We scribes of the Imps are sitting here crying into our inkwells as everyone waxes over Sanchez doing it again with Barnet. He of course came here Wycombe Comanche and all and relegated us 1-0 last century.
But take heart Imps, for we are a proud City with a proud football side. Our invention of the tank and the Dambusters have helped this country win 2 world wars. Our cathedral is the 8th wonder of the world. Indeed back in the 50's the Mighty Imps were regarded as anything but little Lincoln and have every right to argue we have the far more deserving pedigree.
Fabulous 50’s Part 2.
Bill Anderson’s Mighty Imps we were more than just scoring Lincoln in the 50’s. Ok to be fare we did try to out score teams a bit like today’s side. On a limited budget we did however more than hold our own against sides attracting two to three times our 16,000 average.
1950-51 FL-3N 46 25 8 13 89 58 58 5/24
1951-52 FL-3N 46 30 9 7 121 52 69 1/24
1952-53 FL-2 42 11 17 14 64 71 39 15/22
1953-54 FL-2 42 14 9 19 65 83 37 16/22
1954-55 FL-2 42 13 10 19 68 79 36 16/22
1955-56 FL-2 42 18 10 14 79 65 46 8/22
1956-57 FL-2 42 14 6 22 54 80 34 18/22
1957-58 FL-2 42 11 9 22 55 82 31 20/22
1958-59 FL-2 42 11 7 24 63 93 29 19/22
1959-60 FL-2 42 16 7 19 75 78 39 13/22
Bill Anderson our longest serving manager was the wheeler-dealer maestro, turning seedlings or rejects into gold to fund our heyday. It was his tireless travelling, talent spotting and negotiating skills that allowed Lincoln to punch well above their weight, compared to the big clubs around them. To Bill every player had a price, a realistic rational more than a mercenary one. The press labelled him “Soccer's Mr Magic", "the game's shrewdest manager", "the No.1 Bargain Hunter", and even "Bi££ Anderson!" He was shrewd building relationships with Newcastle and Sheffield United. One thing is for sure he is Lincoln through and through. When Notts County offered him the earth he simply said “I am happy at Lincoln, and you cannot measure that in cash. Money isn't everything - I have built my whole life round Lincoln City, and the directors are 100% behind me in anything I do." Although he was on a lower salary at Lincoln he regularly received large bonuses when the financial situation allowed and lived rent-free in his house in Scorer Street from the mid-1950s.
Some of the heroes
BOB JACKSON ( 5/6/1934) Right Back/ left Half Back. Good in the air with a tackle that would have Nobby stiles searching for his false teeth. Believe it or not City had to give him up to the army for national service for two years. (1955/56-1963/64 235 aps 0 goals)
BERT LINNECOR (30.11.1933). Left half/inside-left. Came in to help us avoid the drop in 57 going on to score a hatrick at Anfield the following season. 1956/57-1963/64 264 aps 52 goals)
Tommy Northcott (5/12/31) replacing the great Andy Graver as centre forward Tommy was the Stallard of the fifties. Strong tough with a shot and header like a bullet.
(1955/56-1957/58 94 aps 34 goals)
RON HARBUTSEN (23/12/29) Centre/ right inside forward. The Imps looked doomed in 57-58, until Bill Anderson signed a messiah. Ron repaid him with nine goals in our last 11 matches in 1958 to preserve our Div 2 status. We tried to repeat the trick in 61/62 but every dog has its day.
1957/58-1959/60, 1961/62 86 aps 25 goals)
JIMMY MUNRO 25/3/1926 –97) a real right-winger with the pace to beat Achilles and a cross that would take out vampires. We had many goal scorers in the fifties but this was the bloke who supplied the ammo. (52/53-57/58 161 aps 24 goals)
DOUG GRAHAM (15/7/21 – 1993) Full back who took no prisoners in an era when full blooded football was a mans game. (1951/52-1956/57 182 aps 0 goals)
BOBBY OWEN (5/5/24 –10/99) a clever tough tackling left half.
46/47-1954/55 aps 246 goals 5
Horace Green a no nonsense right back who blasted in the penalties. (24/3/18-2000)
(48/49-1954/55 aps 212 goals 14)
JOHN McCLELLAND 05.03.1935 another great right winger 1958/59-1961/62 121 aps 32 goals)
George Hanna 11/12/28-5/5/90) Regarded by older Imps as one of our most skilfull players ever. Newcastle discarded him, we had him for two halves of two superb seasons before Man Cvity took him back to the top flight. A player who scored the winner in the 55 FA Cup final (57/58-58/59 38 aps 4 goals)
ROY CHAPMAN18.03.1934-1983) Forward
1957/58-1960/61, 1964/65-1966/67 175 aps 77 goals)
DICK NEAL (1/10/33)left half54/55-1956/57, 1963/64-1964/65 156 Aps 15 Goals
HARRY TROOPS (02.1926 –63) Outside-right/left-back (1949/50-1957/58 295 aps 32 goals)
FRED MIDDLETON (02.08.1930) Wing-half (1954/55-1962/63 300 aps 16 goals)