Promotion would top Imps’ cup glory – boss
Nicky Cowley welcomes Lincoln City’s FA Cup success but insists that promotion to the Football League that would be a “life changer” for the club.
Sean Raggett’s late winner secured a shock 1-0 win at top-flight Burnley on Saturday that means the Imps are the first non-league club to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals since 1914.
Tomorrow, the Vanarama National League leaders resume their quest to return to League Two for the first time since 2011 when they visit North Ferriby, an achievement that Cowley insists would end a period of “mourning” at Sincil Bank.
“The league is a life changer for us all,” assistant manager Cowley said.
“We would like to be Football League challengers come May. The club got relegated five years ago and it’s a fantastic club, but we haven’t finished above 13th in this division since we were relegated.
“Since relegation, the club has drifted and lost its way. It’s almost like the club was in mourning.
“We’ve tried to work hard and add an enthusiasm and give the club a focus and purpose. We’ve inherited some good players and have managed to add some players to the group and they’ve been a credit to us.”
Lincoln’s success has placed the spotlight on Nicky and his brother Danny, who is Imps manager, but they are determined not to allow their heads to be turned by the attention and the possibility for approaches from other clubs.
Danny said: “It was an incredible feeling really to win the game like we did.
“We thought it was going to be a 1 in 100 chance. We grew in confidence and to score with a set-piece, which we work really hard on, was pretty apt.
“It just shows, if you’re willing to work hard, what you can achieve.
“Our supporters are Premier League. They deserve this moment. I’m so pleased for them.
“And our players were outstanding – they played for each other, for their families, and are rightly feeling proud as punch, because they deserve all the back-slapping they are no doubt going to get.”
Lincoln are chasing silverware on three fronts, placing a significant strain on the squad, but Danny favours continuity of selection over squad rotation despite the demands on playing resources.
“We have played 46 league games and we’re not playing on the quality of pitches that they have in the Premier League,” Danny said.
“We’ve done well in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, so we’ve played somewhere in the region of 45 games in mid-February.
“There are arguments around player load, we understand that.
“Nicky and I have sports science degrees so we understand the load issues.
“I look at a lot of teams that rotate and it doesn’t seem to be that successful.
“There’s a lot to be said for continuity and staying on method.”