Former Lincoln man Gareth Ainsworth has given the Shrews a fighting chance of survival, instilling a never say die attitude into his side that was familiar to that of his Wycombe sides over the past decade.
Imps Career
His playing career sparked plenty of attention though. Ainsworth featured in the Premier League but also achieved cult-hero status at numerous clubs. One of those sides was Lincoln City, and despite his relatively short spell at Sincil Bank, he always looks back on his time with Lincoln with particular fondness. Speaking exclusively to the Real EFL, he said:
“I signed for Lincoln when we were about 6 points adrift at the bottom of the table. The only reason I went there is because John had managed Preston and he got the best out of me. I think he paid a little bit of money for me and that was great that somebody actually thought I was worth something, so that made me a better player.
“At the start it took me about two or three games to settle in, but after that I thought to myself ‘I can take the bull by the horns here’. In Lincoln, back in those days, the A46 was a single road and it took us about two hours to get anywhere else so you might as well have lived in Lincoln.”
Lincoln And The Area
John Beck was an instrumental figure in Ainsworth’s career, signing him for the third time in his career to bring him to Lincolnshire. Scoring 22 times in his first full season set a very high bar, but he twice won the club’s Player of the Year during his two seasons at the club.
Being named fourth in a vote of Lincoln Legends in 2007 rubberstamps his impact on supporters despite spending just shy of two years in Lincolnshire. But it was also the area that he also warmed to, leaving a lasting impact almost two decades later.
“Everyone lived and partied in Lincoln, just before the university came, so we were a little bit crazy, probably the second crazy gang. There were players like Jon Whitney, Stevie Holmes and Barry Richardson, some real good lads who would play hard as much as they would work hard. We had great team spirit, at the top of our game we scrapped and played every game like it was almost a night out. We were that together and were there for each other; that was team spirit epitomised.
“We made the Play-Offs, then the next season they got promoted but I had left for Port Vale. Without Lincoln, I wouldn’t played in the Premier League and probably wouldn’t be the manager I am now. So that place warms my heart, I lived in a place called Heighington. The town was just brilliant, the people took us to their hearts and we had some great success and I’m really pleased to see them flying after they went into Non-League.”
