2000/01 LDV Vans Trophy
After reaching round four in 1998/99, and going out in agonising fashion to Wrexham, City were back in semi-final action two years later. Technically, this was the first season we won the semi-final (not counting the 82/83 competition as it wasn’t actually the same thing), and it was the first time we got one game from Wembley.
The 2000/01 season was far from an exciting one. Phil Stant and George Foster were running the club on a shoestring, but not doing it all that well. There wasn’t a lot to cheer, but oddly the LDV Vans Trophy delivered some standout moments. In the first round, with non-league clubs permitted, we drew Morecambe at home. That game is well-known for being the one in which Grant Brown surpassed Tony Emery’s appearance record, but it should also be noted Lee Thorpe grabbed a hat-trick to put us through. A good Blackpool side, featuring Brett Ormerod and Ritchie Wellens, were beaten 3-1 in the next round, even though City were five without a win in the league. On Jan 30th, John Schofield netted to beat Hartlepool with the Imps not having won a league game in between and set us up with our next semi-final.
Few gave us a prayer against Chesterfield, a side 13 points clear at the top of the table after 32 games. We had won one league game since November 25th, with the game taking place on February 13th. They boasted the likes of David Reeves and Luke Beckett, with a certain Mike Pollitt in goal. As for City, we lined up Chris Day, Jason Barnett, John Schofield, Paul Mayo, Steve Holmes, Paul Smith, James Dudgeon, Justin Walker, John Finnigan, Lee Thorpe and Gareth Grant.
As early as the 18th minute, Chesterfield were threatening, with a long drive from Jamie Ingledow clawed away by Chris Day. City found their footing though, and took a surprise lead on 32 minutes. Finnigan knocked a 40-yard ball into Paul Smith, who delivered the sort of cross Lee Thorpe loved. The burly striker stabbed the ball home to put the Imps 1-0 up.
After half time, the 2540 Imps fans were in wonderland as loanee Gareth Grant bagged a second. This time Thorpe crossed for Smith, and his nod down saw Grant net from close range. On 75 minutes, City booked their place in an area final for the first time ever, Smith and Grant working well to set up Thorpe, who lashed home from just inside the box. Steve Payne pulled one back for the Spireites, but City won it with a superb finisher from Justin Walker. He chipped Pollitt from 20-yards in the final minute to wrap up the best result of the season.
It proved to be Stant’s last win as manager. Three more defeats, against Blackpool (2-0), Macclesfield (2-1) and Orient (3-2) saw him dismissed, with Alan Buckley in charge for the area final against Port Vale. There was no fairytale ending either, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Tony Naylor gave the Valiants a 2-0 lead in the first leg at Sincil Bank, and despite being one game from Wembley, we were three away goals shy too – this from a team with just two away wins in a calendar year. The 0-0 draw was brave, but not enough. Vale went on to beat Brentford in the final, with Mark McCammon, a future Imp, appearing for the Bees.