I know, I’ve milked the Chelsea stuff, but this feels like a big moment for me and my family.
I’ve said how, as a kid, I was also a Luton fan, and we played them Saturday, so to now face Chelsea days later, my Dad’s second team and my brother’s (and nephew’s) team, feel massive. That’s why I’ve hammered the content, because it’s so rare and I feel like I have a special interest beyond just being a Lincoln City fan.
Tonight, we face Chelsea in the League Cup. History is on our side – we’ve never lost a cup tie against the Blues, and it’s been nearly 117 years since they scored at Sincil Bank. Our last outing against them was a 0-0 draw, the report for which is outlined below.
Chelsea were managed by David Calderhead, the former Imps manager who masterminded our last win against the Blues, They were so impressed by the Scot, they took him as their manager, and he was tasked with returning them to the First Division following their relegation in 1910/11.
It started well in terms of games against us – they hammered us 7-0 in the first game. Clem Jackson was carried off with an injury, and in the days before subs, we soldiered on with ten men, but were expectedly beaten.
By the time they came to the Bank in March 1911, they were en route to the top flight, and we were to be relegated two months later. Still, City drew out a fine 0-0 draw, something to be proud of. Sadly, four defeats followed against Clapham Orient, Blackpool, Glossop and Bolton, plus three on the spin at the end of the season against West Brom, Wolves and Hull.
Mind you, Chelsea had a reported squad of 35, whereas City had fielded 23 players up until that point, eight of which were no longer at the club.
