Well here we are, end of the season proper and we’re in the
playoffs. Not unexpected, in fact we’ve looked nailed on for it, give or take a
few wobbles, most of the season.
As we enter that period, bit like in between Christmas and
new year in many ways, where nothing much happens, that we know about anyway, and
we anticipate the climax to come. Will they, won’t they? It doesn’t much matter
as City face the prospect of either Forest and Sheffield United or Wednesday
and Rotherham. Boo hoo.
So as we contemplate the season past. How did we do? It’s
all good.
The board of directors and Chairman. What can you say? Ten
out of ten. In a world where strong and stable are words somewhat discredited,
that is exactly what we got. Firm management, no complaining about our lot,
goodness only knows what has been going on behind the scenes but the outward view
has been business as usual. This is, I appreciate, out of our orbit, but the
Super League debacle, nonsensical sackings, Sheffield United, Spurs and, yes
Forest Green Rovers. City sail on. Up the A46 a club in freefall takes another
lurch downwards. There’s a bump but is it rock bottom or a tree temporarily arresting
the fall? It’s mildly amusing but personally I take no pleasure in a local club
floundering. The same can be said for Scunthorpe United, all seemed to be well
as they defied gravity. They too hung on by the skin of their teeth.
The manager and team. I’ve experienced some good managers
but Appleton is the pick of the crop in my view. Bill Anderson was before my
time. Colin Murphy has to be given credit for sustaining multiple successes,
including restoring our league place and of course Graham Taylor and the
Cowleys but Appleton shows every sign of being the best of all. Furthermore,
and I hope I’m not being naïve here, the pain he has suffered in his management
career may make him think twice before moving on although it has to be said
being the Lincoln City manager is not the pinnacle of a career but lets hope he
sees his job here as unfinished. When you look at the bench with all those
specialists about it does make you think how far the club has come.
The fans. I have to mention Matchday Live. I don’t know what
other clubs do, maybe the same but my one regret, when everything returns to
normal, will be that we won’t have this fantastic entertainment, pre match.
Well done Sam and Gary. As for the rest of us, we’ve done all we can. Stuck
with the club. Those that were able to afford it, have invested in the club by
taking shares rather than a cash refund for season tickets and paid for
ifollow, home and away.
So to the team. If I was to list all the players who have
done well this season it would be, well, a list of all the players. Within the
confines of ifollow I’ve enjoyed seeing them all. In the player of the season
vote I went for Jorge Grant but it was with a bit of a heavy heart this year as
I think Conor McGrandles ran him close, as did Lewis Montsma and Tayo Edun and
Alex Palmer. Harry Andersons eclipse is a bit painful, hopefully the summer
will see him rejuvenated and of course there will be some of our favourites we
will never see in the flesh, in a City shirt but I thank them all for their
efforts and for the entertainment and joy they’ve brought us.
There we are then, but it’s not the end of the matter. The
Imps go into the playoff competition minus something all the other players and
managers will be bearing. Expectation. Whatever happens we will either be
somewhere very few of us can recall or somewhere most of us have very little
experience of. That’s not too shabby is it?
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