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CLUB NEWS - SEPTEMBER ROUNDUP AND BOARD UPDATE

CLUB NEWS - SEPTEMBER ROUNDUP AND BOARD UPDATE

User 414629025 Sep 2020 - 06:57
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Twitter: @LincolnUnited @LincolnUtdWFC @LincolnUtdJFC | Facebook: @LincolnUnited @LincolnUnitedWFC @LincolnUnitedFCJuniors

An opening day win for the men’s team in the Northern Premier League Division One and back to back wins in the Women’s FA Cup have drawn the curtain on what has been an eventful pre-season for The Whites.

New Floodlights

As the men’s team emerged for the second half of their pre-season fixture against Staveley Miners Welfare, disaster struck at Ashby Avenue. A complete failure of the club’s floodlights during the interval meant that not only did the match have to be abandoned, but the club’s place in the Northern Premier League was left hanging in the balance.

Due to minimum stadium requirements of the league, replacing the floodlights at Ashby Avenue was now a club emergency.

Thanks to the hard work and foresight of the new board, plans for significant investment in new floodlights were able to be quickly brought forwards, and in a matter of weeks, new floodlights had arrived at Ashby Avenue. With the switch on taking place on Monday 23rd September, the club were able to avoid a crisis, the lights safely in place for the first floodlit NPL game of the season on Tuesday 29th September.

Stadium Improvements & Stand Renaming

In addition to the new floodlights, the club’s fantastic partnership with local company Allen Signs has allowed a number of sponsors to purchase pitch-side advertising boards. As a result the club is well on the way to giving the stadium a more modern and professional feel.
We wouldn’t be able to run the club without the support of the many local businesses who have sponsored teams, players, pitch-side boards and fixtures - Thank you!

Works to improve the infrastructure at Ashby Avenue will continue throughout the 20/21 season, and as part of the new design the club’s board has voted to rename their two main stands – after club legends John Wilkinson and Glynn & Claire Weston.

The Women’s FA Cup & COVID-19 Outbreak

Lincoln United Women have won their preliminary qualifiers in the Women’s FA Cup, setting up a first round qualifier with Sutton Coldfield Town LFC. Their journey to the first qualifying round came after a nail-biting 4-4 draw with Notts County which saw ‘The Whites’ emerge victorious on penalties, followed by a 2-1 win against Nottingham Trent University. The next round will be played on Sunday 4th October, 14;00 KO (away).

A COVID-19 outbreak at the club saw the men’s team forced to forfeit their chance of an FA Cup run, after four first team and four development team players tested positive for the virus.

Environmental and Public Health departments commended the club on their handling of the outbreak, but deemed that it was not safe for Lincoln United to take part in their scheduled fixture away at West Bridgford.

The club was able to reopen facilities after just a one day closure, whilst all eight players have made a full-recovery.

Chairman’s comments

With pre-season problems behind us and the club in much stronger position off the pitch, Chairman, Lee Griffin, had this message for the fans:

“It has been a baptism of fire for us as a newly appointed board but we have come out of it stronger, wiser and in better shape than the club has been in for years.

We now need you, our football family to come fill the stands and get behind all our senior teams at Ashby Avenue. Your support is key to our growth and success”

Youth Team

And in the youth ranks, Youth Director, Steve Walker, is ‘excited’ about the season ahead:

“With 18 teams competing across the club’s youth section, there is no doubt there’s lots to come from the club’s youngsters this season. It’s also fantastic to see the growth of our girls section this year - five girls only specific teams.

An 8-1 victory from the U18’s in the FA Youth Cup has set up a second round qualifier against Kirkby Muxloe at home (date and KO time to be announced), and an eye-catching hat trick from the U13’s Theo Louth in a 6-5 win against Skegness Town JFC make up the pick of the performances so far.

The managers and coaches have all had the chance to meet up and go through the club’s DNA as we strive for that ‘one club’ approach.

The past month has also seen the return of ‘Mini Whites’ our mini soccer offer and ‘Friday Night Football’ our recreational session.

We wish our youth teams success in the season ahead and look forward to providing further updates on their progress”.

#TheWhites

Report by James Pegg

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