4. Standout Players
Several Lincoln City players made a significant impact over the course of the season, though true consistency was sometimes elusive. Right-back Tendayi Darikwa was a deserved Player of the Season, offering reliability and quality throughout. His performances down the flank provided the side with much-needed width and defensive stability.
James Collins, a January arrival, proved to be a vital addition. His goals, presence, and intelligence in leading the line were crucial to the team’s improved attacking output in the second half of the season. He pushed Jovon Makama hard for the golden boot, and his presence helped spark a tactical shift that improved the entire side.
Makama himself deserves major credit. Criticised by some in the early part of the campaign — with calls for him to go out on loan — the young forward came alive in the second half of the season. Moved out wide in the 4-2-3-1, he thrived, showcasing his power, directness and eye for goal.
Sean Roughan also stood out, playing every minute of every league game — a remarkable feat of endurance and dependability. While his season wasn’t without error, he embodied the consistency that others sometimes lacked.
That inconsistency was a theme. A host of players had flashes of brilliance but couldn’t maintain it across a long stretch for different reasons. Tom Bayliss was excellent at times but missed chunks through injury. Ethan Erhahon’s suspension and fitness issues limited his appearances to 28 starts — a frustrating number given his importance. Reeco Hackett was unplayable some weeks, invisible others, and often deployed in unfamiliar roles. Ethan Hamilton missed a good chunk early on and only really found form late in the season.
Ben House, another hard-working figure, made 41 appearances but scored just six goals — not enough for a player in his role. Jack Moylan, who many hoped would make a major impact, never really found momentum through injury. The same could be said for Lewis Montsma, who only started 12 games and never fully recovered his pre-injury form.
Even the ever-reliable Adam Jackson was limited to 26 starts due to injury, while Paudie O’Connor’s suspensions disrupted the back line. Conor McGrandles was played in a holding role for some of the campaign, which put him in the spotlight and he wasn’t always popular with fans, perhaps harshly.
There were also stories of promise — Erik Ring, for example, impressed in limited action and is tipped for more next year. Rob Street, away on loan, scored 12 goals at Doncaster and could be part of the plan in 2025–26. JJ McKiernan, another loanee, showed potential too. But overall, the lack of consistent availability and output from key players undoubtedly cost us points.
5. Key Matches
If there’s one game that will live long in the memory, it’s the 5-1 thrashing of Peterborough United. That performance had it all: energy, goals, and excitement. Freddie Draper found the net, James Collins impressed, and the team looked genuinely top-six calibre. It was arguably my highlight of the season.
The 5-0 demolition of Bristol Rovers was another resounding win, along with the 4-2 triumph over Bolton — a side with play-off aspirations. A 3-0 win away at Mansfield in the FA Cup and a 4-1 league win over the same opponents at Sincil Bank added local bragging rights to an already sweet campaign. There was also a notable 1-0 home win over Huddersfield and a strong 2-0 victory against Reading just before Christmas.
But for every high, there was a frustrating low. The post-Reading spell saw just one point from six games — a run that derailed our play-off hopes. A 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury, in a game we arguably deserved to win, was a gut punch. The 3-0 defeat to Bolton featured a moment of madness from Ethan Erhahon that swung the contest. A 1-0 defeat to a poor Rotherham side and a goalless home draw with Stevenage — when Jovon missed a big chance — added to the missed opportunities.
The New Year brought another slump. A home loss to Blackpool, tepid draws against Wigan and Cambridge, a gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat to Leyton Orient after coming back from two goals down, and a 1-0 home loss to Burton followed. Even a big FA Cup win over Crawley was sandwiched between frustration. The 4-3 loss at Barnsley in early March marked a real low point. At that stage, it was hard to see where the season was going.
Yet just when hope was dwindling, the side found some form. The Crawley win sparked a stronger finish, and while it wasn’t enough for a top-six surge, it steadied the ship and proved the squad’s potential when fully fit and firing.
6. Injuries and Squad Depth
Injuries were a persistent and often critical theme. Tom Bayliss’s early season absence hampered creativity. Jack Moylan and JJ McKiernan were also sidelined for extended spells. Reeco Hackett was asked to play left wing-back — not his natural position — for large chunks, and it took him a while to get going after pre-season. Even Dylan Duffy, who might have filled that role, had off-field distractions, including a gambling investigation hanging over him.
George Wickens missed time with injury, which saw Zac Jeacock deputise — including during the crucial EFL Trophy exit to Bolton. Ethan Erhahon’s suspension and injuries disrupted the midfield, while Ethan Hamilton also struggled to maintain rhythm due to his pre-season setback.
Adam Jackson — dependable when fit — missed games after a (really) poor challenge at Rotherham. Paudie O’Connor’s three suspensions added more instability to the back line. Tyler Walker, expected to be fit and our starting number nine, made just one appearance before injury ended his season — and possibly his time at the club.
Even Sam Clucas, signed as cover in case Erhahon left in January, barely featured. The reasoning behind his absence remained unclear, though it’s been suggested a contract clause linked to appearances may have played a part. I’ve made it clear I’d have liked to have seen more of Sam after Ethan Erhahon got injured, but it didn’t happen.
The result of all this? A constantly shifting team, with players rotated in and out. The consistency needed for a promotion push was never there. That’s not just on the manager — managing fitness was a real challenge. But the numbers don’t lie: the squad had potential, but too often wasn’t fully fit or firing.
7. Off-Field Issues
Off the pitch, once again we largely avoided the turbulence that can so often destabilise a season. There are no major ownership issues, no significant financial red flags, and certainly no crisis-level controversies. By and large, things feel stable — even if there was some quiet grumbling from fans on social media, particularly during the tougher runs of form. Still, it’s a microscopic section of the fanbase that criticise Clive, Harvey and the board for the work they do, as it’s like criticising the sun for shining.
Some pointed to a high turnover of backroom staff as a sign of instability, especially in commercial and media departments. At one point, there seemed to be too few hands doing too much. The media team, in particular, were really stretched. But that’s the nature of a working football club, especially one trying to punch above its weight. Remember, some of Luke’s team have gone on to work at McLaren, and for Premier League clubs. You can’t stop talent progressing.
As for ownership, the club remains in good hands. While some of our investors have not been particularly visible, there’s no indication of instability, and no sign of an exodus, despite the usual off-season rumours.
Some supporters remain uneasy. The same concerns seem to resurface annually — Clive Nates leaving, season ticket sales plummeting, sleepwalking into relegation. Yet none of those fears have materialised, this season or those that have gone before. For all the talk, Lincoln City continue to operate sensibly, sustainably, and, more often than not, successfully.