On the job learning.

Much can be learned in the heat of battle and it seems to me that’s the case, metaphorically speaking, for Lincoln City. Maybe some of the steam has gone from the ticketing situation for the forthcoming FA Cup, maybe it’s the realisation that there are only a limited number of tickets available for the game and fans have come to terms with it. Another possibility is that City are simply getting better at selling tickets.

Either way it’s been a steep learning curve for the club but I do feel they are taking on board the criticism they have received (no comment as to whether it was justified) and have adjusted accordingly. One thing I always drum in to the youngsters at my office is that communication is everything. News may not always be gratefully received but at least if you’re in possession of it you can’t complain you’re in the dark.

I think there’s a danger we can all start to behave as if we’ve always been in the position we are now, with a seemingly insatiable demand for cup tickets. Of course it hasn’t always been the case, far from it, City’s problems over the years have been mainly due to lack of cash. Maybe if there had been a fraction of the interest currently shown that might not have been the case. I’m certainly not going to join in criticism of Burnley for the lack of places available. They have complied with the regulations of the competition and that for me is that. We are starting to find in our dealings with smaller clubs in our present stratosphere that they are wanting to make large number of tickets available to City, even at the expense of having their own supporters outnumbered by Imps supporters. I don’t blame them. They assume (as we hope) that City won’t be around next season so they might as well cash in. That’s not the case with Burnley who would have to move season ticket holders to accommodate Imps. I don’t think we’d like it if the boot was on the other foot.

Our adventures this season has brought us into contact with two clubs we would do well to emulate, one being Burnley, a town quite a bit smaller than Lincoln yet they have graced the top division many times and do now. The other is Ipswich Town. Not really any bigger than our city yet they play in a 30000 seat stadium and they too have not only appeared in the top division but have won it and the FA Cup and the EUFA cup. City’s task is now to use the momentum gained to propel themselves onwards and upwards. If Bournemouth can do it why not us?

Finally, I wouldn’t want to give the impression that the Imps are babes in the woods. In my opinion they are learning and learning fast. The final straEight tickets are a brilliant idea and must be bringing a lot more cash into the club. It’s giving the fans what they want. I think we’ve all come to the conclusion that if we want to pick and choose where we sit we need to do more than turn up ten minutes early. City are making hay if you like but at the same time have given fans who failed to show the foresight of obtaining a season ticket, yes I’m one, the opportunity of putting right their error.

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that at the close of business today, which is the last opportunity to get a ticket that the best part of 1000 fans have taken up the offer. Surely almost everyone is going to want to renew next season getting us off to a great start to what we all hope will be a return to the promised land.

After that we all have a part to play.