second doses, it has been a battle.

“It has been extremely challenging but our superb team of health professionals and volunteers here at the Meres have made it possible and fun at the same time.”

The Meres LVC is one of 13 vaccination sites across the county, and is run by both Grantham and Rural PCN, and the Sleaford PCN, a group of 16 GP practices from Grantham, Sleaford, and the surrounding area.

Dr Adriaan van Biljon, Clinical Director, K2 Healthcare, Grantham and Rural Primary Care Network, added: “People who have been coming to the Meres for their vaccination have been, almost without exception, enormously grateful and cooperative.

“This has been hugely helpful to the team here and is something they have also experienced when vaccinating people out in the community, including in local care homes.

“Local businesses have provided invaluable support too and, of course, the role played by our local GP practices has been critical.  In unprecedented times it has truly been an amazing effort.”

People aged 38 to 39 have been allowed to book their COVID-19 vaccines from Thursday.

Bookings for vaccinations opened on May 13, and 38 and 39-year-olds can sign up for their appointment on the NHS website.

Nationally, more than 67.8% of people have had their first dose and 35% their second.

The full list of sites operating as vaccination hubs in Lincolnshire so far:

Hospital Hubs

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust 

• Lincoln County Hospital
• Boston Pilgrim Hospital

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

• Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby
• Scunthorpe General Hospital

Local community hubs

Lincolnshire

• Louth Community Hospital
• John Coupland Hospital, Gainsborough
• Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham
• Waddington Branch Surgery, South Lincoln
• St Marys Medical Practice, Stamford
• Franklin Hall, Spilsby
• Sidings Medical Practice, Boston
• Rustons Sports and Social Club, Lincoln
• Portland Medical Practice, Lincoln
• The Storehouse, Skegness
• Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
• Springfields, Spalding
• Marisco Medical Practice, Mablethorpe
• Princess Royal Sports Arena, Boston

North Lincolnshire 

• Cedar Medical Practice, Scunthorpe
• Riverside Surgery, Brigg
• South Axholme Practice, Epworth
• The Central Surgery, Barton

North East Lincolnshire 

• Beacon Medical Practice, Cleethorpes
• Open Door, Grimsby
• Pilgrim Primary Care Centre, Immingham
• Scartho Medical Centre, Grimsby

Councillors have declared war on fly-tippers throughout North Kesteven after the number of incidents reported in the district spiked by two thirds in a year.

This comes after the figure jumped from 837 incidents in the 12 months ending in March 2020 to 1,045 in the same period finishing in March this year.

Incidents included rubbish dumped at Great Hale near Sleaford in January this year, for which the owner received a £400 fine for giving his waste to an unknown male to dispose of.

The owner of the waste was given a £400 fixed penalty notice for giving his waste to an unknown male to dispose of. | Photo: NKDC

A pile of rubbish including Rileys employee and membership record files were found dumped by the side of a road in Aubourn in February. Investigations are ongoing with the relevant authorities.

Other common forms of fly-tipping have included mattresses, televisions and fridges being dumped on street corners, green waste tipped on common land and lay-by bins being used for household or commercial waste by anyone passing by in a vehicle.

The waste, including employee record files, was found dumped on Moor Lane in Aubourn. | Photo: Chris S

North Kesteven District Council and other agencies have formed a county-wide Environmental Crime Partnership, which aims to reduce and prevent fly-tipping in Lincolnshire.

Other agencies that have signed up include Lincolnshire Police, Humberside Police, the Office of the Crime and Police Commissioner, the Environment Agency, the National Farmers’ Union, the Ministry of Defence, the Internal Drainage Board, the Forestry Commission, the Countryside Land Association and Anglian Water.

Employee Record Files were found dumped amongst the waste. | Photo: Chris S

Councillor Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council, said: “This initiative is a real step forward because it means would-be fly-tippers now know that there are no areas anywhere in the county where tackling illegal dumping is not a high priority issue.

“The support the group has received is really good news because it means that fly-tipping is not just a council issue but all sorts of agencies want to help to convince people that this type of behaviour is just not acceptable.

“The council is fully committed to dealing with fly-tipping but we need help. I would urge anyone who sees anything suspicious when they are out and about to let us know about it as soon as possible and pass on registration numbers of any vehicles that could be involved.”

Fly-tipping in Great Hale near Sleaford in January 2021. | Photo: NKDC

The Environmental Crime Partnership is chaired by Ayeisha Kirkham, Environmental Protection Team Manager at North Kesteven District Council.

She said: “We would urge everyone to check out that someone offering to deal with their waste is genuine and not to pay in cash.

“Failure to do so will be expensive because if waste can be tracked back to the original owner they will be deemed responsible for it and face a prosecution or a fixed penalty fine of £400 with no discount for early payment and no opportunity to pay by instalments.”

Meanwhile, leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill promised to tackle fly-tipping when speaking to The Lincolnite about his priorities ahead of the recent elections. He was later reelected as leader.