A Year in Review : October 2010

October saw the new era of Lincoln City begin as Steve Tilson was appointed as the new manager, replacing Chris Sutton. The difference was immediate as the players started playing with fight, something which hadn't been seen bsince before the days of Sutton.

A Chris Sutton-less (thank god) Lincoln started off October with a trip to Southend United. It was the first time the clubs had met since the Shrimpers beat Lincoln in the 2004/5 Playoff Final, but the rematch wasn’t as City had hoped as Southend took a 3^rd minute lead through Barry Corr and the score stayed the same. Paul Musselwhite also made his debut for Lincoln City in this game.

After sifting through several applications for the managerial vacancy, the club drew up their short-list for the role. Included were former City manager Steve Thompson and Lincoln legend Mick Harford forming a management team, Southend’s ex-boss Steve Tilson (right), ex-Doncaster and Darlington boss Dave Penney and various others. Opinion was torn amongst the fans, with the team of Thompson and Harford being the most debated.

A home match with Macclesfield saw arguably the goal of the season when Jamie Clapham’s free kick sailed into the net from 25 yards. Macclesfield had equalised in the second half through ex-Imp Hamza Bencharif after Swaibu had opened the scoring for the Imps.

17 days after Chris Sutton had left the Imps, it was confirmed that Steve Tilson would be taking over as the new manager. He has apparently amazed the board at the interview and the club were impressed enough to hire him. He bought Paul Brush in as his assistant manager and they got to work immediately.

Both of the new management team were in the crowd at Shrewsbury’s ProStar Stadium. Despite a brilliant opening in which Josh O’Keefe hit the post, the Imps conceded relatively easily to goals from Jake Robinson and Wright just before half time. The defeat meant that City were back in the relegation dog fight at the start of the new manager’s appointment.

Despite there being a clear out expected, no players either came in or out of Sincil Bank during Tilson’s first week in charge, a week that ended with a 0-0 draw with Stockport at Sincil Bank. City were drawn at home to either Workington or Nuneaton in the first round of the FA Cup after the game against Stockport, Nuneaton would eventually progress to meet Lincoln.

Elsewhere in the world, Delroy Facey was scoring for Grenada against St Kitts and Nevis to help them progress to the finals of the Digicel Tournament. Whilst he was gong through, City were starting to reinforce. Steve Tilson’s first signing as Lincoln manager came in the first of Luke Howell from the MK Dons, he was followed by Gillingham’s Josh Gowling, Arsenal’s Gavin Hoyte and Millwall’s Ashley Grimes (left).

All but Gowling made their debut against Wycombe in a game that City showed how City were gradually improving under Tilson. Kevin Betsy scored in the very first minute but Mustapha Carayol equalised midway through the second half. Scott Davies would restore Wycombe’s lead before the half time whilst before Ben Hutchinson levelled again for the Imps. Broughton hit the bar in one of the nine minutes of added on time to be played, but Lincoln fans were highly pleased despite the failure to win, the team had showed fight for a change.