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The Red Imps Community Trust and Trust Community Engagement Lead Biff Bean looks forward to working alongside Conor Broughton from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Team and promote the importance of getting screened every 2 years for those who are 50 to 74.
Conor will be coming to the RICT Pod in the Fan Village for the Doncaster Rovers game tomorrow (15 November 2025).
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Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in October 2025.
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A limited second run of the first edition of Impress, the new Progzine made by fans of the club for fans of the club will be available from the Red Imps Community Trust pod this Saturday.
This will be the last chance to get an issue of the first edition before the second one is out later this month!
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Courtesy of the Lincolnshire Echo
If Lincoln City were to sign Jack Grealish on loan tomorrow with Everton still paying his wages, it’d be reasonable to assume most Imps fans would be in favour. Even so, there’d be a small minority not so sure. He’d be targeted by opposing defenders or our players wouldn’t be on his wavelength, they might say. Conversely, if we offered several hundred thousand for a Staveley Miners Welfare FC thirty-nine year old centre half with dodgy knees, there’d be a huge majority scratching their heads but a minority very pleased, even if most of that minority was the lad’s family.
I cite these unlikely situations to show that the club regularly set strategies and make decisions that can please nearly all of us but it’s rarely absolutely everyone who’s on board.
When the idea to cease production of a matchday programme was mooted our Trust, with two reps in the boardroom, agreed that on balance that was sensible. Clubs up and down the country are doing the same.
A number of supporters were unhappy though. A programme was, as it had been for many years, both a source of information and a keepsake of the match they attended.
Our Trust facilitated meetings with fans about it all. Surveys were carried out. Further discussion ensued with club staff. When it was clear the decision could not be reversed the challenge was put – ‘if you’re that miffed why not produce one yourselves?’
So it was that ‘Impress’ – a new ‘progzine’ with the strapline ‘By the fans for the fans’ – was launched prior to the Stevenage fixture. Co-editors Melanie Tointon and Phil Bradley developed it and sought contributions. Nervousness about its prospects soon abated when it sold out in about an hour and a half.
The next challenge is to keep it going and make it a sustainable project. But whilst the club made a decision that many supported it shows that a keen minority can achieve a lot if they have the will to do so.
Whether or not ‘Impress’ proves to be impressive in content and longevity, you have to admire the determination of fans to get it up and running. People power, especially in football, can make an impression, and you’ve got to admire that.
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Votes open until 3pm UK time on Saturday
This poll is no longer accepting votes
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The atmosphere generated by Imps fans, both at the LNER Stadium and at all away matches, plays a huge part in making games such enjoyable occasions. Long may that continue to be the case.
The Red Imps Community Trust unreservedly supports the fundamental principle that there is absolutely no room whatsoever for any form of discrimination in football. The Trust was therefore saddened to read Liam Scully’s statement that the club is being investigated by the FA for alleged discriminatory chanting at the Chelsea game, having been fined £8,500 for two similar incidents at the Wrexham game at the end of last season.
The Trust welcomes Liam’s statement that the club is committed to eradicating negative behaviour through a combination of education and sanctions. Such an approach has the Trust’s wholehearted endorsement.
We can all show our support for the team, without resorting to discriminatory chanting. Up the Imps!
The Red Imps Community Trust, Thursday 23 October 2025
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Conor McGrandles was awarded yesterday the Red Imps Community Trust Player of the Month award – presented here by Trust volunteer Stan.
photograph courtesy Graham Burrell
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Thanks to Donald Nannestad
John Kennedy
John Kennedy made over 250 appearances in goal for City after signing for the Imps in July 1967. John’s career began in his native Northern Ireland with the Distillery club. During his time there he played for the Northern Ireland and Great Britain amateur international teams and for the Irish League representative team. In 1965 he signed for Celtic where he played most of his football in the reserves before moving to Sincil Bank in the summer of 1967. He was first choice goalkeeper throughout his seven seasons with City and along with his fellow guests George and Roger he was a member of the team which reached the fourth round of the League Cup in 1967-68 a feat never since bettered. He was the first player to win the Player of the Season award when it started in 1969-70. John was one of the last part-time players to feature regularly for the Imps combining his football career with teaching and training during his lunch break. John left Sincil Bank in the summer of 1974 and had a couple of seasons with Lincoln United who then played in the Yorkshire League. In his first season with United the club reached the quarter finals of the FA Vase with John in goal and a young Phil Neale playing at centre forward. He is involved with our Former Players Association as a committee member.
Debut vs Aldershot, home 19 August 1967
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 251 appearances
FA Cup: 10 appearances
Football League Cup: 16 appearances
Other: 1 appearance
Phil Neale
Phil Neale was a member of the Imps hugely successful 1975-76 team and went on to make over 350 first team appearances during his 11 seasons with the Imps. Phil was first signed as an amateur while he was studying at Leeds University making his first team debut in January 1975. He signed professional forms for City later the same year and from then onwards he was a regularly in the first team defence before leaving Sincil Bank in May 1985. Phil combined his football with a career as a cricketer. He briefly played for Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship before joining Worcestershire. He made over 350 first class appearances scoring over 17,000 runs for Worcestershire and twice captained the team to the County Championship. He was team manager of Northamptonshire and then Warwickshire before being the England team operations manager for 21 years until his retirement. He was awarded the OBE in 2006 for services to cricket.
Debut vs Swindon Town, away (FA Cup), 4 January 1975 as substitute
Lincoln City Record:
Football League: 327 appearances plus 8 as substitute, 22 goals
FA Cup: 16 appearances plus 2 as substitute
Football League Cup: 11 appearances plus 1 as substitute
Other Games: 4 appearances
Trevor Swinburne
Trevor Swinburne began his long goalkeeping career as an apprentice with Sunderland in the late 1960s and finished it with the Imps 20 years later. During his time at Sunderland he was understudy to Jim Montgomery and made several first team appearances before moving on to Carlisle United in the summer of 1977. Trevor made over 250 first team appearances for Carlisle and then played for Brentford and Leeds United before signing for City in February 1986. Trevor made regular appearances for the Imps until retiring in the summer of 1987. He is a member of the Former Players Association committee and was the Association’s first chairman when it was formed in 2017.
Debut vs Blackpool, away 25 February 1986
Lincoln City Record
Football League: 34 appearances
Football League Cup: 3 appearances
Football League Trophy: 3 appearances
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Lincoln City Foundation, the permanent charity partner of Red Imps Community Trust, is recruiting sessional/casual staff to support some of its community delivery. Further information can be found on its website. Paid roles currently available include:-
There are also vacancies for volunteers, including as Poacher/Poacher’s Assistant. You can also email enquiries@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk about limited work experience opportunities.
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Please click here to view notes of the Trust Board Meeting held in September 2025.