Conor McGrandles has extended his long association with Lincoln City after signing a new contract running until the summer of 2028, with the club holding an option for a further 12 months.
The midfielder was an influential figure during our League One title-winning campaign, making 45 league appearances and being named the players’ player of the season. After helping City secure promotion to the Championship, the 30-year-old had little hesitation in committing his future to the club.
“It feels amazing,” McGrandles said “To get this done on the back of last season and how well everything went is really good, and I’m looking forward to the times ahead.
“It was a great season for me personally, but it was for the whole team and for the club. A lot of that comes down to the environment the club has created, the staff have created, and the players have created. When you’re playing alongside the quality of players we’ve got, it makes your job a lot easier.”
McGrandles is now preparing to play Championship football for the first time since his spell with Norwich City. Although he accepts there will be difficult moments during the campaign, he believes the qualities that carried City to the League One title can help us compete at the higher level.
“We understand how difficult parts of this season are going to be, so we’re not naive,” he said. “But we’re all excited about the challenge.
“If we approach the season with the same mindset and attitude we had last year, I think we can surprise a few people. Looking at where the club is now and the players we’ve already got in the squad, I’m really confident we can do something good this season.”
The Falkirk-born midfielder first joined City from Milton Keynes Dons in July 2020 and made 96 appearances in all competitions across his initial two seasons at Sincil Bank. He moved to Charlton Athletic in 2022, spending part of the following campaign on loan with Cambridge United, before returning to Lincoln for a brief loan spell in February 2024.
An ankle injury limited McGrandles to five appearances during that temporary move, but he returned permanently four months later. He has since established himself as a central part of the side, while also witnessing significant changes to the club’s facilities and infrastructure.
“There’s been so much change. The Gen2 Energy Elite Performance Centre has been developed and is continuing to improve, even though it was already at a great standard. The ProAmpac Stadium is being developed as well, which is brilliant because you saw how important our home support was last season.
“The whole infrastructure of the club has gone up another level since I first came here. It’s been amazing to be part of that and see it happen.
“When you know the club is supporting the head coaches and the staff, it gives everyone confidence. Then you see how they work with every single player and it’s fantastic. This club is really special to me because I’ve been here for so long and it’s been amazing to see how much it’s grown since I first arrived.”
City’s home support was another important factor during the title-winning campaign, with McGrandles believing the atmosphere at Sincil Bank regularly helped the side through difficult periods.
“They’ll be so important. They probably don’t realise just how big a part they play. There were games last season where we were struggling and they really were the 12th man.
“I don’t think there was another stadium I played at last season that created the atmosphere and helped drive the home team over the line the way our fans did.”
Sporting director Jez George believes McGrandles’ performances and character make him an important part of the club’s plans as City prepare for their return to the Championship.
“There is not much to say about Conor because his performances do the talking for him,” added Jez. “In his interview, he speaks about the club going up a level since he first arrived but the same is true of him, especially last season. I don’t think there was a better midfield player in League One, and certainly not one that we would have swapped for Conor.
“His character also sums up our club: he is understated, selfless with a relentless work ethic and mentality. Conor is highly rated by everyone at Lincoln City: supporters, staff and players. We all know how good he is, value him highly and we are delighted that Conor has signed this new contract so that we can look forward to achieving even more together.”
With 196 appearances for the Imps across his three spells, McGrandles is now in serious danger of becoming a bona fide club legend. He is currently level with Matt Rhead, and next season is likely to move above Stuart Bimson, Trevor Peake, David Puttnam and Harry Anderson. Illustrious company indeed.
Comments Welcome!