Cheltenham Town announced the signing of former Lincoln City player Ellis Chapman yesterday, bringing to an end the saga surrounding the youngster’s future.
The 19-year-old, who served both lincoln and Leicester City as a youth, was offered a new deal by League One Lincoln but opted not to sign. He has spent the summer searching for a new club, with Cheltenham finally securing his services after the board pushed through the budget for a new recruit.
Chapman was a darling of former Lincoln manager Danny Cowley, who trusted him enough to play him away at Everton in the FA Cup and joked he would be worth a couple of million one day. Last season, he appeared sporadically under new boss Michael Appleton, but wasn’t a regular first-team player, prompting him to look elsewhere for his football.
In the past, he was linked with moves to Derby County and Southampton amongst others but has now made the switch to Gloucestershire, looking to reignite his career. He played his most consistent football during a loan spell with Chesterfield, appearing 17 times for them in 2018/19.
Lincoln fans have been sad to see the youngster go. he came through their academy and is the son of former Imps’ prospect Darren Champman, and was very much ‘one of their own’ in terms of homegrown talent. They’ve spent the last 24 hours reacting to the move, as you’ll see below. One poster even likened him to Sam Clucas, the Lincoln-born youngster rejected by the club who later made multi-million-pound moves and played in the top flight.
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Good luck Ellis get your head down and become the next Sam clucks.
— martyn green (@impyblue) October 15, 2020
Hes gone from wearing the Imps retro 2020 shirt, to the exact replica of our 83 to 85 shirt 😳
Good luck Ellis, hopefully this move will really kick your career onwards.
— Dan Norton (@Dlnorton150879) October 15, 2020
Cracking player for a League Two side, ready for league two football immediately and imo he has premier league potential. Hope he does well.
— Alistair (@LincolnCity1884) October 15, 2020
Great signing for you lot….gutted he left before fulfilling his potential with us. Can play LB, LWB, CB, CM and probably LW. Great footballing brain on him and can deliver worldy passes…..look after him. He is a Lincoln lad….best of luck for the season.
— Chris Steadman (@impsteaderz) October 15, 2020
Got yourself a great young player there
— Meat Man (@Dazmanfreemo79) October 15, 2020
Good luck Ellis. Nice to see u sticking to your true colours. Shame it's a different badge 🔴⚪🔴⚪
— Karen Stevenson (@KlSte40) October 15, 2020
Got yourself a good young player there who is getting better and better.
— Si N Neat Tomlinson (@vinceandpen) October 15, 2020
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