“I am not a great fan of the likes of Liverpool or Leeds, but it would be totally wrong if they were denied their respective titles.”


We don’t know when we will be watching live football again and today we should have played our final League match of the season at home against Rochdale, so we have to do what we can to keep things ticking over on 100% Imps and the Front Page. We’ll be doing Q&As with our members and anyone else that would like to take part over the next few weeks. So, if you’d like to put yourself on the spot, please email lincoln@vitalfootball.co.uk.

This Q&A with Vital Lincoln City member Impalex has been published on three pages. To get to the next page, please press “Click here for the next page of answers!” at the bottom of the first page and “Next Page” at the bottom of the second, otherwise, you can find page two HERE and page three HERE.

Bonjour monsieur! Croissants ou pains-au-chocolat?

Croissants, every time!

Les Belges. Stupide? *

I spent a fair portion of my childhood and teenage years in Belgium, my grandmother lived in Brussels (I prefer to call it Bruxelles) and then I lived and worked in Dunkerque in northern France. I soon learned that there was a great deal of rivalry between the French and the Belgians, mostly involving humour; it is a bit like the English and the Irish. To answer your question though, no, not stupid but darned good at making chips and beer!

Avez-vous oublié comment parler français lorsque vous avez pris votre retraite?

Good question, well-phrased; ‘non’ would be my short answer!

Given your wife’s well-known proclivities, how did you avoid becoming a Chesterfield supporter?

You have a good memory. Yes, my wife is from Chesterfield but that is as close as I ever got to becoming a Spirerite. I do look out for their results, though, and am just a bit sad that they followed our path into non-league. It will be a while before they get back, I reckon.

Bearing in mind the pronunciation issue with the name Jorge – are you, Imp Alex, I’m Pale X, I’m Pal ex, Impale X, or something completely different?

Impalex is a combination of my third Christian name (Alexander) and the fact that I am an Imp. I like the ‘Impale X’ best as it reminds me of Vlad the Impaler!

Are you in the know?

I am not as ‘in the know’ as many others profess to be, although, as with a lot of people, I do get the occasional snippet of news which, if I believe it, I sometimes pass on.

Not seen any “you must do better” posts from you recently so I presume that we must be faring pretty well in our abilities with the written word. There must be one or two posters that still make you gnash your teeth (no names no pack-drill), but on the whole how would you rate out of ten our abilities as a totality.

I was expecting a question about this. I appreciate that I can sometimes be pedantic with regards the use of our wonderful language because I taught in a secondary school for the last 20 years of my working life and it used to irritate me when I saw the same mistakes cropping up time after time in school. The problem these days is that the commonest form of communication is the written form because so many people now use social media and the place is littered with misspellings, grammar and punctuation errors. As for a score out of 10? Well, it is not as bad as Facebook, so I will give you a collective 7.

When did you first start watching the Imps and why? For example, who introduced you?

As with most people, it was my father who introduced me to football and, particularly, Lincoln City. He had followed them since the end of the war and took me to my first match in March 1963 when I was 8 years old. Many on here will know it was that fateful, much-postponed FA Cup Third Round game Vs Coventry City. Even though we lost heavily, I was hooked. I was soon to play for my primary school team, Our Lady of Lincoln, and when told I’d be playing at right half, I felt pleased that I knew exactly where that was on the pitch, thanks to having watched the Imps; most of my teammates didn’t know where to position themselves! I remember thinking I could become the new Bunny Larkin who, at that time, sometimes played right half for the Imps. Did you know that he became the very first Imps player to be substituted?

What are your fondest memories supporting the Imps through the years?

Well, I have so many I could almost write a whole chapter on this, but I will cut it down to three.

1) The 8-1 win Vs Luton Town made me realise that sometimes things can go right! Even though we finished bottom of the whole Football League that year. I will never forget one of the headlines in the Football Echo that night “How WE scored” instead of the usual “How they scored.”

2) Fast forward to 1976 Lincoln City 5 Doncaster Rovers 0 – my first taste of promotion. To have been in the Clanford End that day was just magical.

3) Having my son (then 7 years old) appear on the pitch as mascot on Easter Saturday 1998 as we smashed Peterborough United 3-0!

Have there ever been any green-eyed moments where you wished you supported Peterborough instead of the Imps?

Yes, whenever they appeared at Wembley Stadium because we had never played there. Now that we have, mind, I do not care anymore! I guess you also have a good memory, like Scotty, and are aware that I have lived in and around the Peterborough area since 1971 and that my son-in-law and grandson are both season ticket holders at London Road.

What’s your favourite memory of any Peterborough – Imps matches?

February 1972 Posh 4 Imps 4 springs to mind. I seem to recall Dixie McNeil played that day and scored twice? A second most enjoyable occasion was as mentioned above when my son was mascot. However, the top memory has to be the game played on 23 December 2006, the ‘Amoo’s on fire’ game, where son and I in our Imps tops, were sat having a pre-match pint or two with aforementioned son-in-law in a pub full of Posh fans, We returned after the game, too! What a feeling that was.

What would your preferred way to end the 19/20 season be?

Cracking question, mate. I would prefer it to be played to a conclusion, even if that meant playing behind closed doors. Failing that, it would be wrong just to make the season null and void so I would go for the average points-per-game to be used. I am not a great fan of the likes of Liverpool or Leeds, but it would be totally wrong if they were denied their respective titles, Liverpool especially. As for Bolton and Southend, they deserve to go down!

"I am not a great fan of the likes of Liverpool or Leeds, but it would be totally wrong if they were denied their respective titles." - Do You Agree?

Yes

No

CLICK TO VOTE!

Don’t forget to read Page Two of this Q&A! – CLICK HERE!

Don’t forget to read Page Three of this Q&A! – CLICK HERE!

If you haven’t already had a go at the quizzes, they can be found here: Quiz No.1, Quiz No.2, Quiz No.3, Quiz No.4, Quiz No.5, Quiz No.6, Quiz No.7, Quiz No.8, Quiz No.9, Quiz No.10, Quiz No.11 and Quiz No.12.

When football “re-opens” will you attend immediately or wait to see if SARS-CoV-2 makes a dispiriting come-back?

Another remarkably interesting and topical question. In truth, I would love to be there, home or away because I have so missed my footie fix but I have passed the ripe old age of 65 this year so would need to be sure I, and everyone else for that matter, would be totally safe. Trouble is, I cannot see that happening until we have a vaccine.

Would you prefer to stay, or move from Sincil Bank?

Stay. Most definitely. Redevelop the LNER Sincil Bank stadium.

What is your normal agenda for a home Saturday match day, where do you park?

Joe (my son) and I drive up from where we live between Huntingdon and Peterborough via the A1 to Colsterworth then the back roads via Ancaster/Navenby and Waddington to the ground where I park behind the Stacey West as I pay for a car park season ticket. On our way back, we usually stop for a beer at our local pub, The Admiral Wells, which has the distinction of being the lowest pub in England!

Taylor or Cowley?

Difficult because although DC secured us two titles and a national cup, I passionately believe GT would have done similar had he been given the proper financial backing. The history books will say otherwise, though, so I will have to say Danny Cowley.

What have you “lost” in Sincil Bank?

Strange question. I am not sure I have ‘lost’ anything other than my marbles occasionally. Some things I have not lost at (or in) SB would include my wallet, my virginity, my way, my love of Lincoln City etc.

What is your post-match tipple?

If we pop into the our local (see above) we both enjoy a pint of Adnams Mosaic. Once home, it’s a wheat beer with lime for both of us. Later, it’ll be red wine with dinner, usually French, Italian or Spanish.

Getting back into the Football League after relegation is very difficult, so in your opinion what achievement rates the best with you, winning the GM Vauxhall Conference under Colin Murphy or winning the National League under the Cowleys and why?

Has to be the first one for the following reasons; we were the first club to be relegated automatically from the Football League, so it really was a massive sea change for all involved. Secondly, at that time there was only one promotion place from the (then) Conference, so much harder to claim that envious top spot. I respect the lack of an apostrophe in the word ‘Cowleys’!

Given the sclerotic nature of British politics, what single change would you make to improve the relationship between government and people?

What a wonderful word ‘sclerotic’ is, and I would like to bet this is the first time it has ever been used on this website! I would go further, and maybe ruffle a few feathers, and say that such a sclerotic stance is more likely to come from right field than left. I am not happy with the way that the government has handled this pandemic. How would I change this? Insist on a collective approach and give all politicians from whichever party the ability to make a difference. I quite like the way Nicola Sturgeon conducts herself over the border to the north. I would also be far more transparent in the way (truthful) information is disseminated.

How emotional were you at the final whistle when we beat Macclesfield and went up from the Conference? What were your memories and reflections?

I was in my normal seat towards the top of the lower section of the Co-op Stand and after hugging my son I definitely had a tear in my eye. Six years after witnessing at first hand all of those last eleven games of the 2010/11 season, here we were, back again where we belong. Remember, I had also seen us win the same title nearly 30 years earlier but this one was much more emotional. In keeping with tradition, we went onto the pitch.

Your favourite midfield player in all the years of supporting City, and why?

Roger Holmes because he had such grace, style and panache. Great player.

When are you finally going to get that dodgy knee of yours replaced?

As it happens, they kept telling me they would not operate unless I lost some weight (partly an excuse to save money!) In February this year, I joined Slimming World and you will be pleased to note that I have so far lost 24lbs and have every intention of continuing. As a consequence, my mobility has improved dramatically, so maybe I won’t need replacements.

Worst ever City manager and why?

This has to be Steve Tilson because he made some extremely poor decisions (e.g. letting Davide Somma go) which led to our relegation out the Football League.

The best foreign player you have seen in an Imps shirt?

Dany N’Guessan. I had the pleasure of having a decent chat with him, in his native language, on two occasions; first at Grantham Town’s Meres Stadium when he played for the Imps in a pre-season friendly and then outside Macclesfield Town’s Moss Rose ground after he had left us for Leicester City but he turned up at that game at the Moss to support us. Great guy, great player.

Do you have a second team whose results you look out for?

I actually have three; my first one would have to be USL Dunkerque as I used to watch them when I lived there in the ‘70s and have been back a number of times since. They currently play in the third tier of French football, same level as Lincoln City. When the football stopped, they were sitting in second place behind Pau with two automatically promoted; as I understand it, both will be promoted. In the Scottish Highland League, I follow Fort William FC, perennial strugglers! Locally, it is Yaxley FC, Southern League Central Division.

The best non-Lincoln player you’ve seen play live?

I was incredibly lucky to have been at Wembley to witness Harry Kane’s England début in March 2015. Going back many years, I was also fortunate to watch the very impressive Leeds Utd team in action in March 1968 as they played Bristol City in the FA Cup 5th Round. That team was littered with very well-known names; too many to mention here. In the mid- ‘70s I saw Rodney Marsh play against the Imps in a League Cup game at QPR and then, many years later witnessed Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) play at Sincil Bank for Boston Utd.

Don’t forget to read Page One of this Q&A! – CLICK HERE!

Don’t forget to read Page Three of this Q&A! – CLICK HERE!

If you haven’t already had a go at the quizzes, they can be found here: Quiz No.1, Quiz No.2, Quiz No.3, Quiz No.4, Quiz No.5, Quiz No.6, Quiz No.7, Quiz No.8, Quiz No.9, Quiz No.10, Quiz No.11 and Quiz No.12.

What are your first memories at Sincil Bank?

As mentioned above, my first game was in 1963, the much-postponed FA Cup 3rd round game Vs Coventry City. We lost 1-5 and I really remember how cold it was. Dad and I were in the South Park stand and a kind (old?) lady let me share her blanket to keep my legs warm. I was 8 years old.

I like the “which Imps player would you steal?” in the “Who Are Ya?” articles. Which other League 1 player would you like to see join us?

Yes, I enjoy that question (and the ensuing answers) too. I would have to go for Ivan Toney, scorer of 22 league goals for the Posh so far this season.

Who and why do you consider our biggest rivals?

It has to be Grimsby, from a historical perspective.

Favourite away ground and why?

League: London Road, Peterborough. Only because it is the nearest to my home!

Non-League: Cressing Road, Braintree, because we won there every time I went! (Four occasions!)

Which is your favourite Lincoln pub?

As I live 65 miles away, I don’t drink in any Lincoln pubs but, when I was living there (albeit as a 15/16-year-old) I liked the Monson Arms on Skelly Road.

If it were up to you, would you have any of our recent ex-players back in the current Imps team? If yes, which and why?

Matt Rhead, because he is just awesome! He reminds me of Percy Freeman and I honestly believe that he could still do a job for us. I will never forget his brace at Braintree on a Tuesday night, or his flick-ons for the like of Luke Waterfall at FGR or Nathan Arnold at Gateshead. Legend, without a doubt.

What’s your biggest football moment?

When I lived and worked in France, I played semi-pro football but when we moved back to England just before Christmas 1977, I decided to drop down to Sunday League football, just as a hobby and something sporty to do. I was eventually persuaded to sign for Thomas Cook’s team and in the early summer of 1982 Thomas Cook headquarters (in Peterborough) held a big charity day, the centrepiece being a football match between a TC 11 and an ‘all-stars’ team. Dave ‘Boy’ Green, Billy Kellock, Tommy Robson and various others played for the ‘all-stars’, but the big news was, Justin Fashanu was also going to play in the second half. At that time, he was at Forest under Brian Clough who had given him strict instructions that he was only to be there in a ceremonial capacity (he had a gorgeous blonde lass on his arm) but that he was not to play! He did. I think the game ended 2-2 and I played centre-half and recall being elbowed in the face by Billy Kellock who played for Posh at the time. Later, as we all took a shower after the game, in walked you-know-who, totally naked. Remember, nobody knew his sexual leanings at that time, remember also the gorgeous blonde lass on his arm; it had nothing to do with any of that why most people hurried embarrassedly out of the shower as he came in. I will leave the reasoning for this to your imagination! Also note, he was loaned out to Southampton shortly after this episode, and never played for Forest again.

Don’t forget to read Page One of this Q&A – CLICK HERE!

Don’t forget to read Page Two of this Q&A – CLICK HERE!

If you haven’t already had a go at the quizzes, they can be found here: Quiz No.1, Quiz No.2, Quiz No.3, Quiz No.4, Quiz No.5, Quiz No.6, Quiz No.7, Quiz No.8, Quiz No.9, Quiz No.10, Quiz No.11 and Quiz No.12.

Exit mobile version