With Millwall next up for Lincoln City, it’s time for another look at the good, the bad and the ugly from our shared playing history.
We’ve had plenty of players pass through both clubs, giving us a fair few candidates for this one. As ever, the categories reflect how I remember their time in red and white, with all the affection, frustration and selective memory that comes with supporting City. You’re welcome to disagree, although I suspect some of these choices will need rather less explaining than others.
The Good: Alex Mitchell
We could have had Harry Toffolo or Michael Bostwick here, by the way….
Alex Mitchell only spent one season at Sincil Bank, but it was more than enough to make him a firm favourite. A product of Millwall’s academy, he had already gained experience on loan at Bromley, Leyton Orient and St Johnstone before joining us in August 2023. The Lions never gave him a league appearance, but their loss was very much our gain.
He made 41 appearances in all competitions during 2023/24, scoring his only goal in the win at Fleetwood. More importantly, he was the sort of defender you could get behind: strong in the tackle, committed in the air and capable with the ball at his feet. There was a wholeheartedness about his performances that made it easy to forget he was only borrowing the shirt, and he quickly became someone you wanted to see on the teamsheet.
Standing on a table in the Shakespeare beer garden after we lost to Portsmouth, waving a red flare around, probably helped his popularity as well. Mind you, the affection was already there because he’d earned it on the pitch. He subsequently joined Charlton permanently and, after a successful loan spell at Plymouth, made that move permanent this summer, but he’ll always get a warm reception from me.
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