It’s that time again. The Vital Lincoln City End of Season Awards. Far later than planned, as per usual!
Player of The Season:
This was incredibly tough to vote on. For me, there were two contenders. Jason Shackell, who I would say was signing of the season, and Michael Bostwick, who was Mr Consistent throughout the season. After some thought, I voted for Michael Bostwick. To quote one of the members, Bostwick was “consistently solid and reliable”.
Chimpimp: “The Vital Lincoln City player of the season has to be John Akinde.
He has starred in way more threads than anyone else. Discussion about, is he any good, is he lazy, should Rhead replace him, do his goals count less because they are mainly from the spot, why we hate his penalty style, why he needed to be replaced in January, if he was mentally tired, how he dared to miss a penalty at Meadow lane, why his penalty style is so effective, why he is so effective with Rhead, how difficult he is to play against, how hard he works and how he was selected as the best target man in the league by his fellow professional…to name but a few.
Fair to say some have been on a journey when it comes JA this season.”
PerthImp: “Jason Shackell for me. Pure class and best reader of a game we have had on years. Bossie runs him a very, very close second.”
Scotimp: “I voted for Shackell for the official Player of the Season but that was before he cost us the game at Carlisle. Had I waited until after that unfortunate event, I might well have gone for Bostwick because the gap between them has been that marginal.”
Best Loan Signing of The Season:
For this one, I was torn between two of the three nominated players. Shay McCartan and Mark O’Hara. After some thought, I voted for O’Hara. He played a very important part in getting The Imps over the line and showed serious potential. As Scotimp said, “I wish we could have had him in August”. I really hope we can secure his signature for the 2019/20 season.
takeyourblueshirtoff: “O’Hara. Immense impact and has made promotion a lot easier than it might otherwise have been.”
berksimps: “Three superb loan signings nominated. Two have scored some special goals but O’Hara gets the vote from me for having more influence as the season progressed, last few games excluded. Great potential.”
Doddimp: “All 3 have had a big effect on our success this season. At MK Dons he imposed himself alongside Tom Pett and has steadied the ship in midfield since arriving: Mark O’Hara gets my vote. Be great if all 3 were still with us next season.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Shay McCartan: 10 votes – 25.0%
Mark O’Hara: 27 votes – 67.5%
Danny Rowe: 3 votes – 7.5%
Best Permanent Signing:
I voted for Jason Shackell. He played an incredibly important role at the back all season. As PerthImp said, there is a reason we had one of the best defences in League Two last season. He is very good at reading the game. Here’s hoping for more of the same during the 2019/20 season!
Luke Imp: “Shackell or Andrade.
I voted for Shackell for Player of the Season but we needed more goals this season, which Andrade provided. Double figures from a wide position aren’t to be sniffed at!
So in terms of impact, you’d probably go for him but Shackell is someone who drags others up to his level.”
PerthImp: “Shackell – there’s a reason we have one of the best defences in the league and a lot of our success was built on being tight at the back. He reads the game so well and holds the defence & midfield together.”
sedgleyimp: “All nominated have been very good signings but from game one Jason Shackell showed why he had played at the highest level.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Opposition Supporters of The Season:
For this one, I voted for the Tranmere Rovers supporters. The atmosphere at Prenton Park was dreadful, but the noise their supporters made when they came to Sincil Bank was brilliant. It helped play a massive role in creating a truly fantastic atmosphere that day, from both sets of supporters.
Luke Imp: “From an atmosphere POV, Tranmere ‘looked’ to be having a good time in the away end on Monday, but the usual caveat that from the Upper Co-op you don’t fully hear the SW and I suspect it’s the same towards Co-op L1-3.”
Chesterimp: “Tranmere – we were in the SW so could hear both 617 and the Trannies. Until about 10 mins before kick-off it was worrying, could only hear the away support. Went to use ‘the facilities’ and coming back out, the starter motor for 617 had fired up and switched the whole stadium on.”
sedgleyimp: “For atmosphere Tranmere but I’ve gone for Yeovil as to travel all that way on a Friday night when your team is playing as they were showed proper supporter dedication.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Home Goal of The Season:
This one was easy. The link-up play and the finish means Danny Rowe’s goal v Oldham Athletic got my vote. Simply brilliant!
PerthImp: “Shackell’s brilliant FK (the commentary simply added to the surprise and pure entertainment value).”
Chesterimp: “Shackells’s free kick, ideally to the tune of Thommo’s CB Union commentary with Hortin.”
sedgleyimp: “Rowe’s left foot finish against Oldham was a great piece of individual skill.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Away Goal of The Season:
This was a difficult one. I was torn between Bruno Andrade’s goal away at Milton Keynes Dons and Shay McCartan’s away at Swindon Town. Shay’s goal was by far the best volley I have seen during my time watching The Imps, but Bruno’s goal to make it 2-0 at Milton Keynes was very important. It was the goal that pretty much-secured promotion and the title. I eventually decided to vote for Shay’s goal at Swindon because, as I said, it’s the best volley I have seen watching Lincoln.
PerthImp: “Depends on the significance. For pure brilliance and impact, it has to be McCartan’s at Swindon.”
Scotimp: “I would also say McCartan at Crawley. The goal at Swindon was great technique and reaction, but was also a 25-yard shot into an empty goal. The one at Crawley was created from absolutely nothing and he ran straight through them.”
Casperimp: “I have to say there have been some great goals this season Andrade, Danny Rowe etc. However, anyone who was there could say none other than McCartan’s goal at Swindon. It looked fantastic on TV but actually, there was even more stunning.
Quite possibly the best Lincoln goal I have ever witnessed.
It says something that when we came out even Swindon fans were saying one of the best goals they had seen!”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Favourite Cup Game of The Season:
This one was so, so easy. Everton all day long. I stayed on Friday and Saturday night. I really wasn’t looking forward to the Nottingham to Liverpool train, but then I saw Keith (NottyImp) and we sat together and enjoyed a chat and a drink. Then this was followed by a Friday night out in Liverpool with friends, followed by a fairly bad hangover on Saturday! The game itself was fantastic, as was the atmosphere. The game was followed by another night out in Liverpool with friends, then on Sunday, I went for a nice relaxing walk to Royal Albert Dock before leaving Liverpool.
NottyImp: “Everton for me. Never been to Liverpool or Goodison and had a cracking day out with Sincilbanks.”
Chesterimp: “Everton, before these away days at big Premier League clubs become so passe dahling! A good performance on and off the pitch and a great away day from the moment I left the house.”
sedgleyimp: “Port Vale away for me. Top performance showing that the team was gelling together from the very off.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Best Game of The Season:
This was difficult, but after some thought, I voted for Milton Keynes Dons away. The number of supporters we took was incredible, the atmosphere we made was incredible, and it really did feel like the day we won League Two. In terms of goals we scored last season, I don’t recall going quite as crazy as when Bruno scored the second to make it 2-0. I didn’t stop jumping up and down, like most in the away end, for several minutes.
berksimps: “Swindon away.
A monumental performance from the team and fans alike. Almost seemed like a victory, a passionate mix of knackered legs and knackered vocal cords.”
Swindon also: what an unbelievable “backs to the wall” performance. Towards the end every touch, every second of possesssion mattered.
Akinde and Pett, offering the only respite by taking the ball away from our area for as long as they could hold onto it for. The intensity of the game, and involvement and difference made by the away fans was second to none this season.
Milton Keynes away was a great gathering and a great victory but Swindon was bodies on the line, and nine men avoiding defeat when the odds were so stacked against them. And earlier there had been the little matter of McCartan’s goal of the season.
sedgleyimp: “Gone for Swindon away. Game with everything including McCartan’s wonder goal and then a sensational backs to the wall heroic performance by 9 players.”
hulloutpost: “Bury away for me. End to end stuff, proper game of full-on old school football in cracking weather conditions played in a good atmosphere (inside the ground) with 6 goals thrown in for good measure.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Worst Game of The Season:
Another easy one for me. Colchester United at home on the last day of the season. The less said about it the better.
Scotimp: “Carlisle away. Title for the taking, big away turnout, shot in the foot by Shackell, disjointed performance, kicked off the pitch, prima donna ref, first defeat in 20, deflated.”
Snats: “Stevenage home. To throw away a two-goal lead like that was so uncharacteristic of a Cowley team, and we were drawing a lot of games at that time. The only time all season where I briefly doubted our promotion credentials, more fool me.”
WellingtonImp: “Would say Colchester away, but the deflation after Stevenage at home was the worst.
But, wait. Colchester home has now taken the dubious honour of being worst match and performance. When you wanted to see out a wonderful season in style, to show a touch of class, there was nothing left in the tank.”
One thing I will add to this is that the three comments above were made before Colchester United at home. Things soon changed after that!
PerthImp: “Has to be Colchester at home. Not only were we not at the races for the first half, but even playing badly when did we last concede 3 at home without scoring?”
Metal Imp: “Colchester at home. Just like old times. Useful performance for the youngsters to see to make them aware of what we have had to put up with for years. I did enjoy the celebrations after the match!”
Thirsk Imp: “Has to be Colchester yesterday. But hey we are still the Champions of League 2. That will never be taken away from the history books!!!!”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Best Atmosphere of The Season:
It has to be Milton Keynes Dons away. Our supporters were singing from the first minute until the last. I was in the upper tier, but that didn’t stop me and the others around me from getting involved. The noise when we scored the goals, just wow! I could barely talk on the way home.
kettrin imp: “MK away for me. Just beat Everton.”
Snats: “MK away was actually pretty rubbish for me, we were right on the end of the Lincoln section and we were the only ones around us singing! It was incredible after Andrade’s goal but not before. Everton much better in my opinion.”
Impalex: “MK away – awesome!”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Comeback of The Season:
Another easy one for me to vote for. It simply had to be Milton Keynes Dons at home. MK had just scored, but I couldn’t hear their supporters because of the reaction to the Lancaster flying over. It was simply incredible, and felt like that is was gave everyone the lift they needed.
sedgleyimp: “Home to Exeter. 96th-minute to keep the unbeaten run going which I think galvanised the players to finish the job.”
StrangelyBrown: “MK Dons at home after going down 1-0 in the 64th minute, inspired by a Lancaster fly past and the last minute Shackell header. Bliss.”
Cricklewoodimp: “Exeter at home. There was so much more at stake by then.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Most Bitter Opposing Manager of The Season:
I didn’t actually vote on this one because I couldn’t make my mind up!
Casperimp: “Most League 2 managers but I have to say I think Flitcroft this season takes the prize.”
hulloutpost: “Cooper had moved onto acceptance but slipped back into anger with his steak and GOT references so he has to be in. In fact, I move that such has his sourness endured he should be inducted as the life president for this particular award.”
sedgleyimp: “Gone for the nonsense spouted by Flitcroft early season. It’ll be nice for him to win something this week.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Most Magnanimous Manager In A Post-match Interview:
Truth be told, I actually forgot to vote on this one. My mind was elsewhere while the polls were being done. I was fully focussed on a Fun Dog Show & Tabletop Sale, which turned out to be a huge success!
Snats: “Exeter manager Matt Taylor was quite complimentary after our win at their place:
“Full credit to Lincoln, they are top of the league for a reason and they really did mess us around today.”
That’s about as good as it gets from opposition managers, but that’s as it should be – they’re not paid to talk about us.
Marco Silva was apparently very generous with his words as well, although I think that was mostly in private.”
Imps2018: “Sol Campbell was good. But he had just won an unlikely point.”
westbanker: “Think Tisdale was most Magnanimous, but think he and Danny are mates, So gone for Mellon.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Best Goal Celebration:
Easy. Milton Keynes Dons away when Andrade made it 2-0. The way the bench, players on the pitch and the supporters in the stand celebrated was just incredible. One of the videos I have watched several times since the season finished is the one I have included below.
sedgleyimp: “John Akinde at FGR (headed goal).
Vital equaliser but the attitude of him and the players was a quick hand in the air acknowledgement/handshakes and an immediate come on let’s get another goal to win this game.
Proper old school celebration but also showed that the team were not settling for a point there.”
Chesterimp: “Bruno’s goal at MKD, whole team showed what it meant.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
Best Assist:
It has to be John Akinde to Bruno Andrade against Milton Keynes Dons, right? He didn’t handle it, did he? Well, not on purpose, anyway. The pass resulted in the goal that pretty much confirmed promotion and the League Two title!
Davidimp: “Rhead’s lay off for the 96th-minute goal against Exeter scored by Akinde, hugely important.”
sedgleyimp: “Harry Anderson for Akinde’s goal home to FGR. Tenacity to win the ball then possibly one of the few occasions during the season Big John was given a ‘Barnet’ type pass.”
Luke Imp: “Easy decision – O’Hara to Toffolo. Perfectly weighted, speed of thought and took three Oldham players out the game.”
Here’s how the poll finished:
"He has starred in way more threads than anyone else.":https://t.co/4FZDLrWTHz#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) June 21, 2019
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