HOWZAT FOR AN ALL-DUAL HERO!
AWAY from the rigours of a promotion push or relegation dogfight, March is normally the time of year when players, managers and the like dust down the holiday brochures in search of a well-deserved summer getaway.
But while his contemporaries prepare to hit the beach, it’s back to business for Dan Lincoln with his sporting endeavours only half fulfilled.
Indeed, for once the 27-yearold all-rounder has helped lead Dorking Wanderers through their first season in Non-League’s top tier, he will then swap his goalkeeping gloves for wicketkeeper’s and captain Berkshire towards a fifth National Counties League title in six years.
“I love playing football and I love playing cricket so I’ve got a pretty good life,” Lincoln told
The NLP.
“I’ve got two jobs that
I love, playing sport 52 weeks a year, so I consider myself very lucky.
“While cricketers are off for the winter…I couldn’t imagine myself staying at home doing nothing or going to IKEA with the missus. I’ve got the best of both worlds really.
“In order to make it work though, I have to have understanding from my coaches on both sides. Luckily, nothing clashes this year but in April when the
season comes to an end, we’re into cricket pre-season with the league only a couple of weeks way.
“It’s then relentless really until mid-September, while from July we’re back three times a week with the football and then there’s my business work during the day.
“It’s a tough schedule but I’m very lucky to have such an understanding manager in Marc [White]. Earlier this season, he gave me leave to miss the FA Cup game with Eastleigh to play for an England XI in the European Championships. He’s been brilliant.”
Fast-tracked
Lincoln’s early prowess in both fields was spotted at an early age with Reading FC’s academy keeping tabs on him from the age of eight, while Berkshire cricket scouts fast-tracked him towards his Minor Counties debut at the age of just 16 in 2012. After representing the second XIs of Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Northants and Warwickshire, Lincoln was snapped up by Middlesex for the 2019 t20 Blast, scoring 30 from 24 balls on debut, batting at number three.
On being released by Middlein November 2020, Lincoln signed for Kent and made his first-class debut in the County Championship against Sussex in July 2021 following a number of Covid cases in the Kent squad.
But while Lincoln was excelling on the cricket field, he was also making a mark between the sticks in NonLeague football, turning out for a number of Step 2 and 3 sides across the south-east, notably a three-year stint at Bognor Regis Town, where he made over 100 appearances for the Rocks.
After a second spell at Farnborough in November 2021, Lincoln joined Dorking Wanfootball derers the following month and subsequently helped White’s men gain an historic promotion from National League South.
Quality
An up-and-down first season at Step 1 has left the Wands with work to do if they are to secure their status next season but Lincoln is inspiring a spirited response with a manof-the-match display earning a 0-0 draw with FC Halifax Town last Saturday before the Wands came from behind to beat play-off chasing Barnet on Tuesday night.
“We play some really good football at times, it’s just maksex ing it count in both boxes,” Lincoln adds.
“There is so much quality in the National League. Whether it’s the top five or the bottom five, every team has two or three players who should be playing higher. It’s so unforgiving.”
So, if it came to it, would Lincoln ever be swayed to put all his eggs in one basket and choose one profession to plough his efforts into?
“I will never shut doors,” he added. “I enjoy playing both but if an opportunity arose in either cricket or football then of course I would take it on its merits. I’d never shut myself off.”