I toyed with different approaches for this article, and have settled on giving you as wide a view as possible.
It would be dead easy for me to go through my top moments, making it all about me (I’m sure my mate Matt would expect me too). I do want to tell you my highlights, but I thought I’d throw it out to the floor, and see what the site’s Patreons thought of 2024 as well.
It certainly brought out some interesting answers, so as you get your glad rags on and prepare for a night of excess, drunkenly making resolutions you can’t keep, here are some of the highlights and lowlights of 2024 from the people that matter most. The fans.
And me, of course.
Best Moments of 2024 – Portsmouth Applause
My best moment of 2024 came during the Portsmouth game, and I spoke about it on the podcast. It was after their second goal, the one that killed our play-off hopes after a brave battle. The ripple of applause started in the GBM Stand and just spread around the ground, this unusual show of unity and appreciation for the team’s efforts. I feel it was even more effective given that we’d failed – sure, celebrating a win would have been a great moment, but the recognition in what was failue at the final hurdle really resonated with me.
What did other fans think?
These are views from other supporters, but only those that differ from mine!
I enjoyed the Man City U21 win more than I should have. It’s always nice to send them home on their posh bus with a hammering. I’d also add that it’s just good, supporting a good well run club with a sensible progression, a decent manager and a squad – Blake Hutchinson
It has to be the win at Barnsley, but an honourable mention to the round of applause after Portsmouth scored their second goal. The reasons are Barnsley just seemed a coming together of all the positive aspects that we saw last year, and of course was a prelude to 11 more goals in the next two games, the Portsmouth one was just pure emotion that brought tears to the eyes – Dave Wilkinson
Ethan Erahon’s last-minute equaliser away at Wycombe in January triggered our great run. It felt like a massive turnaround moment at the time, and so it proved to be – Ben Daniels
Beating Barnsley 5- 1, Lukas Jensen’s reaction to letting the goal in really highlights the standards. The match at Chesham, such good fun, really enjoyed the atmosphere. – Jo Bigger
Crawley 3 – 4 Lincoln: This is not an on-field best moment, but it is a personal one. My lad (4) has been to a few games (his first was Southampton in the League Cup), but since this game, he hasn’t stopped talking about Lincoln. He was glued to the game from start to finish and can still tell me everything that happened and has truly got the Lincoln bug – Jon Booth
I think this one may be the same as yours, as you have spoken about it in the past. It is the moment immediately after Portsmouth scored their 2nd goal in the last game of last season when applause broke out around the stadium. It was a moment when we, as a fan base, collectively came together and thanked the players/staff for the effort they had put in during the 2nd half of the season. It made me quite emotional at the time. I know you only asked for one best moment, but another stand-out moment was Barnsley away, which I was fortunate to go to. Jack Moylan’s two goals and just the overall performance away at one of the automatic promotion contenders at the time. We were in the stands thinking WTF is going on! – Neil Flower
Worst Moments of 2024 – Guessing Assistant Referee
There have been a few – every season is beset by problems and moments that make you want the ground to open up and swallow you. For me, it was the disallowed goal against Wigan in the final throngs of last season. If that had been allowed, if we’d been able to savage something from that game, then the Pompey result might not have mattered. It was the unfairness of it all; a guessing lino making a call on whether the ball was in or out, literally guessing and taking away points we so desperately needed.
What did other fans think?
I guess it’s the current run of form and the disappointment that all the parts are in place, but it’s not yet happening and the unrealistic and unfair comments from some supporters – Blake Hutchinson
It has been so hard to think of anything here, which probably tells me that 2024 has been pretty good; a few things came to mind, but none were REALLY bad, I eventually settled on Rotherham away, beaten by thuggery in the first half, came out like world beaters at the start of the second, equalised, but then again forced out of it by anti-football – Dave Wilkinson
The second goal going in during the 3-0 loss at Crawley. Even at 1-0, I thought we would win. This knocked the stuffing out of us and exposed a soft underbelly that has appeared a few times since – Ben Daniels
Blackpool away. First game of the new year & just such a listless performance – Matt Smith
The penalty miss and Paddy Lane’s fake crying celebration. Pompey is my second team, but the way they behaved that day put me right off them, and I’m looking forward to Karma for Paddy Lane. As for the miss it just shows the fine margins, one little slip (Gerrard, John Terry, Kane etc), if he hadn’t I think we’d have won the match – Dan White
Players getting sent off needlessly for dissent!! Hearing more and more about Mark Kennedy….. Not being able to sign Alex Mitchell, I think we have really missed him – Jo Bigger
After a mammoth trip after work in Leeds, the 3-0 defeat away at Crawley was bloody depressing – David Larder
Travelling to Accrington for the game to be called off at 7:47 – Dominique Thorley
The Mandriou penalty miss in that game against Pompey. The realisation that we weren’t going to quite make it – Andy Bulley
Rotherham 2-1 Lincoln. I hate losing to Steve Evans. I was there on a freezing cold Tuesday night. Jacko was assaulted with no repercussions for the perpetrator. We squandered chances. Their second goal should’ve arguably been disallowed. It was just a bad night all around. – Kyle Fox
Crawley 3 – 0 Lincoln: Probably one of the worst all-round performances I have seen from us in a long time. Crawley were abysmal, but our system didn’t work against theirs and we didn’t appear to have a plan B – Jon Booth
There hasn’t really been one major low point just a few really disappointing ones, such as Crawley away in the league. After playing so well against Birmingham, I thought if we played like that, we would easily blow them away. However we just didn’t turn up. And in other games, not getting what we deserved, Wrexham away, Huddersfield away, I could go on. Then there is Bolton away! Less said about that the better – Neil Flower
Best Goal of 2024 – Ben House vs Huddersfield Town
On the podcast, I picked the Freddie Draper goal from the trip to Cheltenham, but I think you have to go a long way to beat Ben House’s strike against Huddersfield a couple of weeks ago. It was the perfect team goal, an example of patience and tenacity, and a glimpse at what the squad is capable of. We perhaps don’t see it enough, but that was prime Skubala-style football and whatever the outcome of the game, it’s a goal to cherish.
What did other fans think?
Ben House’s goal at Peterborough. Great team goal against the side I like the least after that dive – Blake Hutchinson
House at Peterborough and Huddersfield and Hackett against Reading were all fantastic team goals, but I have to go for Darikwa’s second against Wycombe – Dave Wilkinson
Jack Moylan’s first away at Barnsley. It had grit, determination, silky skills and a great finish. It reminded me of the kind of goals that Gazza used to score – Ben Daniels
Jovon Makama – Leyton Orient at home. Not our best goal, but it got the biggest celebration out of me. – Matt Smith
I Joe Taylor’s equaliser against Cheltenham as I was at the match, and I love the sheer never-give-up determination he showed running the length of the pitch and then, after losing the ball, getting it back and smashing it into the top left corner. – Dan White
House Against Posh, aside from it being a well-worked goal, a goal at London Road!!! – Jo Bigger
JJ McKiernan v Man City u21 – David Larder
Makama 90th minute against Leyton Orient. It just cemented my believe that we were going to finish on a high and the players believed that too – Dominique Thorley
Jack Moylan at Barnsley (the mazy run not the long-distance shot) – Andy Bulley
Rogue shout, Joe Taylor’s against Cheltenham near the end of last season. Ran from one end of the pitch to the other beating multiple players. Ball fell to his feet again on the edge of the box, he shifted on to his weaker left foot and curled a beauty in to the top corner. Loved that goal. – Kyle Fox
Erik Ring Vs Crawley Town (I have watched more than Lincoln Vs Crawley this year, I promise!) – Jon Booth
I don’t know if it’s just because it is recent and my memory isn’t that good, but I would have to say Ben House’s goal against Huddersfield. This was another game I was fortunate to be at, and I remember thinking while the movie was playing out that we just needed to finish it off and then thinking, bloody hell, we have! – Neil Flower
Hero of 2024 – Lewis Montsma
There’s only one answer to this in my mind – Lewis Montsma. Even as the curtain fell on last season, nobody was really sure if Lewis would play for us again. His double ACL injury hell would be enough to end other player’s careers, and even the contract in the summer felt like a gesture, something to get him back in the game before he scooted off. That moment when he came on against Arsenal and scored was utter magic, and since then he’s gone from strength to strength. Any young player wanting a role model in the game should look at Lewis, his attitude and his utter determination to get back into the game and find inspiration. He is what a professional truly looks like.
What did other fans think?
Tendayi Darikwa for the way he came to the club and the effort he put in week in and week out. Lewis Montsma would be a close second for the way he has come back in after such a long battle for fitness – Blake Hutchinson
Darikwa has been immense since arriving, and Jovan has improved several times over during the course of the year; Montsma’s rise from despair has been inspiring but will go for the vastly underrated Sean Roughan, who probably more minutes than anyone during the year and hardly ever less than 8/10 – Dave Wilkinson
Skubala. At last, someone to exorcise the ghost of Danny Cowley. I was worried I would always yearn for Danny’s return. I don’t anymore – Ben Daniels
Skubala. The turnaround in form for the end of last season. – Matt Smith
Tendayi Darikwa – incredible professional, way older than most of the team but is an incredible example to the younger lads with his levels of fitness, professionalism (take not Ethan, you can learn from him!), and ability, championship player – Dan White
The board and investors, I like supporting a well run club. Lasse Sorenson for all he did off the field. Sean Roughan/ Tendayi Darikwa. Also Jovan for most improved player – Jo Bigger
Harvey – Don’t think we’d be able to continue to compete in L1 if we didn’t have this guy pumping yet more money in and getting others to do the same. Seems a genuine bloke too – David Larder
Lasse Sorensen. He defined what playing for Lincoln city was. Always there for the fans on and off the field. Greatly missed – Dominique Thorley
Michael Skubala for a great second half of last season and giving us hope – Andy Bulley
Sean Roughan for his consistent improvement and performances. Always dependable in terms of performance and fitness is an excellent trait at such a young age and so impressive. A staple of this season and last season. – Kyle Fox
Jovon Makama, for digging in deep when times got tough, keeping on growing, performing, and having fun. He’s still a young lad and at times that is something that gets forgotten. Also, we threw him massively into the deep end when we had no strikers a season or 2 ago. Everyone knew he wasn’t ready but he still turned up and tried bloody hard. The fact he is still at the club now is testament to that hard work – Jon Booth
For the hero of 2024 I would like to nominate Lewis Montsma for the way he has stuck at his rehabilitation from his 3rd ACL and his 2nd in quick succession. I must admit to a bit of bias as I am his shirt sponsor this year. I wasn’t going to sponsor a player this year because of the price increase until the club contacted me and said that Lewis is still available and I thought after all he has been through he can’t not have a shirt sponsor. I the start of the season I thought I was going to be getting a pristine shirt at the end of the season because I thought he wasn’t going to get much game I so pleased that this isn’t going to be the case and he is getting back to his best and been rewarded with a new contract. – Neil Flower
Villain of 2024
I’ve thought long and hard about this. It would be easy to use recency bias and pick either Ethan Erhahon or possibly Ross Joyce, but I won’t. I am obviously going to pick Evans, and he has done us twice in 2024. His Stevenage side ruined the game in March, a game that cost us two points, points that would have been enough to make the top six. Then, he’s done us again the other week, brutal tactics to target Jacko and once again, giving the full display of his antics from the sidelines. When he’s in the same ision as us, he’s the villain and that will never change.
What did other fans think?
I’m afraid after going to Bolton, there can only be one; Ethan Erhahon for his stupid behaviour, but I’d also add that he has such talent, but does not always show it in some games this season – Blake Hutchinson
Stockley of Fleetwood, Nombe and another Rotherham player for serious assaults on Jacko, but also the linesman against Wigan for guessing that Joe Taylor had not kept the ball in play before Reeco netted. Also, Ethan Erhahon. Clueless – Dave Wilkinson
John Mousinho. OK so he was entitled to employ gamesmanship in a dead rubber for his team against us – but come on, not to that extent. He presents himself as a forward thinking new style manager, but in fact he is as cynical and as much a dark arts exponent as Steve Evans is – Ben Daniels
Steve Evans. Just such a twat. – Matt Smith
Paddy Lane, see above – Dan White
The FA for stopping cup replays. EFL / Sky deal, a big no to 12 pm games! – Jo Bigger
The FA for stealing a bit more magic from the cup – David Larder
Danny Mandriou. Always believed and felt he didn’t want to be here. Really bad fan engagement. – Dominique Thorley
Ethan Erhahon. The red card at Bolton has been coming for a while as he can’t seem to keep his mouth shut – Andy Bulley
Not going to give any mention to Evans. But it’s from that Rotherham game again unfortunately. I’m awarding it to Martin Woods for the worst refereeing performance I have genuinely ever seen. It’s pretty rare you can fully blame the referee for losing the game but that was one of them. Completely the wrong referee for that kind of game. Didn’t punish a clear result. Bottled a red card. Didn’t disallow their second goal. I could go on and on – Kyle Fox
BBC Radio Lincolnshire. Their coverage has lost any sense of nuance over the last 12 months. They are also looking for a scapegoat and to pin the blame on particular players. For me they are a key part the ‘hate’ brigade as a result of their negative and clickbait reporting, always seeking to create a headline and a topic that will get social media interactions. They forget they are probably still the main source of reporting for a high number of fans and have a social responsibility to at least try and offer a balanced opinion – Jon Booth
This one is going to have a bit of a Rotherham connection. Of course Steve Evans has to be in there just because he is Steve Evans!
Then there is Hakeem Odoffin for blatantly smashing Adam Jackson’s cheekbone, and it has not even been given as a free kick; unbelievable, Jeff! I am really looking forward to the visit of Rotherham on New Years Day and am hoping we can smash them in footballing sense, culminating in the sacking of Steve Evans – Neil Flower
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