It's Saturday 9 May 1987: 5.02pm. Lincoln City have lost 2-0 at the Vetch Field, Swansea: nothing unusual there. Elsewhere, Burnley have beaten Orient 2-1 in front of almost 16,000, and a police dog called Bryn has bitten Torquay United's Jim McNichol; in stoppage time Paul Dobson, later to join City under Steve Thompson, has popped up with a last gasp equaliser.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-1/
So, we are heading down the A1 to Barnet on the morning of 22 August 1987, a pleasant sunny day on which to take a huge step into the unknown. Arrival at Underhill confirms that we really are a non-league club now: the ground is small, with corrugated stands and a ridiculous sloping pitch.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-2/
By the end of September 1987, early season anxiety had been replaced by cautious optimism. Following a disastrous start at Barnet and Weymouth, City had recovered well to sit 7th in the table, a mere 7 points behind leaders Barnet. Murphy had strengthened his squad regularly as the size of the task ahead of him became clear.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-3/
At the end of 1987, City were gaining some momentum. The squad was relatively settled after a challenging start; Mick Waitt had been lost to a broken leg, but the vastly experienced Steve Buckley was back following 4 months out with a back injury. Goals were flowing, Sincil Bank had become a fortress, and crowds were coming back in very good numbers.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-4/
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-1/
So, we are heading down the A1 to Barnet on the morning of 22 August 1987, a pleasant sunny day on which to take a huge step into the unknown. Arrival at Underhill confirms that we really are a non-league club now: the ground is small, with corrugated stands and a ridiculous sloping pitch.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-2/
By the end of September 1987, early season anxiety had been replaced by cautious optimism. Following a disastrous start at Barnet and Weymouth, City had recovered well to sit 7th in the table, a mere 7 points behind leaders Barnet. Murphy had strengthened his squad regularly as the size of the task ahead of him became clear.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-3/
At the end of 1987, City were gaining some momentum. The squad was relatively settled after a challenging start; Mick Waitt had been lost to a broken leg, but the vastly experienced Steve Buckley was back following 4 months out with a back injury. Goals were flowing, Sincil Bank had become a fortress, and crowds were coming back in very good numbers.
https://lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/conference-champions-1987-88-part-4/