Pod is back this Saturday!
Come to the fan pod at the LNER Stadium this Saturday before the game with Arsenal U21s and one of our features will be a presentation on the late great Keith Alexander!
Congratuations Charlie – the RICT Fan of the Season!
The Red Imps Community Trust is delighted to announce that our Fan of the Season for 23-24 is Charlie Beeston. We received many nominations for Charlie and our panel had no hesitation in choosing him to be the fourth winner of our Fan of the Season award.
Charlie has been a prominent advocate for better facilities for blind or partially sighted supporters at football matches and had much influence in the setting up of an Audio Descriptive Commentary system at the LNER stadium. He has also contributed to the setting up and running of the Disabled Supporters Association at Lincoln City. Many Imps fans will also know of Charlie from his entertaining podcast and other media activities. Other fans were the subject of nominations of course and with some extremely close to winning. In the end it was Charlie Beeston who we selected and he’s a very worthy recipient of our Fan of the Season silver salver.
VACANCY FOR THE TRUST’S FAN-ELECTED DIRECTOR ON THE CLUB…
At our recent Annual General Meeting, only one nomination had been received by the due date for the election of our representative on the Board of Directors of Lincoln City Football Club. Unfortunately, three days before the AGM, the nominee withdrew his application for medical reasons. We wish him well with his treatment and recovery.
The Trust Board plans to call an online Special General Meeting (provisionally arranged for 7pm on Wednesday 11/09/24), so that the vacancy can be filled. Further details will be confirmed in due course.
In the meantime, we must seek nominations for that role, a description of which can be found by clicking on “The Trust” tab at the top of this page, followed by “Trust Documentation” and then “Trust Roles”. The successful candidate must satisfy two requirements before taking office. First, the EFL’s Owners & Directors’ Test must be passed. Secondly, the Club’s Board of Directors must approve the appointment. Those matters will be dealt with following the SGM. Rob Bradley, the previous incumbent, will happily provide any more information that may be required: he can be contacted via email at media@redimpstrust.co.uk.
Nominations forms can be downloaded from this link.
Completed forms must be received by Steve Freestone, the Trust Secretary, by midnight on Tuesday 13/08/24, which is the day of the Carabao Cup match against Harrogate Town.
Latest Trust Minutes Available
Minutes from the last 2 Trust Meetings in June are now available via this link
Rob’s Column – July 2024
with thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo.
Whilst it’s still the EFL close season, we can now say with great enthusiasm that the Imps will soon be in action. This month in fact. Their first friendly is on Friday 12th against Preston North End. However it takes place in Spain, and it’s early August before we’ll be at the LNER stadium for a home fixture, with Arsenal U21s coming to town. That’s only less than a month away though.
The club figured very highly in the EFL Family Excellence Awards coming top in League One and third overall. Our Trust gang like to think we contributed to that a little bit by what we provide on a match-day in the Fan Village.
Since we opened our very professional RICT Pod at the start of the year we’ve had much more opportunity to put on things that both help and entertain Imps fans. The marquee we had was OK but trapping your fingers during its erection and holding it down in high winds were risks we could do without. Our new base is now kitted out inside with display shelving and a counter, with the electrics we need being installed next. As such we can now do even more in the hours leading up to a home fixture.
We have a heritage remit that’s up to now included our online museum and the installation of plaques to recognise iconic Lincoln City landmarks.
Starting with the Gunners game we’ll have a new initiative – a mini-exhibition in the pod – this time featuring the great man Keith Alexander. There’ll be a number interesting items on show all relating to Keith and his time here. This will be available for the first few home games so come and have a look. Further interesting features like this will be put on throughout the season.
Fan engagement is a golden thread running through all that our Trust does, and our Fan Village actions are a part of that. You can meet the people that take your views direct into the club itself, there’s freebie items for younger supporters, collectible programmes are available to browse through, we run competitions with decent prizes, you can join the Trust if you haven’t already, and there’s much more.
And to let you into a secret….we do all this because it’s good fun. What better before the contest kicks off than banter, talking about all things Lincoln City, and friends meeting up.
When the new season starts come along to the Fan Village for a beer and a burger and bring them to the Trust Pod to see us and what we have to offer. You’ll be very welcome.
Seated Chair Exercise Classes at the Foundation
Our Trust’s official charity partner for 2024, Lincoln City Foundation, has developed
an incredibly impressive range of initiatives for the benefit of the entire community,
including Lincoln City fans. We highlight here another of those initiatives: Seated
Chair Exercise Classes.
WHAT ARE SEATED CHAIR EXERCISE CLASSES?
Classes in which the participants exercise, while sitting in a chair! They are light-
hearted sessions, focused on having fun, getting moving and keeping active,
regardless of age and fitness levels. Safe and achievable workouts don’t just improve
physical health: they also benefit mental health by connecting with new people,
increasing self-esteem, reducing stress, improving mood, tackling depression and
anxiety and enabling better sleep.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE SEATED CHAIR EXERCISE CLASSES HELD?
Every Friday, from 10.00am to 11.00am in the new Co-op Community Hub, behind
the Stacey West Stand at the LNER Stadium, Sincil Bank, Lincoln LN5 8LD.
Fortnightly on Tuesdays, from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Welton Village Hall, 51 Ryland
Road, Welton LN2 3LU.
DO PLACES HAVE TO BE BOOKED FOR SEATED CHAIR EXERCISE CLASSES?
No, you can just turn up on the day.
HOW MUCH DO SEATED CHAIR EXERCISE CLASSES COST?
£2 per session, to be paid on the day.
HOW CAN MORE INFORMATION BE OBTAINED?
Please contact the Foundation, either by calling/texting 07305 108167 or by using
the online form at https://www.lincolncityfoundation.com/ethfitness.
HOW CAN DONATIONS BE MADE TO HELP SEATED CHAIR EXERCISE CLASSES?
There are numerous ways to support the Foundation financially, including before all
home games via a collection bucket that can be found in the Trust’s Pod in the
University of Lincoln Fan Village.
Recent AGM News
At our recent Annual General Meeting of the Trust, we would like to welcome three new members of the Trust Board – Biff Bean, Julian Buttery and Emma Crellin.
We’d also like to thank Mark Hodds who has left the Trust Board for his work during his tenure involved.