Lincoln City are cool again, says boss Danny Cowley
Lincoln will play in League One next year after securing the League Two title earlier this week
Thursday 25 April 2019 20:13, UK
Lincoln City are a "cool" club to support again following their rise up to League One, according to boss Danny Cowley.
Cowley, along with brother and assistant Nicky, has revolutionised the club since arriving to take charge in non-league in 2016, steering them to two promotions and this season's League Two title - which they secured earlier this week with two games to spare.
Along the way there have also been trips to Wembley, where they won last season's Checkatrade Trophy, and an historic run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup - where they were beaten by Arsenal. They were the first non-league club to play at that stage of the competition in more than a century.
"The Checkatrade Trophy win and going to Wembley for the first time in the club's history, the FA Cup win just made Lincoln City cool again," Cowley told EFL Matters on Thursday. "That was our aim. We wanted to try and attract the young people in Lincoln.
"We now have a fantastically diverse support base. We've got loads and loads of women who come to the games. And Sincil Bank is a safe and secure place to come and enjoy your football. That's been really important. We've gone from gates of 2,500 when we first arrived to averaging 9,000 now. It's been phenomenal and something we're proud of."
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Lincoln reached the play-offs in 2017/18 - their first campaign back in League Two - but lost in the semi-finals to Exeter. This season they have topped the league from virtually start to finish, giving them plenty of time to plan for the next level.
"I'm just pleased for everyone," continued Cowley. "Firstly the players' hard work and determination. They've been relentless all season in their efforts. It's lovely from my perspective to see them achieve the rewards that their hard work deserves.
"To do that [win the title] in front of our supporters who have been unconditional in terms of their support, it really has been a whole club, whole city, whole county effort. I think why we're so proud is that everybody has contributed."
Cowley and his brother Nicky's success has seen them regularly linked with clubs at a higher level, but they have opted to stay with Lincoln due to the affinity they have with the club.
The fans love them, and the feeling is mutual between himself and the city.
"It was a really good fit," he said. "When we first took the job the club had been relegated from the Football League for five years, it had probably lost its way, lost some enthusiasm and direction. We've tried to add that.
"We quickly realised that Lincoln geographically is off the beaten track. For us it was about working out what the DNA of the city was and ultimately it's a hard-working city with down to earth, honest people. We knew if we got players that reflected that and tried to find some alignment, that's all we've tried to do.
"We've got out into the community and the amazing thing in Lincoln is the people have such an allegiance. Not just with the football club but the city in general. That was obvious and we tried to build on that.
"It was never going to be an 11-man job and we've managed to get the city right behind us. And they've inspired us really. We know how much the club means to people and it's inspired us to work hard."
