7th January 2017; the original Impvasion. A National League team went to face off against a Championship side and bagged an unlikely draw. Ten days later, the giant-killing was completed and history was made.
A little under three years later and the same two teams are drawn against each other in one of the plum ties of the FA Cup First Round. This time the giants have taken a step backwards and the killers have taken huge leaps forward. Lincoln City will go to Portman Road on equal terms in the hardest possible tie of the First Round.
Why the hardest? Well, Ipswich are top of League One so it wasn’t possible to get a harder game. To be drawn away compounds it and even worse, we were the first out the bag. I remember watching the draw last time, sat in the bar at the club as those two balls were the first out. Funny, how history repeats itself.
Back then my first words were ‘shit draw’, without hindsight I thought it was elimination and disappointment. This time around my first words were exactly the same. I wanted a trip to a non-league side, or perhaps a tie at home. what I did not want, at all, was an away trip to a side above us in the table.
We had our day three years ago, it’s another club’s turn to have the limelight, but we still have a game to go and play, one we’ll hope to be in with a chance of winning but it’ll be a big ask. Doubtless, the talk heading into the fixture will be about the previous FA Cup tie, but let’s not forget this will simply be a precursor to the league fixture. The draw has highlighted how far we’ve come but will lead us to reminisce about a time that has quickly become history despite still feeling so fresh.
Am I the only one disappointed with the draw? I think not.
Shit draw
— Brad Nowland (@Brad_N02) October 21, 2019
It's literally the worst draw – away at the highest ranked team.
— James Atkin (@epitomised) October 21, 2019
#ProbablyNotAnImpvasionThisTimeAround
— Andy Simmons ???? (@andyimpsimmons) October 21, 2019
Terrible draw ??
— Alex Yates (@yates_alex) October 21, 2019
What's Nathan Arnold and Theo Robinson doing these days then?
— 2 club wanker (@xLepebble) October 21, 2019
Shite draw.
— Joe (@joerossington87) October 21, 2019
Loads of people saying we're going to take loads to Ipswich again. It's nowhere near as appealing this time now we're in the same league. We couldn't take 3000 to Peterborough…
— Dan (@AKA_DanThompson) October 21, 2019
Although having said that, there are plenty of people who see the positive side to going back to Portman Road.
Pretty pleased with cup draw. Good away draw at ground I've not been to in 20 odd years. Not too bothered about the result so long as we're competitive. If it's on a different day, may be tempted to watch Boston at Carshalton.
— Robert W (@Gruffexterior) October 21, 2019
Don’t get the negativity about Ipswich. Rather these than a Crawley or Portsmouth away
— David Kirkbright (@Daceyk1) October 21, 2019
Great draw that . A team we know we can beat and a great day out with happy memories
— Ash Boothright (@kicker150400) October 21, 2019
Great away day!!!
— @green1973_craig (@Green1973C) October 21, 2019
I remember back in about 2008, for three straight years we drew one of the top three sides in league one each time and went out early on. Forest, I think and Port Vale. We never got that easy non-league side at home