The 2021–22 Lincoln City F.C. season is the club's 138th season in their history and their third consecutive season in EFL League One. Along with League One, the club will also participate in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Season overview May On 28 May, they announced their home shirt for the 2021–22 season, confirming that the shirt would feature five sponsors across the season.
June On 17 June, during the off-season, Harvey Jabara became a nine percent shareholder in Lincoln City Holdings, investing an initial “high six-figure” sum into the Imps. As part of the development, former USA international Landon Donovan joined the Imps as a Strategic Advisor, working with the Board, to enhance the Clubs network and relationships, particularly within North America.
Also on 17 June, they announced their first of five shirt sponsors for the season, Virgin Wines.
On 25 June, it was confirmed that Ian Reeve would step down as a director and board member after six-years with the club.
Also on 25 June, it was confirmed that Craig Housley has joined the club as Head Groundsman.
July On 6 July, Lincoln City announced their new group of First-Year Scholars, who include; Sam Green, Nathan Kabeya, Darryl Powell, Osei Boffah, Oisin Gallagher, Harry Dale, Theo Mussell, Kyrell Wheatley and Tayo Alexander-Tucker.
On 13 July, manager Michael Appleton announced that he would be taking a few weeks off following routine surgery, after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer a few weeks earlier.
On 30 July, the club announced their new away shirt for the 2021–22 season, with it being sponsored by SRP Hire Solutions.
August On 3 August, the club announced a new brand partnership with EQVVS for the upcoming season.
On 4 August, the club announced their squad number for the 2021–22 season.
On 5 August, it was announced that Imps chief executive Liam Scully, had been appointed chair of the EFL Trust, officially taking up the role in September 2021.
On 25 August, the game against Rotherham United had to be rearranged due to international call ups.
On 26 August, Elicha Ahui joined the first-year scholars program.
September On 17 September, ex-player Jack Hobbs would return to his first club on an assistant coaching role working with the academy's Shadow Scholarship programme.
On 18 September, it was confirmed that Virgin Wines would no longer be the shirt sponsor after the Ipswich Town game.
On 29 September, Light Source became the second of five home shirt sponsors for the season.
On 30 September, the game against Wigan Athletic was postponed due to international call ups.
October On 1 October, the club launched their third kit for the season.
November On 1 November, the game against Sunderland was postponed due to international call ups.
On 23 November, Buildbase became the third of five home shirt sponsors across the season.
December On 14 December, it was confirmed that Chris Travers had returned to the clubs board.
On 16 December, their upcoming game against Doncaster Rovers was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at the visitors.
On 28 December, their upcoming game against Rotherham United was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 inside the Imps squad.
On 30 December, their upcoming game against Ipswich Town was postponed due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19 inside the Imps squad.
January On 18 January, their rearranged game against Rotherham United was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
On 26 January, University of Lincoln became the fourth of five home shirt sponsors for the season.
On 27 January, the club published their annual accounts for the year ending June 2021.
February On 19 January, the game against Fleetwood Town was cancelled due to snow on the pitch.
March On 1 March, Richard Clarke stepped down as a director of the club.
On 15 March, Brooke Norton-Cuffy red card against AFC Wimbledon was successfully appealed and was available to play in their upcoming games.
On 17 March, Branston Ltd became the final of five home shirt sponsors for the season.
April On 30 April, following their victory over Crewe Alexandra, it was announced that manager Michael Appleton would be leaving his role as manager.
May On 5 May, Ross Burbeary was appointed as head of performance.
On 6 May, Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley announced he turned down an approach to be the next Lincoln City manager.
On 12 May, Mark Kennedy was appointed as the new head coach.
Pre-season On 18 June, Lincoln announced their pre-season schedule, confirming two games against Norwich City and Gainsborough Trinity and on 21 June 2021, Lincoln confirmed the remaining fixtures against, Reading, Nottingham Forest XI, Boston United, Scunthorpe United and Salford City. An additional friendly against Stockport County was announced on 27 July 2021.
Competitions League One
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches On Thursday, 24 June 2021, the EFL League One fixtures were revealed.
FA Cup
Lincoln were drawn at home to Bowers & Pitsea in the first round. They were drawn against either Hartlepool United or Wycombe Wanderers in the second round, drawn on the 8 November 2021.
EFL Cup
The first round draw was made on 24 June, live on Sky Sports, by Andy Cole and Danny Mills.
EFL Trophy
The Imps were drawn into Group F of the Northern section alongside Bradford City, Sunderland and Manchester United U21. Two of the three group stage fixture dates were later confirmed on July 22. The opening group stage fixture was confirmed on August 17. They were drawn against Carlisle United in the second round drawn.
Transfers & contracts Transfers in Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee Ref. 7 July 2021 RW Chris Maguire Sunderland Free transfer 23 July 2021 CM Lasse Sørensen Stoke City Undisclosed 26 July 2021 RW Hakeeb Adelakun Bristol City Free transfer 27 July 2021 CM Teddy Bishop Ipswich Town Undisclosed 17 August 2021 CB TJ Eyoma Tottenham Hotspur Undisclosed 31 August 2021 LB Jamie Robson Dundee United Undisclosed 18 January 2022 FW John Marquis Portsmouth Undisclosed 21 January 2022 GK Jordan Wright Nottingham Forest Undisclosed 24 January 2022 FW Ben House Eastleigh Undisclosed 28 January 2022 FW Charley Kendall Eastbourne Borough Undisclosed
Transfers out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee Ref. 29 June 2021 CM Jorge Grant Peterborough United Undisclosed 1 July 2021 RW Harry Anderson Bristol Rovers Released 1 July 2021 GK Ethan Ross Stockport County Released 15 July 2021 LW Zack Elbouzedi AIK Undisclosed 24 August 2021 CM James Jones Wrexham Undisclosed 31 August 2021 LB Tayo Edun Blackburn Rovers Undisclosed 21 January 2022 RW Remy Longdon York City Undisclosed
Loans in Date Pos. Nat. Name From Until Ref. 2 July 2021 CM Lewis Fiorini Manchester City End of season 14 July 2021 CF Dan Nlundulu Southampton 6 January 2022 24 July 2021 GK Josh Griffiths West Bromwich Albion End of season 24 September 2021 GK Archie Mair Norwich City 6 January 2022 1 January 2022 RW Morgan Whittaker Swansea City End of season 13 January 2022 FW Liam Cullen Swansea City End of season 18 January 2022 RB Brooke Norton-Cuffy Arsenal End of season
Loans out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Until Ref. 1 July 2021 FW Jovon Makama Gainsborough Trinity End of season 29 July 2021 RW Theo Archibald Leyton Orient End of season 11 August 2021 CB Hayden Cann Gainsborough Trinity End of season 31 August 2021 LB Max Melbourne Stevenage 10 January 2022 18 September 2021 FW Billy Brooks Gainsborough Trinity Work experience 21 October 2021 GK Sam Long Gainsborough Trinity 6 November 2021 16 December 2021 FW Remy Longdon York City 21 January 2022 14 January 2022 CB Hayden Cann Lincoln United February 2022 14 January 2021 CB Bobby Deane Lincoln United February 2022 26 January 2022 GK Sam Long Drogheda United 16 June 2022 26 January 2022 CB Sean Roughan Drogheda United 16 June 2022 28 January 2022 FW Charley Kendall Eastbourne Borough End of season 11 February 2022 FW Freddie Draper Gainsborough Trinity End of season
New contracts Date from Pos. Nat. Name Length Expiry Ref. 28 July 2021 FW Freddie Draper 3 years June 2024 3 December 2021 MF Oisin Gallagher 3 years June 2024 30 December 2021 GK Sam Long 4 years June 2025 4 February 2022 CB Lewis Montsma 2 1⁄2 years June 2024 17 March 2022 CM Morgan Worsfold-Gregg - - 21 March 2022 CM Elicha Ahui - - 4 May 2022 FW Jovon Makama - - 18 May 2022 LB Sean Roughan One-year option June 2023
Squad statistics Appearances
|colspan="12" style="text-align:center;" |Away on loan
|colspan="12" style="text-align:center;" |No longer at the club
Goalscorers
Includes all competitive matches.
PlayerLeague OneFA CupLeague CupEFL CupTotal1FW11Anthony Scully11004152MF19Lewis Fiorini600063FW7Morgan Whittaker50005FW10Chris Maguire40015MF12Teddy Bishop40105FW27John Marquis500054FW9Tom Hopper201145MF14Hakeeb Adelakun200136DF4Lewis Montsma10012DF15Cohen Bramall20002MF18Conor McGrandles200027DF2Regan Poole10001DF3Max Melbourne10001MF12Max Sanders01001MF7Tayo Edun10001FW8Liam Cullen10001FW17Ben House10001DF20Brooke Norton-Cuffy10001FW20Dan Nlundulu10001MF21Lasse Sørensen10001DF22TJ Eyoma10001Own goals 2 0 0 02Total 55 1 2 866
Disciplinary record
No. Pos. Name League One FA Cup League Cup EFL Trophy Total 16 DF Joe Walsh 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 22 DF TJ Eyoma 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 7 FW Morgan Whittaker 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 20 DF Brooke Norton-Cuffy 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 18 MF Conor McGrandles 12 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 0 10 FW Chris Maguire 9 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 11 0 12 MF Teddy Bishop 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 0 19 MF Lewis Fiorini 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 5 DF Adam Jackson 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 23 MF Liam Bridcutt 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 4 DF Lewis Montsma 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 2 DF Regan Poole 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 15 DF Cohen Bramall 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 7 MF Tayo Edun 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 8 FW Liam Cullen 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 MF Hakeeb Adelakun 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 20 FW Dan Nlundulu 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 24 DF Jamie Robson 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 GK Josh Griffiths 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 DF Max Melbourne 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 FW Tom Hopper 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 11 FW Anthony Scully 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 MF Lasse Sørensen 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 27 FW John Marquis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Clean sheets
No.Nat.PlayerMatches playedClean sheet %League OneFA CupLeague CupEFL CupTOTAL 1 Josh Griffiths 35 5.71% 2 0 0 0 2 29 Jordan Wright 13 30.77% 4 0 0 0 4 31 Sam Long 6 33.33% 0 1 0 1 2
Awards Club Player of the Season Player Ref. Regan Poole
Club Academy Player of the Season Player Ref. Freddie Draper
Sky Bet League One Player of the Month MonthPlayer Ref.September Anthony ScullyNomination
Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month MonthManager Ref.January Michael AppletonNomination
References