From The Archive: Lincoln City Claim Title on Final Day in Season 1987/88

Words by Steve Whitney

Attacking players would not be deemed offside directly from a free-kick.

The rule change was not deemed a success and not subsequently introduced at a higher level.

Lincoln City, who became the first team to suffer automatic relegation from the Football League, had been made the bookmakers' favourites to make an immediate return.

They remained full-time and made eight new signings.

It didn't start well for the Imps, however, as they suffered back-to-back opening away defeats at Barnet and Weymouth.

But it was another month before they lost again following four wins and a draw, which settled them down in their new surroundings.

Manager Colin Murphy suddenly had an extra £85,000 in his coffers after goalkeeper Lee Butler was sold to Aston Villa, and he invested £48,000 of it by setting a new non-League record on Port Vale striker Paul Smith.

The Imps couldn't shake off Barnet, but a 2-1 Sincil Bank victory over the Bees ended an impressive run of 29 away games without defeat by Barry Fry's side.

Fry attempted to out-do Murphy on the signing front too, and it looked like the big-money purchases of Noel Ashford, Garry Abbott, Andy Lomas and Nicky Bissett would pay off.

Lincoln kept going and the crowds certainly responded – home and away – as their away following boosted most attendances on their travels.

Attendances rose by a massive 86 per cent and a new Conference record 9,432 crowd paid to watch the Imps clinch the title in their final game of the season against Wycombe Wanderers.

However, with ten games remaining, Lincoln found themselves five points adrift of leaders Barnet.

Kettering Town had been on a great run and had moved back into title contention as outsiders. They had played three games more than Lincoln.

The Imps had to go to Rockingham Road in April which, on paper, was the most difficult of their remaining games.

And in front of an all-ticket crowd of 4,135, the Poppies drew level on points with their rivals after a 2-0 win- thanks to goals from Paul Richardson and Andy Tilson.

Kettering were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at Enfield, who won the FA Trophy at the end of the campaign, and were soon out of the race, leaving it a straight contest between Barnet and Lincoln.

Ironically, it was a player who would go on to become a firm favourite with Kettering fans for over five years, Phil Brown, who bagged the decisive second goal as the Imps overcame Wycombe on the final day.

Barnet had won 2-0 at Welling United but it was too little too late for them

A poor run of just nine points from their last nine games ultimately cost them the title.