22-Year-Old Leaves On National League Loan

The Imps have announced that striker Charley Kendall has joined National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old forward has had loan spells with Eastbourne Borough, Sutton United, and Bromley since signing for the Imps in January 2022. The first of those spells was a huge success, but stints with Sutton and Bromley didn’t bring the game time City fans had hoped.

Kendall appeared five times for the Imps last season, scoring in the League Cup, and fans had high hopes for his progress. Two tough loans have set him back a little, but director of football Jez George emphasised this is still very much part of his development.

“Development is rarely linear, and Charley will have learnt a lot about himself and what is required as a centre forward in professional football last season.

“What Charley now needs is regular football and the opportunity to do what he does best: scoring goals. Their manager Ben Strevens knows Charley’s game really well, having tracked him from his days at Eastbourne Borough, and we have been impressed with Ben throughout the process of identifying the right loan for Charley.

“Nothing has changed from our perspective. We signed a talented young player with potential and we are still committed to doing everything we can in helping Charley to succeed at Lincoln City.”

Kendall has played a role in the Imps’ pre-season fixtures, scoring against Boston, and we might still see him in an Imps shirt this campaign. Despite being with the Daggers for the full season, he will be eligible to play in our EFL Trophy matches against Notts County, Derby County, and Wolves Under 21s. The Daggers are managed by former striker Ben Strevens, and Kendall will team up with a player who has the best song about him ever, Elliot (you’re just a shit Tesco sandwich) Justham.

This is a big campaign for the youngster (Kendall, not Elliot), who needs a run of games to get himself back in the form he showed whilst at Eastbourne. If he does, then he may return here in the summer as hot property, but if he doesn’t, then it could be a long journey back for him into our first team picture.