Few seasons resonate with Imps fans as much as 2016/17, certainly in recent memory. 

The club’s success stretches well beyond that, with access to some major sponsorships from different industries in each season. Companies like Adidas and Nike were once The Imps’ major kit partners (in 1978–1983 and 2011–2015), whilst Siemens were the front of shirt sponsor for both the Imps, and Real Madrid at the same time.

Gambling industries, particularly sports betting and online casino Ireland have been trying to ride the wave too, given how popular the team is and how fanatic football fans are in general. Football is awash with such companies as front of shirt sponsors, proving how popular the sport is. That commercial viability is particularly evident in the Imps superb run to the FA Cup quarter final, and the National League title, back in 2017.

The Greatest Run

In 1884, Lincoln City was formed as an amateur team. In 1886-87, they won the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy for the first time. They also reached the FA Cup last 16 from 126 clubs joined but lost to Glasgow Rangers. It was a great run for them and a milestone in their history.

The 2016/2017 FA Cup season is also a remarkable journey for the team.

The Imps had been turned into giants-killers. 103 years after no non-league club had previously reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, they became the first in history. They went all the way to the last eight, defeating Championship League teams Brighton and Ipswich along the way, before knocking out top-flight Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor to book a quarterfinal spot opposite Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Arsenal eventually stopped Lincoln’s heroes, as their first-ever trip to Wembley was denied by one of England’s biggest teams. But their run for 2016/17 has been marked as one of the best FA Cup stories in history.

The Heroes

Some of the most influential players for Lincoln City’s 2016/17 seasons are Matt Rhead, Sean Raggett, Nathan Arnold, Sam Habergham, Alex Woodyard. These players are the most influential for The Imps‘ success.

Matt Rhead

Rhead has had an interesting journey with The Imps. On May 14, 2015, Rhead signed a two-year contract with Lincoln City. He handed in a transfer request the following year and was going to join Barrow, but the arrival of Danny Cowley as Lincoln manager persuaded him to stay with the club, and he finished the 2016-17 season as Lincoln’s top goalscorer as they won the National League. He was also a key member of Lincoln City’s historic FA Cup run, playing a crucial role in their victory over Burnley in the fifth round. Joey Barton attempted to get him dismissed by taking a dive during Lincoln’s win.

Sean Raggett

His move to Lincoln City in 2016 was a popular choice, but it proved to be a transformative moment in his career. On February 18, 2017, in an FA Cup 5th round tie against Premier League club Burnley, Raggett scored an 89th-minute winner, taking Lincoln to the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in 103 years..

Nathan Arnold

On July 29, 2016, Arnold joined Lincoln City: he made his debut for Lincoln in a 3–1 victory over Woking. On January 17, Arnold scored an injury-time goal in a 1–0 FA Cup replay win over Ipswich Town to help Lincoln City progress to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1971. He was a key member of the squad that won the National League title as well as becoming the first non-league team in more than a century to reach the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

Alex Woodyard

In June 2016, Woodyard joined Lincoln City after leaving Braintree and being managed by Danny Cowley. He finished the 2016–17 campaign as Lincoln City’s player of the year, helping them return to the Football League after a one-year absence. He helped Lincoln City earn promotion to the English Football League, finishing as National League champions after beating Macclesfield Town 2-1 in April 2017.

Paul Farman

Likeable keeper Farman had spent years with the Imps, even being loaned out to Boston United at one point. He established himself as the clubs main goalkeeper and was excellent throughout the season, earning man of the match during the FA Cup quarter final against Arsenal

Lincoln City’s 2016/2017 season has been a remarkable journey for the team. They had been turned into giants-killers; 103 years after no non-league club had previously reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, they became the first in history and went all the way to the last eight defeating Championship League teams Brighton and Ipswich along their way before knocking out top-flight Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor to book a quarterfinal spot opposite Premier League leaders Arsenal. Arsenal eventually stopped Lincoln’s heroes as their first trip to Wembley was denied by one of England’s biggest teams but it is marked as one of the competition’s best stories in history with some influential players.