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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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List Of Lincoln City F.C. Seasons
Lincoln City Football Club, an English association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, was founded in 1884. The club's first team won the major regional trophy, the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, in the 1886–87 season, and reached the last 16 of the FA Cup in the same year. In 1888, the club joined the Combination, a league set up to provide organised football for those clubs not invited to join the Football League which was to start the same year. However, the Combination was not well organised and folded in April 1889 with many fixtures still outstanding. Lincoln then became founder members of the Midland League, and won the inaugural league title. After two seasons the club turned professional and joined the Football Alliance; the following year they were elected to the newly formed Second Division of the Football League. Their highest finishing position – fifth in the Second Division – was achieved in 1901–02, and in the same season they reached the last 16 of the FA Cup for the third time. Lincoln failed to gain re-election to the League three times between 1909 and 1920; on each occasion, they won the championship of the league to which they had been demoted, either the Midland League or, in 1912, the Central League, and made an immediate return to the Football League.

In 1921, Lincoln were founder members of the Football League Third Division North, and ten seasons later won the division title, thus gaining promotion to the Second Division, though for one season only. In 1947–48, Lincoln again won the Third Division North title, and again suffered immediate relegation from the Second. On regaining Second Division status three years later they remained in the division until the 1960–61 season, but then suffered consecutive relegations. The club website rates 1975–76 as "by far the most successful season in the club's history". They won the Fourth Division title with a record points total for any division before the introduction of three points for a win, set new Fourth Division records for most wins and fewest defeats, and were undefeated at home, with 21 wins and 2 draws.

For many years, teams finishing at the bottom of the Football League had to apply for re-election to the League for the following season – Lincoln made eleven successful applications – but in the 1986–87 season, automatic promotion and relegation was introduced between the Football Conference, the fifth tier of English football, and the Football League Fourth Division. Lincoln finished bottom of the 1986–87 Fourth Division and thus became the first club automatically relegated from the League. They made an immediate return as Conference champions, and until 2011 spent all but one season in the bottom League division. Lincoln reached the promotion play-offs in five consecutive seasons, between 2003 and 2007, but were unsuccessful on each occasion. The 2006–07 season marked Lincoln's 100th season in the Football League; they were the first club to reach that milestone without ever playing in the top division of the League. After a return of only two points from Lincoln's last 11 games of the 2010–11 season allowed Barnet to overturn an 11-point deficit, they returned to non-League football. Five successive bottom-half finishes in the Conference (renamed the National League for 2015–16) preceded Lincoln's return to the Football League as champions. They combined it with an FA Cup run in which they eliminated three Football League teams, including Championship runners-up Brighton & Hove Albion, before a 1–0 win away to Premier League club Burnley made them the first non-league club since 1913–14 to reach the quarter-finals; in the quarter-final, they lost 5–0 away to Arsenal. In their first season back, they made their first competitive trip to Wembley Stadium, where they beat Shrewsbury Town 1–0 to win the EFL Trophy, and reached the play-offs, in which they lost to Exeter City. They achieved promotion the following season as champions, and two years later reached but lost in the play-off final.

Since their election to the Football League in 1892, Lincoln have spent 36 seasons in the second tier, 35 in the third, 40 in the fourth, and 10 seasons in non-League football. The table details Lincoln City's achievements in senior first-team competition from their first appearance in the FA Cup in 1884–85 to the end of the most recently completed season.

Key

Details of abandoned competitions – The Combination in 1888–89 and the 1939–40 Football League – are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

List of seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results and top scorer
Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Top scorer(s)
Division Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Competition Result Player(s) Goals
1884–85 — — — — — — — — — R3 — — — Walter Fox 2
1885–86 — — — — — — — — — R1 — — — No goalscorer —
1886–87 — — — — — — — — — R5 — — — Billy Gregson 2
1887–88 — — — — — — — — — R3 — — —
1
1888–89 Combination 14 6 2 6 17 19 14 QR1 — — — George Hallam 2
1889–90 Midland 20 16 2 2 75 19 34 1st R2 — — — Frank Smallman 17
1890–91 Midland 18 7 6 5 34 21 20 3rd R1 — — — Isaac Moore 16
1891–92 Alliance 22 6 5 11 37 65 17 9th QR2 — — — John Irving 12
1892–93 Division 2 22 7 3 12 45 51 17 9th QR4 — — — Frank Smallman 19
1893–94 Division 2 28 11 6 11 59 58 28 8th QR2 — — — Don Lees 17
1894–95 Division 2 30 10 0 20 52 92 20 13th QR1 — — — Albert Flewitt 13
1895–96 Division 2 30 9 4 17 53 75 22 13th QR3 — — — Billie Gillespie 15
1896–97 Division 2 30 5 2 23 27 85 12 16th QR5 — — — Billie Gillespie 10
1897–98 Division 2 30 6 5 19 43 82 17 14th QR4 — — — Hugh Robertson 17
1898–99 Division 2 34 12 7 15 51 56 31 12th QR4 — — — Hugh Robertson 22
1899–1900 Division 2 34 14 12 8 46 43 36 9th QR3 — — — Jimmy Hartley 16
1900–01 Division 2 34 13 12 7 43 39 33 8th QR4 — — — Jimmy Hartley 11
1901–02 Division 2 34 14 13 7 45 35 41 5th R2 — — — Tom McInnes 14
1902–03 Division 2 34 12 12 6 46 53 30 10th R1 — — — Jimmy Hartley 12
1903–04 Division 2 34 11 12 8 41 58 30 12th QR3 — — — Freddy Simpson 11
1904–05 Division 2 34 12 12 7 42 40 31 9th R1 — — — Dennis O'Donnell 15
1905–06 Division 2 38 12 12 6 69 72 30 13th R2 — — — Jack Martin 20
1906–07 Division 2 38 12 12 4 46 73 28 19th R2 — — — William Watson 11
1907–08 Division 2 ↓ 38 9 3 26 46 83 21 20th R1 — — — Billy Langham 13
1908–09 Midland ↑ 38 29 5 4 86 38 63 1st R1 — — — Billy Langham 22
1909–10 Division 2 38 10 11 17 42 69 31 15th QR4 — — — William Hunter 8
1910–11 Division 2 ↓ 38 7 10 21 28 72 24 20th QR5 — — — Fred Haycock 6
1911–12 Central ↑ 32 18 12 2 81 30 48 1st R2 — — — Walter Miller 21
1912–13 Division 2 38 15 10 13 50 52 40 8th QR5 — — — Tosh Barrell 13
1913–14 Division 2 38 10 6 22 36 66 26 19th R1 — — — Billy Egerton 7
1914–15 Division 2 38 11 9 18 46 65 31 16th R1 — — — Billy Egerton 14
1915–19
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.
1919–20 Division 2 ↓ 42 9 9 24 44 101 27 21st R1 — — — Billy Chesser 8
1920–21 Midland ↑ 38 27 3 8 95 40 57 1st R2 — — — Pip Rippon 27
1921–22 Division 3N 38 14 6 18 48 59 34 14th QR5 — — — Bob Chambers 12
1922–23 Division 3N 38 13 10 15 39 55 36 13th QR4 — — —
7
1923–24 Division 3N 42 10 12 20 48 59 32 19th QR5 — — —
12
1924–25 Division 3N 42 18 8 16 53 58 44 8th QR5 — — — Harry Pringle 15
1925–26 Division 3N 42 17 5 20 66 82 39 15th R1 — — — Harry Havelock 18
1926–27 Division 3N 42 15 12 15 90 78 42 11th R3 — — — Billy Dinsdale 25
1927–28 Division 3N 42 24 7 11 91 64 55 2nd R3 — — — Billy Dinsdale 29
1928–29 Division 3N 42 21 6 15 91 67 48 6th R3 — — — Billy Dinsdale 24
1929–30 Division 3N 42 17 14 11 83 61 48 5th R2 — — — Harry Roberts 21
1930–31 Division 3N 42 25 7 10 102 59 57 2nd R2 — — — Billy Dinsdale 25
1931–32 Division 3N ↑ 40 26 5 9 106 47 57 1st R2 — — — Allan Hall 45 ♦
1932–33 Division 2 42 12 13 17 72 87 37 18th R3 — — — Allan Hall 23
1933–34 Division 2 ↓ 42 9 8 25 44 75 26 22nd R3 — — — Chick Reed 7
1934–35 Division 3N 42 22 7 13 87 58 51 4th R2 — Football League Third Division North Cup R1 Johnny Campbell 18
1935–36 Division 3N 42 22 9 11 91 51 53 4th R1 — Football League Third Division North Cup SF Johnny Campbell 30
1936–37 Division 3N 42 25 7 10 103 57 57 2nd R2 — Football League Third Division North Cup R1 Johnny Campbell 36
1937–38 Division 3N 42 19 8 15 66 50 46 7th R2 — Football League Third Division North Cup R1 Johnny Campbell 14
1938–39 Division 3N 42 12 9 21 66 92 33 17th R3 — Football League Third Division North Cup DNE Walter Ponting 19
1939–40 Division 3N 3 1 1 1 6 7 3 — — — — Walter Ponting 3
1939–45
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
1945–46 — — — — — — — — — R2 — — — Geoff Marlow 3
1946–47 Division 3N 42 17 5 20 86 87 39 12th R3 — — — Tommy Cheetham 30
1947–48 Division 3N ↑ 42 26 8 8 81 40 60 1st R1 — — — Jimmy Hutchinson 32 ♦
1948–49 Division 2 ↓ 42 8 12 22 53 91 28 22nd R3 — — — Jock Dodds 13
1949–50 Division 3N 42 21 9 12 60 39 51 4th R1 — — — Jock Dodds 21
1950–51 Division 3N 46 25 8 13 89 58 58 5th R1 — — — Johnny Garvie 21
1951–52 Division 3N ↑ 46 30 9 7 121 52 69 1st R3 — — — Andy Graver 39 ♦
1952–53 Division 2 42 11 17 14 64 71 39 15th R3 — — — Andy Graver 18
1953–54 Division 2 42 14 9 19 65 83 37 16th R4 — — — Andy Graver 25
1954–55 Division 2 42 13 10 19 68 79 36 16th R3 — — — Johnny Garvie 13
1955–56 Division 2 42 18 10 14 79 65 46 8th R3 — — — Tommy Northcott 20
1956–57 Division 2 42 14 6 22 54 80 34 18th R3 — — — Tommy Bannan 14
1957–58 Division 2 42 11 9 22 55 82 31 20th R3 — — — Jack Grainger 10
1958–59 Division 2 42 11 7 24 63 93 29 19th R3 — — — Roy Chapman 15
1959–60 Division 2 42 16 7 19 75 78 39 13th R3 — — — John McClelland 18
1960–61 Division 2 ↓ 42 8 8 26 48 95 24 22nd R4 R1 — — Roy Chapman 16
1961–62 Division 3 ↓ 46 9 17 20 57 87 35 22nd R1 R2 — — Brian Punter 8
1962–63 Division 4 46 13 9 24 68 89 35 22nd R3 R2 — — Brian Punter 17
1963–64 Division 4 46 19 9 18 67 75 47 11th R3 R3 — — Alan Morton 21
1964–65 Division 4 46 11 6 29 58 99 28 22nd R3 R1 — — Bud Houghton 11
1965–66 Division 4 46 13 11 22 57 82 37 22nd R1 R1 — — Barry Hutchinson 20
1966–67 Division 4 46 9 13 24 58 82 31 24th R1 R3 — — Roy Chapman 21
1967–68 Division 4 46 17 9 20 71 68 43 13th R1 R4 — — Roger Holmes 17
1968–69 Division 4 46 17 17 12 54 52 51 8th R3 R2 — — Dave Smith 11
1969–70 Division 4 46 17 16 13 66 52 50 8th R2 R1 — — Rod Fletcher 17
1970–71 Division 4 46 13 13 20 70 71 39 21st R3 R3 — — Phil Hubbard 19
1971–72 Division 4 46 21 14 11 77 59 56 5th R1 R3 — — Phil Hubbard 19
1972–73 Division 4 46 16 16 14 64 57 48 10th R1 R1 — — Dixie McNeil 21
1973–74 Division 4 46 16 12 18 63 67 44 12th R1 R1 Watney Cup R1 Dixie McNeil 19
1974–75 Division 4 46 21 15 10 79 48 57 5th R3 R1 — — Sam Ellis 15
1975–76 Division 4 ↑ 46 32 10 4 111 39 74 1st R4 R3 — — John Ward 29
1976–77 Division 3 46 19 14 13 77 70 52 9th R3 R1 — — John Ward 18
1977–78 Division 3 46 15 15 16 53 61 45 16th R1 R2 — — Peter Graham
Mick Harford		 9
1978–79 Division 3 ↓ 46 7 11 28 41 88 25 24th R1 R1 — —
6
1979–80 Division 4 46 18 17 11 64 42 53 7th R1 R1 — — Mick Harford 16
1980–81 Division 4 ↑ 46 25 15 6 66 25 65 2nd R2 R2 — — Gordon Hobson 21
1981–82 Division 3 46 21 14 11 66 40 77 4th R1 R3 Football League Group Cup Group
15
1982–83 Division 3 46 23 7 16 77 51 76 6th R1 R3 Football League Group Trophy F Derek Bell 29
1983–84 Division 3 46 17 10 19 59 62 61 14th R2 R2 Associate Members' Cup R1(N) Gordon Hobson 11
1984–85 Division 3 46 11 18 17 50 51 51 19th R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup SF(N) Gordon Hobson 11
1985–86 Division 3 ↓ 46 10 16 20 55 77 46 21st R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(N)
8
1986–87 Division 4 ↓ 46 12 12 22 45 65 48 24th R1 R2 Associate Members' Cup R1(N) Gary Lund 16
1987–88 Conference ↑ 42 24 10 8 86 48 82 1st R2 —
20
1988–89 Division 4 46 18 10 18 64 60 64 10th R1 R2 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(N) Gordon Hobson 15
1989–90 Division 4 46 18 14 14 48 48 68 10th R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(N) Gordon Hobson 9
1990–91 Division 4 46 14 17 15 50 61 59 14th R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(N) Tony Lormor 13
1991–92 Division 4 42 17 11 14 50 44 62 10th R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(N) Tony Lormor 9
1992–93 Division 3 42 18 9 15 57 53 63 8th R1 R2 Football League Trophy R1(N) Jason Lee 12
1993–94 Division 3 42 12 11 19 52 63 47 18th R2 R2 Football League Trophy SF(N) David Johnson 13
1994–95 Division 3 42 15 11 16 54 55 56 12th R3 R2 Football League Trophy R2(N)
8
1995–96 Division 3 46 13 14 19 57 73 53 18th R1 R1 Football League Trophy QF(N) Gareth Ainsworth 13
1996–97 Division 3 46 18 12 16 70 69 66 9th R1 R3 Football League Trophy R2(N) Gareth Ainsworth 24
1997–98 Division 3 ↑ 46 20 15 11 60 51 75 3rd R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1(N) Lee Thorpe 14
1998–99 Division 2 ↓ 46 13 7 26 42 74 46 23rd R3 R1 Football League Trophy SF(N)
10
1999–2000 Division 3 46 15 14 17 67 69 59 15th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R2(N) Lee Thorpe 17
2000–01 Division 3 46 12 15 19 58 66 51 18th R2 R1 Football League Trophy F(N) Lee Thorpe 13
2001–02 Division 3 46 10 16 20 44 62 46 22nd R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1(N) Lee Thorpe 13
2002–03 Division 3 46 18 16 12 46 37 70 6th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(N) Ben Futcher 11
2003–04 Division 3 46 19 17 10 68 47 74 7th R2 R1 Football League Trophy QF(N) Gary Taylor-Fletcher 19
2004–05 League 2 46 20 12 14 64 47 72 6th R1 R2 Football League Trophy R1(N) Simon Yeo 23
2005–06 League 2 46 15 21 10 65 53 66 7th R1 R2 Football League Trophy R1(N) Marvin Robinson 11
2006–07 League 2 46 21 11 14 70 59 74 5th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1(N) Jamie Forrester 18
2007–08 League 2 46 18 4 24 61 77 58 15th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(N) Ben Wright 15
2008–09 League 2 46 14 17 15 53 52 59 13th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(N) Adrian Pătulea 11
2009–10 League 2 46 13 11 22 42 65 50 20th R3 R1 Football League Trophy R1(N) Davide Somma 9
2010–11 League 2 ↓ 46 13 8 25 45 81 47 23rd R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1(N) Ashley Grimes 17
2011–12 Conference 46 13 10 23 56 66 49 17th QR4 — FA Trophy R2 Sam Smith 9
2012–13 Conference 46 15 11 20 66 73 56 16th R2 — FA Trophy R1 Jamie Taylor 16
2013–14 Conference 46 17 14 15 60 59 65 14th R1 — FA Trophy R3 Ben Tomlinson 20
2014–15 Conference 46 16 10 20 62 71 58 15th R1 — FA Trophy R1 Ben Tomlinson 14
2015–16 National 46 16 13 17 69 68 61 13th R1 — FA Trophy R1 Matt Rhead 23
2016–17 National ↑ 46 30 9 7 83 40 99 1st QF — FA Trophy SF Matt Rhead 15
2017–18 League 2 46 20 15 11 64 48 75 7th R1 R1 EFL Trophy W Matt Green 17
2018–19 League 2 ↑ 46 23 16 7 73 43 85 1st R3 R2 EFL Trophy R2 John Akinde 17
2019–20 League 1 35 12 6 17 44 46 42 16th R1 R2 EFL Trophy R1(N) Tyler Walker 16
2020–21 League 1 46 22 11 13 69 50 77 5th R2 R3 EFL Trophy SF
17
2021–22 League 1 46 14 10 22 55 63 52 17th R2 R1 EFL Trophy R2(N) Anthony Scully 15
2022–23 League 1 46 14 20 12 47 47 62 11th R1 R4 EFL Trophy QF Ben House 13
2023–24 League 1 46 20 14 12 65 40 74 7th R1 R3 EFL Trophy R2 Joe Taylor 13