A decade ago, Lincoln City had just completed their third season in the National League, finishing 14th and below the likes of Salisbury City and Nuneaton.
Fast forward ten years, the club is almost unrecognisable from the dark depths of non-league football. Promotion back to the Football League, an FA Cup quarter-final, a first-ever visit to Wembley and a League Two title are the highlight reel of the decade since.
The Imps have gone from Gary Simpson to Danny Cowley to Michael Skubala in the dugout and supporters have endured the good, the bad and the ugly on the field.
In the 3,702 days since a goal fest at home to Barnet brought the curtain down on the 2013-14 season, attendances at the now LNER Stadium have increased by over 250% and fans have witnessed players who are now gracing the Premier League and international football.
Of all the players to have pulled on the red and white since 2014, who has been the most ‘How have they got him?’ (permanent) signing?
Michael Bostwick
The National League trophy was secure in the cabinet but the club were under pressure to create a Football League-ready squad. Fans were becoming impatient at the lack of transfer activity when they were presented with this mammoth acquisition.
Bostwick had been with League One outfit Peterborough United for five seasons and was their reigning Player of the Year at the time of the switch. What made the drop down the divisions to Sincil Bank more surprising was the reported interest in Bozzie’s services from Blackburn Rovers, recently relegated to League One, and Sheffield United who had earned promotion to the Championship.
The current Boston United captain would go on to make 125 fully committed performances for The Imps, helping the club to EFL Trophy glory and a League Two title win. What is more, his quality and attitude won the hearts of every single Lincoln City fan.
Jason Shackell
Michael Bostwick may be more fondly remembered than his eventual defensive partner Shackell, but few could argue his signing raised eyebrows throughout League Two.
Having spent the entirety of his career in the top two divisions of English football, no one expected the former Burnley man to be the one brought in to replace the departing Luke Waterfall.
Shackell had amassed close to 400 appearances in the Championship and had experienced two seasons in the Premier League when Danny Cowley got his man. He would form an almost watertight defensive partnership with Michael Bostwick, seeing the club concede just 43 times on their way to the title.
Danny and Nicky Cowley
No list from this period of the club’s history would be complete without a mention of two of the men who made it all happen. School teachers by day, deliverers of the impossible by night!
The brothers were on the up, having tasted incredible success with Concord Rangers during their eight-year stay with The Beach Boys before taking part-time Braintree Town to the National League playoffs.
Lincoln City, on the other hand, had just finished the season in 13th spot under Chris Moyses and were in the hunt for a new manager, with Moyses stepping aside. The brothers were hot property in the lower reaches of English football and LN5 proved to be their surprise destination.
The rest, as they say, is history!
Neal Eardley
Heading into their first game back in the Football League after six seasons away, the Imps travelled to Wycombe Wanderers with a problem at left full-back. Sam Hebergham, a mainstay of the previous season, was injured leaving the club short of options.
Step forward, Neal Eardley. With 16 international caps to his name and a Premier League season with Blackpool under his belt, the Welshman was a surprise name on the City team sheet at Wycombe.
Eardley’s career had stalled thanks to injury, only managing 34 appearances across the previous four seasons. Signing for City was a huge decision for the full-back, but one that benefited both the player and the club.
The former Birmingham City man made 140 appearances as the club won the EFL Trophy and League Two title across his three years in red and white.
Those at Adams Park that August afternoon left wondering ‘How have we signed this lad?’
Jorge Grant
Jorge Grant didn’t have the same success with the club as the other names on this list but his signing was something of a coup in July 2019, as City were preparing for their return to League One.
Grant was a highly thought-of youngster at Nottingham Forest and had already made over 15 appearances in the Championship. The attacking midfielder had enjoyed an impressive loan spell across the Trent at Notts County, bagging 15 goals in 45 League Two outings.
Bringing him in was seen as an impressive piece of business from the club, particularly as any fee was believed to be based on appearances and Lincoln’s success rather than an upfront payment.
Unfortunately for City fans, Grant played his best football during the behind-closed-doors Covid period, helping the club to the League One playoff final with 13 goals and seven assists.
The playmaker had left the Imps when supporters were allowed back to matches, joining Peterborough United for a fee believed to be in the region of £500,000 and is currently representing Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership.
Grant’s signing was, on paper, an excellent one for the club and fans will be disappointed to have been kept away from the grounds as he was pulling the strings for a side that got so close to achieving second-tier football.
The last decade has seen massive progress for Lincoln City on and off the field. Changes in the boardroom have accelerated the improvements to the football staff. The highlights include two title wins, a fairytale FA Cup run, a first trip to Wembley and stabilising in League One against clubs with far greater budgets.
That progression has been propelled by the quality of individuals such as those on this list and many more. Who would make your list of signings that took you by surprise?
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