After leaving the club during the 18-19 season under the club's previous board, Wilkinson, returned to Ashby Avenue after spending a short-time away at Hykeham Town FC. It was March last year, the 19-20 season, when Wilkinson was recalled to lead Lincoln United Football Club to Northern Premier League safety. Wilkinson returned 'home' to find the club in a relegation scrap, nine games to play, seven of which were scheduled away. After one game at home to then league leaders, Leek Town FC, a 2-0 home defeat with a side brought together in under week, the season was curtailed and declared null and void due to Covid-19 pandemic.

After a difficult year for everyone worldwide, we caught up with the Sam to get his thoughts on a year like no other as men's first team manager at Lincoln United Football Club.

"Well it’s been a year since Stuart Reddington and I have been back at the club. In that year we’ve only managed to have played nine competitive football matches which is very disappointing and frustrating.

We both, along with my management team, are Lincoln Utd people, it’s in our blood. We were obviously delighted to get the chance to manage the club again. Although there’s not too much football to talk about in that year, there’s been so many positive things going on at the club off the field, and that has continued to improve and develop during the pandemic.

The little bit of football we managed to play in the last year was very exciting. I’ve mentioned before about the freshness of the players and I’m hoping this break will make them even more hungry to try achieve something special at the club. My management team and I have got so much belief in this young squad to develop and continually improve. As we were playing regularly in early autumn, the players were improving game to game and showing clear signs of believing in each other more and more - confidence was sky high, it's such a shame that the season couldn’t be finished.

In this past year back at the club there’s been so much positivity, I personally can’t wait to get back to it and I know the players and my management team are the same.
The players we have are an absolute credit to Lincoln Utd and I’m very hopeful we can keep this group together, continue to evolve and improve, just like the club will. Hopefully this time next year we’ll all have played a lot more football."

As Wilkinson states, only nine competitive matches but an exciting nine matches: a 6-0 away win at Sutton Coldfield Town FC, a romping 5-0 home win against Glossop North End, an away win against notoriously difficult Carlton Town FC (1-3), a well fought draw against local rivals, Cleethorpes Town (1-1) and a close defeat in The FA Trophy against a very good Stamford AFC side (2-1) - it's been a fantastic start. Add to that continually good crowds, generating an atmosphere and cheering the team on - we can't wait for the next 365 days!