In the long history of the Imps, few afternoons have descended into the kind of chaos seen on 4th April 1998 at Moss Rose.
Known now simply as ‘The Battle of Moss Rose,’ it remains one of the most infamous chapters in the club’s modern era—a day of fury, violence, and consequence that left a lasting mark on both the team’s promotion push and its public image.
City travelled to Macclesfield that spring Saturday still harbouring hopes of automatic promotion. Just five points separated us from second-placed Torquay, four the gap between us and third-placed Scarborough, plus we had a game in hand. With the end of the season drawing near, the clash at Moss Rose had all the hallmarks of a pivotal encounter.
It turned out to be just that—but for all the wrong reasons.
From the first whistle, tension crackled in the air. Both sides had promotion ambitions, and both knew the importance of the occasion. The first half was aggressive but just about controlled. However, even during the interval, signs of impending unrest began to surface. Macclesfield’s mascot, Rory the Lion, was seen making goading gestures towards the travelling Lincoln fans and was eventually led away by police. While amusing in its absurdity, it signalled a boiling point being reached.
Shortly before the hour mark, chaos truly erupted. A loose ball in the City penalty area triggered a mass confrontation. Players from both sides flew into a melee of kicks and punches. Amid the pandemonium, goalkeeper Barry Richardson was seen aiming a kick at a grounded Macclesfield player, Steve Payne, while managers, stewards, and even police officers rushed onto the pitch.
Referee Eddie Lomas, understandably overwhelmed, consulted his assistant and issued two red cards: one to Richardson and one to Macclesfield’s Ben Sedgmore. That was all. In truth, several others should have followed.
With City down to ten men and without a recognised keeper, defender Jon Whitney pulled on the gloves and performed admirably. He kept the Imps in the game with a string of saves and, remarkably, Lincoln almost nicked it—Paul Miller had a glorious chance late on but shot too close to Ryan Price.
Then came the cruel blow. Terry Fleming lost possession in his own box in the final minutes, and Steve Wood pounced to seal a 1-0 win for Macclesfield. City slipped to seventh and automatic promotion hopes hung in the balance.
Caretaker boss Shane Westley attempted to remain composed post-match, praising his side’s spirit but acknowledging the brawl’s implications.
“Of course, losing our goalkeeper was the last thing we needed. I won’t comment on the incident yet because I didn’t see exactly what happened. We’ll have to look at the video and see if we need to take any action… Certainly incidents like that have no part on a football field.”
But action did come. Chairman John Reames wasted little time. After reviewing the footage, Richardson was handed the heaviest fine possible by the club and a three-match suspension followed from the FA. Reames didn’t hold back.
“I don’t think there can be any dispute about what happened. It was totally unprovoked and that sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. Barry Richardson will be severely punished.”
It was an incident that didn’t just affect the team on the pitch. The match also sparked allegations of racial abuse and heavy-handed policing. Fans reported being pushed with batons, harassed by officials, and racially charged abuse aimed at Lincoln’s Black players. Supporters took to radio phone-ins and newspapers to register complaints, with some saying they would never return to Moss Rose.
Richardson later broke his silence, admitting fault but offering an emotional explanation. He claimed racial slurs were directed at his teammates, particularly Kevin Austin, and said hearing one just before the brawl caused him to snap.
“I’m not trying to excuse what I did or condone it in any way, but people should know what had gone on… We’re a close-knit team and when you see your mates subjected to that sort of treatment, it’s hard to take.”
His honesty won some sympathy, but the damage was done. Richardson would play just once more that season, in a 1-1 Easter Monday draw with Hartlepool.
Despite the setback, City’s promotion challenge remarkably stayed on course. With Richardson suspended, John Vaughan stepped in and helped steady the ship. City responded by beating Peterborough United 3-0, then Exeter City 2-1, Steve Holmes netting twice, to move into play-off contention.
A draw at Darlington, courtesy of late heroics from Terry Fleming, followed by a dramatic 2-1 win over Brighton on the final day, secured automatic promotion. Goals from Fleming and Thorpe, along with the vital result in Orient’s 2-1 win over Torquay, sealed it.
The Battle of Moss Rose could have derailed the season. Instead, it became a defining moment of character and resilience. In many ways, it was everything football shouldn’t be. But for Lincoln City, it was also a test of resolve—one they ultimately passed.