8. Fanbase and Atmosphere
One of the most underrated successes of the season was the continued strength of the club’s fan base. Average home attendance was 9,005 — just one short of the title-winning 2018–19 campaign in League Two, which averaged 9,006. That’s particularly impressive given the mixed results and some of the frustrations voiced online.
Despite fears of dwindling support, the Imps held strong. Even through mid-season slumps and frustrating results, the turnstiles kept ticking. It’s a testament to the connection between club and community — something that’s been built over years, not weeks.
Away support remained strong as well. The club took good numbers on long trips, including Crawley away — no small ask at that time of year. While not every game was electric, and not every stand rocked with noise, there was a consistent loyalty that never wavered.
That said, it’s not always easy to maintain perspective as a travelling fan. Bad weather, long drives, and dismal defeats — like the double disappointment against Rotherham — can sour the mood. But take a step back and it’s clear: the majority of fans, particularly those who don’t spend their days on Twitter or Facebook, see a club in decent health.
9. Looking Ahead
The big question now is: what’s next?
There’s cautious optimism about the squad. Up front, Lincoln may already have the numbers — James Collins, Rob Street, Ben House and Freddie Draper all able to lead the line, although one would expect Collins to be the number nine. Behind them, there’s quality in the likes of Tom Bayliss, Jack Moylan and Reeco Hackett. Add in returning loanees like JJ McKiernan and you’ve got a good blend of experience and potential.
The wide areas may need a bit more depth — especially with Hackett’s inconsistency — and another injection of energy wouldn’t go amiss. In midfield, much depends on what happens with Ethan Erhahon. If he goes, a holding midfielder will be a must. But Conor McGrandles and Ethan Hamilton are solid League One players, and with a bit more luck on the injury front, they could form a reliable core.
Defensively, reinforcements will be crucial — particularly if Paudie O’Connor or Sean Roughan move on. Tom Hamer looked assured when fit and could form a strong partnership with one of Jackson or O’Connor if retained. But Lincoln will need a specialist left-back if they stick with four at the back, and possibly another centre-half too.
George Wickens is likely to remain between the sticks, and consistency in the back four is key. Too often this season, the defence was patched together game-to-game. If they can start next season with a settled group, it could make a huge difference.
As for Michael Skubala? His job is safe. He’s shown intelligence, adaptability, and humility — all valuable traits for a young manager. With Tom Shaw, Scott Fry and Chris Cohen beside him, the coaching team looks solid.
The goal will be the top six. Whether that’s realistic will depend on recruitment, fitness, and — inevitably — a bit of luck. But the bones of a play-off-challenging side are there.
10. Overall Verdict
In isolation, finishing 11th with 61 points might feel underwhelming. But in context — given the budget, injuries, and in-season challenges — it was another solid step forward.
It’s tempting to place all the blame or all the praise on the manager. But this season wasn’t defined by poor coaching or tactical errors. It was defined by inconsistency — from players, from availability, and from momentum. Over Christmas, in particular, Lincoln were flat. Some key players only hit form in the final weeks.
The tactical switch came late, yes, but it did come. And when it did, things improved. The 4-2-3-1 got more from Makama, from Hackett, and from Collins. Performances picked up, goals flowed, and Lincoln started to look like a play-off contender again — just too late to make it count.
There were frustrations. Some poor losses. Some bad luck. But also some huge highs — five past Peterborough, five past Bristol Rovers, four against Bolton. This wasn’t Mark Kennedy-ball. It wasn’t boring, lifeless, and predictable. It had energy. It had potential. And with the right tweaks this summer, it might just have the tools to go a step further.
In my opinion, this wasn’t a bad season — not by a long stretch. I don’t think it was always boring. Yes, there were some games that were tough to watch, but it was nothing like the Mark Kennedy era where we used to draw every game. We scored so few goals and created so few chances. We’re better than that now. If we were winning games 1–0 and only creating half-chances, people would still be happy—because we’d be winning. Yet people have been saying throughout this season that it’s the most boring football we’ve ever played. They forget two years ago and they forget three years ago.
Take Gav, who sits near me, as a classic example. In Appleton’s final season, he (rightly) used to say, “I’m sick of watching Lincoln lose at home.” Then, under Kennedy, it became, “I’m sick of just watching nothing happen at football games.” And this season, he’s yawning and falling asleep. That’s three completely different seasons, each with differing levels of football. I know which I preferred.
If I were to write an article comparing the numbers from those three full seasons—Michael Skubala’s, Mark Kennedy’s, and Michael Appleton’s final one—I think you’d find this has probably been the best of the three (I might, sometime). Sure, we fell one point short of Kennedy’s total and didn’t have the cup run he managed. But this feels like a better Lincoln City side, with more tools and more options to unlock defences.
We just need to do it more consistently if we’re going to improve on our position next season.
Up the Imps.