The latest League Two monthly awards offered a notable connection to Lincoln City, with several former Imps involved in the nominations.
October proved to be a significant period for clubs across the division, and the shortlist reflected a number of individuals who previously spent formative periods at Sincil Bank. Their presence in the nominations and in the final list of winners highlighted how many familiar names remain active and influential at this level.
Michael Appleton was one of the four nominees for the League Two Manager of the Month award. Shrewsbury Town entered the division following relegation in May and started the new campaign with a difficult run that left them at the foot of the table. During October, Appleton oversaw an improvement that brought eight points from four unbeaten matches. The EFL said:
“Appleton needed all of his calmness, honesty and pragmatism to douse the negativity and haul them upwards with eight points from four unbeaten games.”
Another former Lincoln manager on the list was Danny Cowley, nominated for his work at Colchester United. The EFL report noted that injuries and several early draws had affected Colchester’s results in the opening two months of the season. October saw a change in output, including a 6-2 victory over Chesterfield as part of a ten-point return from four unbeaten fixtures.
The performances, which had previously been described as promising, were converted into points. Cowley’s nomination reflected the turnaround in efficiency and the consistency Colchester produced across the month, placing them among the division’s best-performing teams in that period.
The presence of Cowley in the managerial nominations provided a natural link to one of the main stories in the player category. Colchester winger Harry Anderson, in my eyes an Imps legend, was shortlisted for the League Two Player of the Month award after a productive run of individual form. Anderson’s October statistics included five goals in four league matches, and the EFL highlighted both his work rate and his willingness to drive forward from deep positions.
Anderson won the award, with Don Goodman saying:
“October was a good month for Colchester. They had a tough start but managed 10 points from a possible 12 last month, and the form of Harry Anderson has been key to that.
“He has shown a real desire to get forward and score goals this season, and in October, he produced five goals in four games, including a hat-trick against Harrogate.”
The complete list of nominees for the manager award included Appleton, Cowley, Steve Cotterill of Cheltenham Town (the eventual winner) and Martin Paterson of Notts County. Cotterill inherited a team that had lost 7-1 shortly before his appointment, while Paterson guided Notts County to ten points from four unbeaten matches.
For the player award, Anderson was joined by Will Boyle of Shrewsbury Town, Alex Gilbey of MK Dons and Alassana Jatta of Notts County. Each was recognised for contributions in goals, consistency or influence during the month.
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