LINCOLN CITY v BANET
Skrill
Premier League
Saturday
26th April 2014
Kick
Off 5.30 pm
Stadium:
Sincil Bank Stadium, Lincoln,
Lincolnshire, LN5 8LD
Telephone:
01522 880011
Club
Colours: Red and White
Nickname:
The Imps
Official
Website: www.redimps.co.uk
Key
Personnel:
Gary
Simpson is in his second spell as manager at Sincil Bank and has been
at the helm since February 2013. Gary was assistant to the late great
Keith Alexander at many clubs. He had a long mainly non league career
as a midfielder with Boston United, Altrincham and Stafford Rangers
amongst others. Gary has had managerial experience at Gainsborough
Trinity. Lincoln City and Macclesfield.
 |
| Gary Simpson |
Brief
Directions by Road:
The
trusty old A1 is the route for this one - remember the A1 is your
friend! From the A1 take the A46 signposted Lincoln and after approx.
10 miles look out for a roundabout and take the A1434 signposted
Lincoln South (Newark Road). From this point simply follow the signs
for Lincoln City Centre/Worksop A57 (the road is re labelled the
B1190) and you will be directed to the ground which is situated in
Sincil Bank.
Car
Parking:
There
is limited parking at the ground, which is taken quite early, but
local streets are pretty unrestricted. When travelling in on the
A1434, and in Lincoln itself, look out for the available parking on
South Common on your right (where the road junctions the A15 from the
left). It resembles a big park and there is a nominal charge. Allow
yourself a good 10-15 minute walk to the ground from here but it will
allow a more straightforward access to the main outward arterial road
when on the way home.
Directions
by Train:
Lincoln
Central Station is a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. Turn left out
of the station and left again into the High Street. Stay on the High
Street over the level crossing where you will eventually find Scorer
Street. The first right off Scorer Street is Sincil Bank. A taxi will
cost around £5.50 and they are plentiful directly outside the
station.
The
Bus Station can be found opposite the Grand Hotel about 100 yards
from the station. From here most buses run along the high Street
towards the ground.
Eating
and Drinking Locally:
My
ever reliable sources tell me that the best pubs close to the ground
are all on the High Street just 5-10 minutes walk away. The Golden
Eagle listed by CAMRA and on the junction of Spencer Street is great
for real ales and bar grub. The Wetherspoons outlet The Ritz is a
cracker and can be found at 143 High Street while a few doors down
the Anchor is a well worth a drop in.
However
the Reckless Recommendation once once again the superb Pyewipe Inn
which is situated on the A46 Lincoln by pass junction with A57. The
ground is well signposted from here as well.
www.pyewipeinnlincoln.co.uk
 |
| The Pyewipe Inn |
The
Pyewipe backs onto the Fossdyke Navigation Canal. I have stopped here
on four occasions now for a pre match session and it gets better
every time. The menu is extensive and very inexpensive and the pub is
in a lovely setting. No chicken nuggets or scampi in a basket, or
soup in a basket for that matter here folks.
Example Home made
Steak and Kidney Pudding with mashed potato, red wine gravy and
vegetables followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding and Vanilla Custard for
a shade over 12 notes – considering the quality and the
surroundings yeah that will do nicely.
Social
Club:
The
Trust Suite is the new name for the old Centre Spot social club.
Visiting fans are made welcome before and after the game.
In the past
from personal experiences and reports from fans that the social
facilities at Sincil Bank are some of the friendliest around and the
food inside is legendary. The Hot Pork Roll (with stuffing and apple
sauce optional) should not be missed. It can be found under the South
Park Stand – the Trust Suite that is not the “Hot Pork Roll”
you understand!
Ground
Description:
The
1,400 capacity main or Lincolnshire Echo stand is both tall and
narrow and only fills about half of the touchline. It was originally
planned to utilise the whole of one side but Lincoln were a
non-league club when it was constructed in 1987 and finances didn’t
allow. If you look closely you will see its design, exposed steelwork
and open screen ends, which allows for extension. A well-known west
country football ground site likened it to a scaffolding tower – a
bit harsh! Immediately to its left is the small token Family Stand.
Opposite is the Co-op Community Stand constructed in 1995 to replace
the old open Sincil Bank Terrace. It is a tall single tier of covered
seating. It can hold up to 5,500 in total.
To
the right is the Stacy-West Stand, named in memory of two Lincoln
fans who perished in the Valley Parade Bradford fire in 1985, which
is a bank of covered terracing which was converted to seating in
1999.
Finally to the left is the
Bridge McFarland Stand built in 1992. It has six rows
of covered turquoise seats with 17 executive boxes on top and will be
our home for the afternoon. All this gives Sincil Bank a healthy
11,000 plus capacity.
 |
| Bridge McFarland Stand |
Admission
Prices:
Adults £16,
Concessions £11,
Under 18's
£7
Previous
Meetings and Memories:
Our
last visit in September 2010 was very forgettable as the Bees came
away with a 0-1 defeat. At
Underhill in October 2000 sensationally the Bees came from 0-3 down
to win 4-3! Stuart “The Heed” Niven, Warren Goodhind, Tony
Richards and Omar Riza scored the goals.
Three other games come
immediately to mind - the two infamous meetings in the 1987/8
Conference season when the Bees won 4-2 at Underhill (Dave Sansom (3)
and Nicky Evans)
 |
| Nicky Evans |
 |
| Dave Sansom |
The return was lost 1-2 in one of the most
officially biased and intimidating atmospheres I have ever had the
misfortune to endure. Noel Ashford and Herbie Smith were dismissed
for the Bees on an evening that featured a very rare goal from
Skipper Kevin Millett.
 |
| Herbie Smith "Legend" |
 |
| Noel Ashford |
The third game is the complete demolition of
an Imps side at Sincil Bank in September 1991. The 6 goals, without a
reply, came from an own goal, Gary Bull (2), Harry Willis, Frank
Murphy and Nicky Evans - marvellous!
Celebrity
Watch and Odds and Ends:
Actors
John Hurt and Jim Broadbent both hail from these parts while Poet
Laureate Alfred Tennyson was born just up the road in Somersby. On
the sporting front ex Leeds and Nottm Forest striker Lee Chapman was
born in Lincoln while local kids are careful not to slog their
cricket ball into local resident Australian Umpire Darrell Hair’s
garden just in case something happens to the ball!
My
favourite dry biscuit has always been the Lincoln Biscuit, with its
dotted concentric circle like topping. You know the one from the
Shortcake family of biscuits. Do you “dunk” yours in your tea? I
have never been able to bring myself to do that! By the way there is
no evidence whatsoever that these biscuits originate from this part
of the world but it would have been a good story. I could go on about
Lincolnshire Plum Bread or Sausages but this is reputedly a
football-based guide for heaven sake. See you there! |
| The Lincoln Biscuit |
I
would like to thank everybody for putting up with my Reckless Guides ramblings for
another season and I am afraid they will be back next season. I also
hope these guides have been of some help. I have made the odd error I
admit and for those you have my apologies. Reckless. (Put the kettle on!)
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