Former Lincoln City goalkeeper Sam Long was one of the four keepers who played a role in his side’s title win this season.
Along with Carl Rushworth, Grant Smith and George Wickens, he was one of a quartet who played every minute of a title-winning season for their clubs, turning out against Tranmere, Cambridge United and Crewe. He also played five cup matches, keeping a single clean sheet across all fixtures.
He made headlines in August playing for The Ravens, when he saved two penalties in a League Cup tie against Championship side Ipswich Town. Deji Elerewe had scored for the hosts, but Ben Johnson’s leveller took it to penalty kicks. Long then saved spot-kicks from George Hirst and Ali Al-Hamadi to give his side a 5-4 win on penalties, and a passage into the next round.
Sadly, the 23-year-old will not play a role as his side heads into their historic League One campaign, as he’s one of nine players leaving the club this summer. He joins Byron Webster, Brooklyn Ilunga, Carl Jenkinson, Marcus Dinanga, Sam German, Frankie Moralee and Tade Ibrahim to leave Hayes Lane upon completion of their contract.
32-year-old Grant Smith, who turned out 16 times for us in our League Two title-winning season, will remain at the club after they exercised an option on his deal. He kept 15 clean sheets over the course of the campaign and will take his place in League One once more. He was part of Danny Cowley’s League One squad, but only played in cup matches before being loaned to Boreham Wood, and eventually released.
Sam Long
Long came through the academy and signed professional terms in October 2020, gradually working his way into the senior setup during the 2020-21 campaign. His first-team debut arrived in the EFL Trophy against Manchester United Under-21s, with further appearances in the competition against Bradford City and Sunderland before he agreed a contract extension in December 2021. His league debut followed the next month away at Plymouth Argyle, a 2-1 win, after an injury to Josh Griffiths, and he would make six senior appearances for City in total.
He spent a short period with Gainsborough Trinity during the autumn of 2021, keeping a clean sheet on debut against Coalville Town, before heading to Ireland in January 2022 with Drogheda United. There, he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper and made 15 league appearances before returning to Sincil Bank in the summer. A move to Boston United followed, although with the Pilgrims struggling near the foot of the table, he was recalled midway through the season after 27 appearances in all competitions.
Long’s next stop was Bromley, where he featured once in the National League before being brought back at short notice once again. The most productive spell of his development came in 2023-24 with Falkirk, where he shared goalkeeping duties across the campaign, captained the side for the first time in August 2023 and played his part in the Bairns securing the Scottish League One title. He ended the season with 25 appearances in all competitions north of the border, but left the Imps that summer to move to Bromley.
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