List of Lincoln City F.C. seasons

For details of the current season, see 2023–24 Lincoln City F.C. season.

The Lincoln City F.C. team of 1889–90, founder members of the Midland League

Lincoln City Football Club, an English association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, was founded in 1884. The club's first team won the major regional trophy, the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, in the 1886–87 season, and reached the last 16 of the FA Cup in the same year.[1] In 1888, the club joined the Combination, a league set up to provide organised football for those clubs not invited to join the Football League which was to start the same year. However, the Combination was not well organised and folded in April 1889 with many fixtures still outstanding.[2] Lincoln then became founder members of the Midland League, and won the inaugural league title.[3] After two seasons the club turned professional[1] and joined the Football Alliance; the following year they were elected to the newly formed Second Division of the Football League.[3] Their highest finishing position - fifth in the Second Division - was achieved in 1901–02, and in the same season they reached the last 16 of the FA Cup for the third time.[1] Lincoln failed to gain re-election to the League three times between 1909 and 1920; on each occasion, they won the championship of the league to which they had been demoted, either the Midland League or, in 1912, the Central League, and made an immediate return to the Football League.[1][3]

In 1921, Lincoln were founder members of the Football League Third Division North, and ten seasons later won the division title, thus gaining promotion to the Second Division, though for one season only.[4] In 1947–48, Lincoln again won the Third Division North title, and again suffered immediate relegation from the Second. On regaining Second Division status three years later they remained in the division until the 1960–61 season, but then suffered consecutive relegations.[3] The club website rates 1975–76 as "by far the most successful season in the club's history".[5] They won the Fourth Division title with a record points total for any division before the introduction of three points for a win, set new Fourth Division records for most wins and fewest defeats, and were undefeated at home, with 21 wins and 2 draws.[5][6][7]

For many years, teams finishing at the bottom of the Football League had to apply for re-election to the League for the following season - Lincoln made eleven successful applications[8] - but in the 1986–87 season, automatic promotion and relegation was introduced between the Football Conference, the fifth tier of English football, and the Football League Fourth Division.[9] Lincoln finished bottom of the 1986–87 Fourth Division and thus became the first club automatically relegated from the League.[5] They made an immediate return as Conference champions, and until 2011 spent all but one season in the bottom League division.[3] Lincoln reached the promotion play-offs in five consecutive seasons, between 2003 and 2007, but were unsuccessful on each occasion.[3] The 2006–07 season marked Lincoln's 100th season in the Football League; they were the first club to reach that milestone without ever playing in the top division of the League.[8] After a return of only two points from Lincoln's last 11 games of the 2010–11 season allowed Barnet to overturn an 11-point deficit, they returned to non-League football.[10] Five successive bottom-half finishes in the Conference (renamed the National League for 2015–16) preceded Lincoln's return to the Football League as champions.[11] They combined it with an FA Cup run in which they eliminated three Football League teams, including Championship runners-up Brighton & Hove Albion, before a 1–0 win away to Premier League club Burnley made them the first non-league club since 1913–14 to reach the quarter-finals;[12] in the quarter-final, they lost 5–0 away to Arsenal.[13] In their first season back, they made their first competitive trip to Wembley Stadium, where they beat Shrewsbury Town 1–0 to win the EFL Trophy,[14] and reached the play-offs, in which they lost to Exeter City.[15] They achieved promotion the following season as champions, and two years later reached but lost in the play-off final.[16]

Since their election to the Football League in 1892, Lincoln have spent 36 seasons in the second tier, 35 in the third, 40 in the fourth, and 10 seasons in non-League football.[3] The table details Lincoln City's achievements in senior first-team competition from their first appearance in the FA Cup in 1884–85 to the end of the most recently completed season.

## Key[edit]

Key to league record:

* P – Played
* W – Games won
* D – Games drawn
* L – Games lost
* F – Goals for
* A – Goals against
* Pts – Points
* Pos – Final position

Key to colours and symbols:

| 1st or W | Winners

|

2nd or F | Runners-up
↑ | Promoted
↓ | Demoted, either by relegation or by failing to secure re-election to the Football League
♦ | Top league scorer in Lincoln's division

Key to competition:

* Combination – The Combination[a]
* Midland – Midland League
* Alliance – Football Alliance
* Central – The Central League
* Division 2 – Football League Second Division
* Division 3 – Football League Third Division
* Division 3N – Football League Third Division North
* Division 4 – Football League Fourth Division
* League 1 – League One
* League 2 – League Two
* Conference – Conference Premier
* National – National League
* Conf. Champ. Shield – Conference Championship Shield

Key to rounds:

* Prelim – Preliminary round
* Group – Group stage
* QR1 – First qualifying round
* QR2 – Second qualifying round, etc.
* R1 – First round
* R2 – Second round, etc.
* QF – Quarter-final
* SF – Semi-final
* F – Runners-up
* (N) – Northern section of regionalised stage
* DNE – Did not enter

Details of abandoned competitions - The Combination in 1888–89 and the 1939–40 Football League - are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

## Seasons[edit]

List of seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results and top scorer  Season  | League[3] | FA Cup[3][17][b] | League Cup[3][18][c] | Other[3][18][19] | Top scorer(s)[d]

|
|
|
|
|

Division[e] | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Competition  | Result  | Player(s)  | Goals
1884–85 | —  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  | —  | R3 | — | — | — | Walter Fox | 2
1885–86 | —  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  | —  | R1 | — | — | — | No goalscorer | —
1886–87 | —  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  | —  | R5 | — | — | — | Billy Gregson | 2
1887–88 | —  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  | —  | R3 | — | — | — |

* Walter Fox
* Slotch Shaw
* Jimmy Slater
* Edwin Teesdale

| 1
1888–89 | Combination | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 14 | [a] | QR1 | — | — | — | George Hallam | 2
1889–90 | Midland | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 75 | 19 | 34 | 1st  | R2 | — | — | — | Frank Smallman | 17
1890–91 | Midland | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 34 | 21 | 20 | 3rd  | R1 | — | — | — | Isaac Moore | 16
1891–92 | Alliance | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 37 | 65 | 17 | 9th | QR2 | — | — | — | John Irving | 12
1892–93 | Division 2 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 45 | 51 | 17 | 9th | QR4 | — | — | — | Frank Smallman | 19
1893–94 | Division 2 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 59 | 58 | 28 | 8th | QR2 | — | — | — | Don Lees | 17
1894–95 | Division 2 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 52 | 92 | 20 | 13th | QR1 | — | — | — | Albert Flewitt | 13
1895–96 | Division 2 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 53 | 75 | 22 | 13th | QR3 | — | — | — | Billie Gillespie | 15
1896–97 | Division 2 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 27 | 85 | 12 | 16th | QR5 | — | — | — | Billie Gillespie | 10
1897–98 | Division 2 | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 43 | 82 | 17 | 14th | QR4 | — | — | — | Hugh Robertson | 17
1898–99 | Division 2 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 51 | 56 | 31 | 12th | QR4 | — | — | — | Hugh Robertson | 22
1899–1900 | Division 2 | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 46 | 43 | 36 | 9th | QR3 | — | — | — | Jimmy Hartley | 16
1900–01 | Division 2 | 34 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 43 | 39 | 33 | 8th | QR4 | — | — | — | Jimmy Hartley | 11
1901–02 | Division 2 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 45 | 35 | 41 | 5th | R2 | — | — | — | Tom McInnes | 14
1902–03 | Division 2 | 34 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 46 | 53 | 30 | 10th | R1 | — | — | — | Jimmy Hartley | 12
1903–04 | Division 2 | 34 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 41 | 58 | 30 | 12th | QR3 | — | — | — | Freddy Simpson | 11
1904–05 | Division 2 | 34 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 42 | 40 | 31 | 9th | R1 | — | — | — | Dennis O'Donnell | 15
1905–06 | Division 2 | 38 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 69 | 72 | 30 | 13th | R2 | — | — | — | Jack Martin | 20
1906–07 | Division 2 | 38 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 46 | 73 | 28 | 19th | R2 | — | — | — | William Watson | 11
1907–08 | Division 2 ↓  | 38 | 9 | 3 | 26 | 46 | 83 | 21 | 20th[f] | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Langham | 13
1908–09 | Midland ↑  | 38 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 86 | 38 | 63 | 1st  | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Langham | 22
1909–10 | Division 2 | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 42 | 69 | 31 | 15th | QR4 | — | — | — | William Hunter | 8
1910–11 | Division 2[g] ↓  | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 28 | 72 | 24 | 20th | QR5 | — | — | — | Fred Haycock | 6
1911–12 | Central ↑  | 32 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 81 | 30 | 48 | 1st  | R2 | — | — | — | Walter Miller | 21
1912–13 | Division 2 | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 50 | 52 | 40 | 8th | QR5 | — | — | — | Tosh Barrell | 13
1913–14 | Division 2 | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 36 | 66 | 26 | 19th | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Egerton | 7
1914–15 | Division 2 | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 46 | 65 | 31 | 16th | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Egerton | 14
1915–19 |

The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1919–20 | Division 2[h] ↓  | 42 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 44 | 101 | 27 | 21st | R1 | — | — | — | Billy Chesser | 8
1920–21 | Midland ↑  | 38 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 95 | 40 | 57 | 1st  | R2 | — | — | — | Pip Rippon | 27
1921–22 | Division 3N | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 48 | 59 | 34 | 14th | QR5 | — | — | — | Bob Chambers | 12
1922–23 | Division 3N | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 39 | 55 | 36 | 13th | QR4 | — | — | — |

* Tommy Griffiths
* Harry Pringle

| 7
1923–24 | Division 3N | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 48 | 59 | 32 | 19th | QR5 | — | — | — |

* Jimmy Bauchop
* Archie Roe

| 12
1924–25 | Division 3N | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 53 | 58 | 44 | 8th | QR5 | — | — | — | Harry Pringle | 15
1925–26 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 66 | 82 | 39 | 15th | R1 | — | — | — | Harry Havelock | 18
1926–27 | Division 3N | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 90 | 78 | 42 | 11th | R3 | — | — | — | Billy Dinsdale | 25
1927–28 | Division 3N | 42 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 91 | 64 | 55 | 2nd | R3 | — | — | — | Billy Dinsdale | 29
1928–29 | Division 3N | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 91 | 67 | 48 | 6th | R3 | — | — | — | Billy Dinsdale | 24
1929–30 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 83 | 61 | 48 | 5th | R2 | — | — | — | Harry Roberts | 21
1930–31 | Division 3N | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 102 | 59 | 57 | 2nd | R2 | — | — | — | Billy Dinsdale | 25
1931–32 | Division 3N ↑  | 40 | 26 | 5 | 9 | 106 | 47 | 57 | 1st | R2 | — | — | — | Allan Hall[i] | 45 ♦
1932–33 | Division 2 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 72 | 87 | 37 | 18th | R3 | — | — | — | Allan Hall | 23
1933–34 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 44 | 75 | 26 | 22nd | R3 | — | — | — | Chick Reed | 7
1934–35 | Division 3N | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 87 | 58 | 51 | 4th | R2 | — | Football League Third Division North Cup | R1  | Johnny Campbell | 18
1935–36 | Division 3N | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 91 | 51 | 53 | 4th | R1 | — | Football League Third Division North Cup | SF  | Johnny Campbell | 30
1936–37 | Division 3N | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 103 | 57 | 57 | 2nd | R2 | — | Football League Third Division North Cup | R1  | Johnny Campbell | 36
1937–38 | Division 3N | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 66 | 50 | 46 | 7th | R2 | — | Football League Third Division North Cup | R1  | Johnny Campbell | 14
1938–39 | Division 3N | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 66 | 92 | 33 | 17th | R3 | — | Football League Third Division North Cup | DNE[j] | Walter Ponting | 19
1939–40 | Division 3N | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | [k] | — | — | — | — | Walter Ponting[28] | 3
1939–45 |

The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1945–46 | —  | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  | —  | R2[l] | — | — | — | Geoff Marlow | 3
1946–47 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 86 | 87 | 39 | 12th | R3 | — | — | — | Tommy Cheetham | 30
1947–48 | Division 3N ↑  | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 81 | 40 | 60 | 1st | R1 | — | — | — | Jimmy Hutchinson[m] | 32 ♦
1948–49 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 53 | 91 | 28 | 22nd[n] | R3 | — | — | — | Jock Dodds | 13
1949–50 | Division 3N | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 60 | 39 | 51 | 4th | R1 | — | — | — | Jock Dodds | 21
1950–51 | Division 3N | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 89 | 58 | 58 | 5th | R1 | — | — | — | Johnny Garvie | 21
1951–52 | Division 3N ↑  | 46 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 121 | 52 | 69 | 1st[o] | R3 | — | — | — | Andy Graver[p] | 39 ♦
1952–53 | Division 2 | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 64 | 71 | 39 | 15th | R3 | — | — | — | Andy Graver | 18
1953–54 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 65 | 83 | 37 | 16th | R4[q] | — | — | — | Andy Graver | 25
1954–55 | Division 2 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 68 | 79 | 36 | 16th | R3 | — | — | — | Johnny Garvie | 13
1955–56 | Division 2 | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 79 | 65 | 46 | 8th | R3 | — | — | — | Tommy Northcott | 20
1956–57 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 54 | 80 | 34 | 18th | R3 | — | — | — | Tommy Bannan | 14
1957–58 | Division 2 | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 55 | 82 | 31 | 20th | R3 | — | — | — | Jack Grainger | 10
1958–59 | Division 2 | 42 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 63 | 93 | 29 | 19th | R3 | — | — | — | Roy Chapman | 15
1959–60 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 75 | 78 | 39 | 13th | R3 | — | — | — | John McClelland | 18
1960–61 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 8 | 8 | 26 | 48 | 95 | 24 | 22nd | R4 | R1[A] | — | — | Roy Chapman | 16
1961–62 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 57 | 87 | 35 | 22nd | R1 | R2 | — | — | Brian Punter | 8
1962–63 | Division 4 | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 68 | 89 | 35 | 22nd | R3 | R2 | — | — | Brian Punter | 17
1963–64 | Division 4 | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 67 | 75 | 47 | 11th | R3 | R3 | — | — | Alan Morton | 21
1964–65 | Division 4 | 46 | 11 | 6 | 29 | 58 | 99 | 28 | 22nd | R3 | R1 | — | — | Bud Houghton | 11
1965–66 | Division 4 | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 57 | 82 | 37 | 22nd | R1 | R1 | — | — | Barry Hutchinson | 20
1966–67 | Division 4 | 46 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 58 | 82 | 31 | 24th | R1 | R3 | — | — | Roy Chapman | 21
1967–68 | Division 4 | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 71 | 68 | 43 | 13th | R1 | R4[r] | — | — | Roger Holmes | 17
1968–69 | Division 4 | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 54 | 52 | 51 | 8th | R3 | R2 | — | — | Dave Smith | 11
1969–70 | Division 4 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 66 | 52 | 50 | 8th | R2 | R1 | — | — | Rod Fletcher | 17
1970–71 | Division 4 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 70 | 71 | 39 | 21st | R3 | R3 | — | — | Phil Hubbard | 19
1971–72 | Division 4 | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 77 | 59 | 56 | 5th | R1 | R3 | — | — | Phil Hubbard | 19
1972–73 | Division 4 | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 64 | 57 | 48 | 10th | R1 | R1 | — | — | Dixie McNeil | 21
1973–74 | Division 4 | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 63 | 67 | 44 | 12th | R1 | R1 | Watney Cup | R1  | Dixie McNeil | 19
1974–75 | Division 4 | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 79 | 48 | 57 | 5th | R3 | R1 | — | — | Sam Ellis | 15
1975–76 | Division 4 ↑  | 46 | 32 | 10 | 4 | 111 | 39 | 74 | 1st | R4 | R3 | — | — | John Ward | 29
1976–77 | Division 3 | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 77 | 70 | 52 | 9th | R3 | R1 | — | — | John Ward | 18
1977–78 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 53 | 61 | 45 | 16th | R1 | R2 | — | — | Peter Graham
Mick Harford | 9
1978–79 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 41 | 88 | 25 | 24th | R1 | R1 | — | — |

* Glenn Cockerill
* John Fleming
* Mick Harford
* Gordon Hobson

| 6
1979–80 | Division 4 | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 64 | 42 | 53 | 7th | R1 | R1 | — | — | Mick Harford | 16
1980–81 | Division 4 ↑ | 46 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 66 | 25 | 65 | 2nd | R2 | R2 | — | — | Gordon Hobson | 21
1981–82 | Division 3 | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 66 | 40 | 77[s] | 4th | R1 | R3 | Football League Group Cup | Group[t] |

* Tony Cunningham
* George Shipley

| 15
1982–83 | Division 3 | 46 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 77 | 51 | 76 | 6th | R1 | R3 | Football League Group Trophy | F[t] | Derek Bell | 29
1983–84 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 59 | 62 | 61 | 14th | R2 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Gordon Hobson | 11
1984–85 | Division 3 | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 19th | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | SF(N) | Gordon Hobson | 11
1985–86 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 55 | 77 | 46 | 21st | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) |

* Neil Redfearn
* Warren Ward

| 8
1986–87 | Division 4 ↓ | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 45 | 65 | 48 | 24th[u] | R1 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Gary Lund | 16
1987–88 | Conference ↑  | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 86 | 48 | 82 | 1st | R2 | — |

* FA Trophy
* Conf. League Cup
* Conf. Champ. Shield

* QF
* R3[32]
* F[33]

* Phil Brown
* John McGinley

| 20
1988–89 | Division 4 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 64 | 60 | 64 | 10th | R1 | R2 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Gordon Hobson | 15
1989–90 | Division 4 | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 48 | 48 | 68 | 10th | R2 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | R1(N) | Gordon Hobson | 9
1990–91 | Division 4 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 50 | 61 | 59 | 14th | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Tony Lormor | 13
1991–92 | Division 4 | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 50 | 44 | 62 | 10th | R1 | R1 | Associate Members' Cup | Prelim(N) | Tony Lormor | 9
1992–93 | Division 3[v] | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 57 | 53 | 63 | 8th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Jason Lee | 12
1993–94 | Division 3 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 52 | 63 | 47 | 18th | R2 | R2 | Football League Trophy | SF(N) | David Johnson | 13
1994–95 | Division 3 | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 12th | R3 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) |

* Gary Bannister
* Matt Carbon
* Dean West

| 8
1995–96 | Division 3 | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 57 | 73 | 53 | 18th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Gareth Ainsworth | 13
1996–97 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 70 | 69 | 66 | 9th | R1 | R3 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Gareth Ainsworth | 24
1997–98 | Division 3 ↑ | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 60 | 51 | 75 | 3rd | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Lee Thorpe | 14
1998–99 | Division 2 ↓ | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 42 | 74 | 46 | 23rd | R3 | R1 | Football League Trophy | SF(N) |

* Tony Battersby
* Lee Thorpe

| 10
1999–2000 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 67 | 69 | 59 | 15th | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Lee Thorpe | 17
2000–01 | Division 3 | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 58 | 66 | 51 | 18th | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | F(N) | Lee Thorpe | 13
2001–02 | Division 3 | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 44 | 62 | 46 | 22nd | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Lee Thorpe | 13
2002–03 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 46 | 37 | 70 | 6th[w] | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Ben Futcher | 11
2003–04 | Division 3 | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 68 | 47 | 74 | 7th[x] | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF(N) | Gary Taylor-Fletcher | 19
2004–05 | League 2[y] | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 47 | 72 | 6th[z] | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Simon Yeo | 23
2005–06 | League 2 | 46 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 65 | 53 | 66 | 7th[aa] | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Marvin Robinson | 11
2006–07 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 59 | 74 | 5th[ab] | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Jamie Forrester | 18
2007–08 | League 2 | 46 | 18 | 4 | 24 | 61 | 77 | 58 | 15th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Ben Wright | 15
2008–09 | League 2 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 53 | 52 | 59 | 13th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2(N) | Adrian Pătulea | 11
2009–10 | League 2 | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 42 | 65 | 50 | 20th | R3 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Davide Somma | 9
2010–11 | League 2 ↓ | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 81 | 47 | 23rd | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R1(N) | Ashley Grimes | 17
2011–12 | Conference | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 56 | 66 | 49 | 17th | QR4 | — | FA Trophy | R2 | Sam Smith | 9
2012–13 | Conference | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 66 | 73 | 56 | 16th | R2 | — | FA Trophy | R1 | Jamie Taylor | 16
2013–14 | Conference | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 60 | 59 | 65 | 14th | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R3 | Ben Tomlinson | 20
2014–15 | Conference | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 62 | 71 | 58 | 15th | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R1 | Ben Tomlinson | 14
2015–16 | National[ac] | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 69 | 68 | 61 | 13th | R1 | — | FA Trophy | R1 | Matt Rhead | 23
2016–17 | National ↑ | 46 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 83 | 40 | 99 | 1st | QF | — | FA Trophy | SF | Matt Rhead | 15
2017–18 | League 2 | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 64 | 48 | 75 | 7th[ad] | R1 | R1 | EFL Trophy | W[ae] | Matt Green | 17
2018–19 | League 2 ↑ | 46 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 73 | 43 | 85 | 1st | R3 | R2 | EFL Trophy | R2 | John Akinde | 17
2019–20 | League 1 | 35 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 44 | 46 | 42 | 16th[af] | R1 | R2 | EFL Trophy | R1(N) | Tyler Walker | 16
2020–21 | League 1 | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 69 | 50 | 77 | 5th[ag] | R2 | R3 | EFL Trophy | SF |

* Jorge Grant
* Anthony Scully

| 17
2021–22 | League 1 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 55 | 63 | 52 | 17th | R2 | R1 | EFL Trophy | R2(N) | Anthony Scully | 15
2022–23 | League 1 | 46 | 14 | 20 | 12 | 47 | 47 | 62 | 11th | R1 | R4 | EFL Trophy | QF | Ben House | 13
2023–24 | League 1 | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 40 | 74 | 7th | R1 | R3 | EFL Trophy | R2 | Joe Taylor | 13

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b An attempt was made to set up a league called The Combination involving clubs not invited to join the Football League. Lack of proper organisation meant it was wound up in April 1889 with many fixtures still outstanding. Lincoln City played 14 of their full 16 fixtures.[2]
2. ^ Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1892–93, Lincoln's first season in the Football League, there were only three rounds proper before the semifinal, as compared with the current six.[17]
3. ^ The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[9]
4. ^ Goals scored in the following first-team competitions are counted: the Combination, Midland League, Football Alliance, the Football League, including play-offs, the Central League, National League and predecessors, FA Cup, League Cup, EFL Trophy and predecessors, Third Division North Cup, Watney Cup, FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. For seasons up to and including 2012–13, sourced to the Lincoln City FC Archive;[20] from 2013–14 to 2016–17, to Soccerway;[21] from 2017–18 onwards, to Soccerbase.[22] Select season required via dropdown menu.
5. ^ Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
6. ^ Lincoln finished bottom of the League and failed to be re-elected. After Stoke later resigned from the League, a further election was held in which Lincoln and Tottenham Hotspur twice polled an equal number of votes. "The matter was then left in the hands of the Management Committee, who decided in favour of Tottenham Hotspur."[23]
7. ^ After finishing bottom of the League, Lincoln failed to be re-elected, so joined the newly formed Central League, while their reserve team retained membership of the Midland League.[1][24]
8. ^ After finishing next to bottom of the League, Lincoln finished fourth in the ballot for election to the two places available. Although the League expanded by forming a Third Division for the following season, the new division was made up of Southern clubs only, mostly from the First Division of the Southern League.[25] In 1921–22, a Third Division North was formed to run in parallel with the Southern section.[9]
9. ^ Scored 42 goals in the Third Division North.[26]
10. ^ Lincoln were one of eight clubs who chose not to enter the Third Division North Cup.[19]
11. ^ The 1939–40 season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began.[3] Lincoln City do not include appearances and goals from those three matches in players' career records.[27]
12. ^ Although the Football League did not resume until the 1946–47 season, the FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs.[3][17]
13. ^ Scored 32 goals in the Third Division North.[26]
14. ^ Set a record league attendance of 23,146 against Grimsby Town.[29]
15. ^ Beat Crewe Alexandra 11–1 at home to set a record league victory.[30]
16. ^ Scored 36 goals in the Third Division North.[26]
17. ^ Set a record FA Cup attendance of 23,027 against Preston North End.[29]
18. ^ Set an all-time record attendance of 23,196 against Derby County in the League Cup.[29]
19. ^ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[9]
20. ^ a b Competed in the Football League Group Cup, a successor to the Anglo-Scottish Cup, failing to progress past the group stage in the first season,[19] but reaching the final in the second, losing 3–2 at home to Millwall. The competition was renamed the Football League Trophy for that second season, but is often referred to as the Football League Group Trophy to distinguish from the more recent Football League Trophy, of which it was a forerunner.[31]
21. ^ Lincoln became the first team to suffer automatic relegation to the Conference.[5]
22. ^ When the newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards.[9]
23. ^ Beat Scunthorpe United 6–3 on aggregate in the semi-final before losing 5–2 to AFC Bournemouth in the 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final.[3][34]
24. ^ Lost 4–3 to Huddersfield Town on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.[35]
25. ^ Division 3 was renamed League 2 as part of a rebranding exercise by the Football League.[9]
26. ^ Beat Macclesfield Town 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-final before losing 2–0 to Southend United after extra time in the 2005 Football League Two play-off final.[3][36]
27. ^ Lost 3–1 to Grimsby Town on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.[37]
28. ^ Reached the play-offs for the fifth successive season: lost 7–4 on aggregate to Bristol Rovers in the semi-finals.[38]
29. ^ The Football Conference was renamed the National League.[39]
30. ^ Lost to Exeter City 3–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final.[15]
31. ^ Beat Shrewsbury Town 1–0 in the 2018 EFL Trophy Final at Wembley.[14]
32. ^ The 2019–20 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EFL was suspended in March 2020 and in June, the League One clubs voted to end the regular season programme early. Teams had not all played the same number of matches, so it was agreed to construct final league tables on a points-per-game basis. Lincoln City's 52.80 points per game placed them 16th.[40][41]
33. ^ After beating Sunderland 3–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[42] lost 2–1 to Blackpool in the final.[16]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "The Early Years: 1884–1919". Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
2. ^ a b Shury, Alan & Landamore, Brian (2005). The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. (2nd ed.). Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-16-1.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Lincoln City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
4. ^ "Between the wars: 1919–1945". Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
5. ^ a b c d "Record breakers & makers: 1967–1987". Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
6. ^ "Wins". The Football League. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
7. ^ "Lincoln City league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024. Access specific content required via dropdown menus.
8. ^ a b ""City's Centenary"". Lincoln City F.C. 28 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010.
9. ^ a b c d e f "History of The Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
10. ^ "League Two table after close of play on 12 March 2011". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
"Lincoln City 0–3 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
11. ^ Aloia, Andrew (22 April 2017). "Lincoln City 2–1 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
12. ^ Lofthouse, Amy (18 February 2017). "Burnley 0–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
Hunter, Andy (18 January 2017). "Lincoln City topple Burnley as Sean Raggett seals historic FA Cup shock". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
13. ^ Rose, Gary (11 March 2017). "Arsenal 5–0 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
14. ^ a b Scott, Ged (8 April 2018). "Lincoln City 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
15. ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (17 May 2018). "Exeter City 3–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
16. ^ a b Freeman, Jay (30 May 2021). "League One play-off final – Blackpool 2–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
17. ^ a b c "Past Results". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2024. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
18. ^ a b "Lincoln City football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
19. ^ a b c For Football League Group Cup: "Football League Group Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
For Watney Cup: "The Watney Cup". footballsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
For Third Division North Cup: "Football League Division Three North Cup Summary – Contents". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
20. ^ "Appearances". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013. Access to individual seasons via Season Stats dropdown menu at foot of right-hand sidebar. Although this site is partly subscription-based, only free-access sections are used for reference. If pop-up login dialogue boxes appear, press the "Cancel" button to proceed.
21. ^ "Lincoln City FC: Squad". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2019. Access to individual seasons/competitions via dropdown menu.
22. ^ "Lincoln FC Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
23. ^ "Association Football. The Football League". The Times. 30 June 1908. p. 16.
24. ^ Abbink, Dinant (31 July 2008). "England – Midland League". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
25. ^ "Association Football. A Third Division Of The League". The Times. 1 June 1920. p. 7.
26. ^ a b c Ross, James M. (16 March 2010). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2010. Covers up to 2006–07 season.
"English League Two". Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015. and "English Conference: Statistics: Top scorers". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015. From 2001–02: access to other seasons via dropdown menu.
27. ^ "Walter Ponting". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 210\. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
28. ^ "Saturday's Results". The Times. 28 August 1939. p. 5.
"Saturday's Results". The Times. 4 September 1939. p. 2.
29. ^ a b c "Attendances". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
30. ^ "High-scoring Games". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
31. ^ Ross, James M. (20 December 2007). "Football League Group Cup/Trophy 1982–83". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
32. ^ Williams, Tony, ed. (1988). Non League Club Directory 1989. Tony Williams Publications. p. 784\. ISBN 978-1-869833-09-1.
33. ^ "History". Football Conference. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
34. ^ "Bournemouth win seals promotion". BBC Sport. 24 May 2003. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
35. ^ "Huddersfield 2–2 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Archived from the original on 3 July 2004. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
36. ^ "Lincoln City 0–2 Southend United". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
37. ^ "Grimsby 2–1 Lincoln (agg 3–1)". BBC Sport. 16 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
38. ^ "Lincoln City 3–5 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
39. ^ "Football Conference to be renamed as National League". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
40. ^ "League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
41. ^ "Sky Bet League One". English Football League. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
42. ^ "Sunderland 3–1 Lincoln City (2–3 agg.)". BBC Sport. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Lincoln City F.C. official website Archived 23 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
* Lincoln City F.C. archive

* v
* t
* e

Lincoln City Football Club

General|

* History
* Lincolnshire derby
* Lincoln Ladies
* Players
* 100+ appearances
* 25–99 appearances
* Seasons

Grounds|

* John O'Gaunts (1884–1895)
* Sincil Bank (1895–present)

Matches|

* 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final
* 2005 Football League Two play-off final
* Bradford City stadium fire
* Burnley 0–1 Lincoln City (2017)
* 2018 EFL Trophy final
* 2021 EFL League One play-off final

* v
* t
* e

Lincoln City F.C. seasons

* 1888–89
* 1889–90

* 1890–91
* 1891–92
* 1892–93
* 1893–94
* 1894–95
* 1895–96
* 1896–97
* 1897–98
* 1898–99
* 99–1900

* 1900–01
* 1901–02
* 1902–03
* 1903–04
* 1904–05
* 1905–06
* 1906–07
* 1907–08
* 1908–09
* 1909–10

* 1910–11
* 1911–12
* 1912–13
* 1913–14
* 1914–15
* 1915–16
* 1916–17
* 1917–18
* 1918–19
* 1919–20

* 1920–21
* 1921–22
* 1922–23
* 1923–24
* 1924–25
* 1925–26
* 1926–27
* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30

* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40

* 1940–41
* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50

* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60

* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70

* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80

* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90

* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 99–2000

* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10

* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20

* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

Lists of English men's football seasons by club

* Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2023–24 season

Premier League|

* AFC Bournemouth
* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Liverpool
* Luton Town
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Sheffield United
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Cardiff City
* Coventry City
* Huddersfield Town
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Plymouth Argyle
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion

League One|

* Barnsley
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bristol Rovers
* Burton Albion
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Charlton Athletic
* Cheltenham Town
* Derby County
* Exeter City
* Fleetwood Town
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Northampton Town
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Port Vale
* Portsmouth
* Reading
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stevenage
* Wigan Athletic
* Wycombe Wanderers

League Two|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Wimbledon
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Colchester United
* Crawley Town
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* Forest Green Rovers
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Mansfield Town
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Newport County
* Notts County
* Salford City
* Stockport County
* Sutton United
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Wrexham

Non-League|

* AFC Fylde
* Aldershot Town
* Alfreton Town
* Altrincham
* Arlesey Town
* Ashford United
* Banbury United
* Barnet
* Bath City
* Bishop's Stortford
* Blyth Spartans
* Brackley Town
* Bradford Park Avenue
* Bromley
* Burnham
* Bury
* Cambridge City
* Chester
* Chesham United
* Chesterfield
* Chippenham Town
* Cirencester Town
* Corby Town
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Darlington
* Dartford
* Dover Athletic
* Eastbourne Borough
* Eastbourne Town
* Ebbsfleet United
* FC Halifax Town
* F.C. United of Manchester
* Gateshead
* Glossop North End
* Gloucester City
* Harrow Borough
* Hartlepool United
* Havant & Waterlooville
* Hayes & Yeading United
* Hitchin Town
* Kidderminster Harriers
* King's Lynn Town
* Macclesfield Town
* Maidstone United
* Margate
* Nelson
* Northwich Victoria
* Nuneaton Town
* Oldham Athletic
* Redditch United
* Rochdale
* Scarborough Athletic
* Scunthorpe United
* Southend United
* Southport
* Spennymoor Town
* Swindon Supermarine
* Tamworth
* Torquay United
* Walton & Hersham
* Walton Casuals
* Welling United
* Weymouth
* Whitby Town
* Wingate & Finchley
* Woking
* Yeovil Town
* York City

Defunct clubs|

* Aldershot
* Chester City
* Gateshead
* Hereford United
* Hinckley United
* Rushden & Diamonds
* Salisbury City
* Scarborough
* Wimbledon
* Wigan Borough

* Category
* Includes clubs based in Wales that compete in English leagues.

*[Pld]: Matches played
*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[Pts]: Points
*[Pos]: League position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template