26/3/2024 0 Comments Lady Imps - MediaLady Imps – Media.
As Lady Imps we are keen to discuss all things Lincoln City both the Men’s and Women’s team. This can be to discuss latest news, upcoming events or our view as an opposition fan. If you want to find out more please do contact us via our contacts page.
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26/3/2024 0 Comments Fan ShareYou may have read recently (or you were present at the Club’s AGM) where they spoke about the Fans’ Share (known as The Golden Share by some clubs) and be wondering what does this actually mean and how did it become ‘a thing’?
Over the past 18 months, I have been a representative for LISA on the Fan Led Review panel which was created following the announcement of the Tracey Croucher review into how clubs are run. As a panel, we looked at what was going to be recommended in the report and started working together to come up with a plan going forward that would ensure LCFC met the recommendations. Any group representing fans was invited to sit on the panel and this included RICT, FAB, LISA, 617, Banter, Red Imps Travel, Vitals, Stacey West Podcast and FPS) Some of the invited attendees opted not to attend as they felt that they were not in a position to fully be able to represent fans. Once the White Paper was put before parliament - it was clear that some of the recommendations were not going to be made mandatory, but we felt that we and the club felt that we should go above the mandatory recommendations and implement some of the original recommendations from the report. In essence, going above and beyond what was required. This included issuing a ‘Golden Share’ (which we all decided to rename the Fans’ Share) to be held by the RICT as they had in place the very stringent legal requirements needed. This means that if the club wanted to implement any heritage changes (such as change of playing colours, change of badge from an Imp to something different, change of ground location, change of ownership, change name of Stacey West stand) - the fans will be consulted and if there is strong opposition - the fans can object to the change. There was a minor amendment made to the location clause that we implemented following discussions with the club, to allow a move of ground to be within the A46 perimeter without consultation to allow for a balance to be struck and for future investment opportunities. Any rational and business plans would be brought to meetings with RICT and FAB and if there is a disagreement, and the club have strong feelings, it can go the the independent regulator (when appointed). The Fans Share is designed to future proof the club and have protections in place. The Independent Regulator would look to see if fans opinions have been taken into account and taking the matter to the IR is declaring an arbitration method; a resolution process and not a veto. The mechanism is to resolve deadlock. Lady Imps are happy to be joined by EDAN Lincs on the fanzone for the Barnsley game. We will have a tombola with lots of Imps goodies to win, as well as information about Edan Lincs. Edan Lincs are joining us as part of the White Ribbon campaign which aims to end violence against Women and Girls. We stand with Edan Lincs against Domestic Abuse. To find out more do come and see us on the fanzone or if you want to speak directly to EDAN Lincs please do call them on 01522 510041
The World Cup kicks off in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022. It’s a tournament which has drawn comment and criticism for off field issues including, human rights, slavery and the policies and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. Closer to home major tournaments and high profile matches are often accompanied by reports around the prevalence of domestic abuse suffered by people when the football is on. It’s a subject we are pleased to be looking at with our partners Edan Lincs. Fundamentally perpetrators must not be allowed to use football as an excuse to abuse. Here at Lady Imps Supporters Association we actively work to promote and encourage the involvement of women at Lincoln City FC, Lincoln City Women FC and across football more widely. Our clubs have been supportive in our work to acknowledge and welcome women supporters - together we led the way in doing so when we started in 2017. We know that the majority of football supporters are just like people in any other walk of life, some wanting a traditional match day with some beer and cheer, others looking for a family friendly day out. There are many ways to support your team and there’s room for everyone. There is no room for hate or violence. Lady Imps promotes inclusion and diversity in our game. We also cannot ignore the sexism displayed by a minority in football, mostly on social media but occasionally at the game. We support the #HerGameToo movement and defend the right of women to enjoy a safe space in football. Violence against women and girls is also recognised as an issue for many and we echo the voice of our partners, Edan Lincs, that the use of football as an ‘excuse’ to abuse partners and children is abhorrent and an afront to the values of the game. We urge media and other organisations to consider circumstances carefully before labelling football as the cause of such violence and thereby diverting the blame from the perpetrators to our game, and tainting fans. With the World Cup commencing in the coming months we will work together to highlight our stand against violence and abuse of women, men and children and blaming football as a trigger will not be tolerated. You may have read statistics around the increase in domestic abuse incidents around football games or tournaments and indeed there is some data to support this; A study in 2014 by academics at Lancaster University looked at the number of reports of abuse to a police force in the north-west of England during three football World Cups. They found that such reports increased by 26% when the national team won or drew, and by 38% when the team lost (other studies suggest abuse is worse when England wins). The Economist Further studies which are detailed in the same article in The Economist indicate that it’s not the heightened emotion or ‘passion’ which results in people being violent or abusive. The studies also found it wasn’t losing a game which caused anger, in turn leading to violence. The violence also wasn’t at its highest immediately after a final whistle. The study found that alcohol was the factor which increased the number of reported incidents. So while all day or post match binge drinking may take place on a match day, it seems the booze in the blood not the balls in the net contribute to the culprits actions! It’s always the responsibility of the perpetrator, even those with alcohol problems. Anecdotally a victim of domestic abuse will suffer many incidents before confiding in anyone or reporting to police. In the year ending 2021, women account for almost 75% of reported abuse victims according to the Office for National Statistics. Many women don’t call Police until they are in fear for their lives, they just want the abuse to stop. Of course abuse happens to men and in LGBTQ+ relationships and there are details of support below. So what is Domestic Abuse? can you spot the signs and how can you help if you think someone is suffering? For more information on what Domestic Abuse is and where to find help go to Edan Lincs (End Domestic Abuse Now) Finally, did you know women and girls were banned from playing football in 1921 and only allowed to play 50 years later in 1971. The legacy of the perception that this is purely a 'man's game' is taking time to undo, but there’s been a huge amount of work creating space for women. There are now more opportunities than ever for women and girls of any age and ability to play, support or get involved in other ways to enjoy the game. We also know there are issues faced by women and girls in the game with some people finding it difficult to adjust to the fact that football is enjoyed by everyone. However this is not generally the overriding experience of supporters attending games. There is a sense of community and belonging which is hard to match. It can be noisy, friendly, funny, frustrating, sometimes a bit sweary, but overall a brilliant afternoon out. We will be with Edan Lincs at the LNER Fan Village on Saturday 12th November when we play Plymouth. As we look ahead to the World Cup we ask #Imps to support a stand against domestic abuse by wearing a white ribbon for White Ribbon Day on the 25th November - we'll be giving White Ribbons away and offering some great prizes. More stats on Football and Domestic Abuse Fullfact.org World Cup Domestic Abuse; England & Wales November 2021 Office for National Statistics If you need help or advice contact; EDAN Lincs Domestic Abuse Service Outreach Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Refuge Hours: Monday - Friday: 8.30am – 8.30pm Tel: 01522 510041 General Enquiries: [email protected] Facebook: Edan Lincs | Twitter: @edanlincs | Instagram: @edanlincs National Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 2000 24 – 24 hour freephone helpline Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327 Broken rainbow – LGBT Helpline – 0300 999 5428 Call 999 in an emergency - press 55 if it’s not safe for you to speak and Police will know you need them This blog was written just ahead of the last fixture of the season and of course we've not only seen the departure of the Big Apple (to mixed reviews) but also the appointment of Mark Kennedy (yet to receive an Imps nickname). So, while the inevitable coming's and goings over the off season will continue, here's a reflection on what last season was for us (see our favourite StaceyWestBlog for on field matters). No promotion, or play off .. relief is just a different sort of celebration, right? I’m sure we’ll be chewing the fat about; the inconsistencies, injuries, frustrations, the run of form (or rather lack of), together with a lack of luck!, for years to come. While the world (rightly) has bigger ‘fish to fry’, and while individuals, families and friends have no doubt had their hurdles or worse to bear, I’d like to think on reflection there’s been a lot that’s been good at Lincoln this season. We’ve seen some delicious #Imps games - when we've hit our stride or our opponents have missed theirs, we’ve enjoyed some good results and away days. We’ve seen some players develop and grow into their game, and a few wow and delight us. Michael Appleton has actually been with us throughout the season despite huge personal health issues. The club is still looking to grow and secure its roots in the community - the investment in the revised Stacey West Stand looks to the medium and long term; towards rewards which will benefit thousands of people in our city. This will bring benefits we may not be able to predict right now, but there’s every chance it could eventually enhance the on pitch opportunities. So while it’s not been the euphoria of recent years, steady hands and belief mean we're still in League One and surely that’s an achievement worth celebrating! And what about Lady Imps? I thought we’d had a fairly quiet season.. and hadn’t felt there was a lot to shout about in our fifth birthday season. But when I look back I’m amazed, grateful and feel blessed. The support we have is appreciated and absolutely vital - ‘likes’ feel encouraging and we all need that, paid memberships really do enable us to keep going and most of all we love seeing you at the club. From our Committee including myself, Jackie Atkins, Julie Romain, Kirsty Lalka, Emma-Lou Stirling, Nicky Dring & Adele Would we'd like to say THANK YOU x Perhaps the project which has quietly made the most difference and one we’re all hugely proud of is the #ImpsMatchdayWelcome project. Supporters, and fellow fans including Red Imps Community Trust, Imptoons & Stacey West Blog helped fundraise to buy season tickets to use for underrepresented or disadvantaged members of our community. Lincoln City FC matched our efforts. We invited people suffering loneliness or isolation, who live with mental health or learning disabilities, minorities from different ethnic or national backgrounds, all to come to their first football game. These included ‘Alive & Kicking, Linkage, families in Lincoln from Russia, Poland, East Timor and others. There’s more to do but the joy for the 40 or so guests we hosted was a privilege to see, the guest family who had recently arrived from Ukraine especially touched all our hearts. Thanks to everyone who helped make it work. The #FansForDiversity project also treated us to a new flag The Football Supporters This season has seen us connect with emerging supporter groups for women fans across the pyramid. From the Amber Belles of Cambridge and Doncaster Rovers Women Supporter Group, to being part of Dons Trust ‘Women at the Game’ event at Plough Lane. Together with the club we partnered with the #HerGameToo campaign which took social media and football by storm. We’re looking ahead to meeting Women of Watford and fans at Fulham. #HerGameToo As supporters we must also celebrate the achievements of Lincoln City Women FC, especially their fantastic FA Cup run to the 4th round taking on LIverpool. Goalless until just before half time, pegging the reds (who went on to achieve promotion to the WSL) to just 6 goals was no mean feat. Congratulations on a great season - the first complete season since forming in 2019! The launch of the Lincoln City Women’s Academy Girls and the Girls BTEC programmes by Lincoln City Foundation sees the football pathway open for all at the club. Lincoln City Women FC As part of the Football Supporters Association we also contributed to the Government’s Fan Led Review urging Government and Football stakeholders to implement change to protect the national game. We wrote to local MP’s requesting they support the recommendations from MP Tracey Crouch - their responses were positive. We very much welcome the announcement from Government that the review's recommendations will be implemented and that there will be a separate review of the Women’s Game starting this year. More on that here FSA As part of celebrations of International Women’s Day 2022 we were invited to be part of the coverage by the EFL and Sky Sports highlighting women supporting their local clubs. And to round off the year of course we were delighted to see the launch of the #MyCityMyShirt showing the diverse fan base we have. Our Chair Maria Ryder worked with the FSA, the club and fans to create it and thanks everyone at the club, Gary Hutchinson, Amanda Slater and Danny Nesbitt and all those who took part and everyone who bought a shirt. Of course there is always more to do to reach out to anyone who wants to be at football but thinks it might not be for them and we’ll continue to support initiatives which enhance the Lincoln City family. All in all as we think of the 21/22 season having marked our 5th Birthday, albeit sadly no party, there's much to be positive about. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to us!! Come on we’re looking forward to next season already aren’t we? Derby.. Posh.. the VEGGIES !!!! If you support what we do please join our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. If funds allow please consider becoming a member 2022/23. The £5 covers our costs for badges and our website. www.ladyimps.co.uk/membership.html
If you’d like to get involved we’d welcome helping hands too [email protected] 6/7/2021 0 Comments #ImpsMatchdayWelcomeFirstly this is an opportunity for any Imp who hasn’t got a season ticket to WIN a pair of Season Memberships by entering a prize draw here - tickets are £5 and you will find T & C’s here when you buy If you are already a season ticket holder and win the prize you can receive a refund on two season tickets. The fundraising project is to support the new #ImpsMatchdayWelcome. It's a project bringing supporters and both Lincoln City FC and Lincoln City Women FC reaching out to communities across the county. Fans are looking ahead to the prospect of attending games back at LNER Sincil Bank with no Government restrictions next season. We're excited at the prospect of not only seeing the team in the flesh, cheering them on! And being with our football family and friends again. We know football has a special way of bringing people together and arguably the feeling of thousands of Imps erupting in goal scoring joy Sincil Bank is one of the best feelings in the world. That shared exhilaration is addictive. The bond that tangible emotion can bring is quite incredible when you think about it. The Lady Imps Supporters Association was born out of the discovery of the feelings football can bring. Being part of a club. To be honest it was the loss to York City in the FA Trophy 2017 which stirred inexplicable sadness and disappointment. It was a surprise as football had previously been irrelevant. It triggered a realisation that football, with its highs and lows can mean so much. It was the desire to share the highs which drove the formation of the group; recognising and celebrating the women already attending, were still a minority. It was also about acknowledging many more had a perception the game had little to offer; that the portrayal of football in the 70’s and 80’s was still the landscape of the game in the late 20-teens. I had discovered it certainly wasn’t and I wanted to shout about it, to anyone; but especially women like me. I wanted to say to people, 'Come and see! Its amazing! It’s not what you might have thought it was like at all'. We know our club is welcoming and offers a fantastic match day experience - the trouble is there’s still lots of people ‘out there’ who don’t realise that. It’s a troublesome tightrope to walk. Looking at the national picture we have to acknowledge that people from different racial, cultural or religious backgrounds have been, and are, verbally abused (or worse) during incidents at football. People from the LGBTQ+ community have also faced abuse and discrimination. Disabled people also face barriers to attending games either because of abuse or a lack of understanding about how to meet their needs (often fairly straightforward adjustments). The game is changing and inclusion is gaining traction across the game - because why shouldn’t someone with a visual impairment, a hijab, or a gay couple attend our games. I hear the argument that we don’t need projects like this because anyone can come to the games anyway - why do ‘they’ need a special project. A few reasons, I’ll be brief; Personal experience - previous negative experiences around football put people off trying again. Lack of experience - if you are from a minority group, perhaps having been subject to discrimination in other settings, what would give you the confidence to think you can stroll into an unfamiliar environment, with thousands of other people who know what they’re doing, seem to know each other and probably all look fairly similar when you may be obviously ‘different’. That’s a big ask in most people’s book. And while you might argue that going to a gig or a festival is the same thing, big crowds etc. let’s be right, football IS different, it is tribal and there are unwritten ‘codes of conduct’. If you have no reference points because you’ve never been before that’s daunting. It might be as basic as how to buy a ticket and where to sit. Things which seem obvious to regular fans can seem complicated to the uninitiated. The media and Social Media. As an ex-journo I have sympathy and respect for lots of great people who work in the industry, particularly local press and broadcasters who tend to know their patch and its people. We know the TV and radio will do features with excitable fans prior to a BIG game, all positive and bubbly. Understandably the negatives, greed, corruption, abuse and yes sometimes violence, are also reported. It's me view that the negatives are often skewed with generalisations and outdated stereotypes about fans. In my experience violence directly related to football is rare, but you might not think that if you follow media coverage. Coverage of a lot of positive amazing work done to celebrate the game is sparse to say the least. Social Media again often reflects the worst some so called ‘fans’ bring to the game, seeing abusive or unwelcoming language will put potential fans off. The landscape is changing .. and there are many social media accounts promoting football for everyone. #FansForDiversity being one. History - let’s face it anyone over the age of 40 remembers the news stories - in fact any coverage of football in the 70’s and 80’s. The imagery is memorable. And it’s not an environment you’d want to take your kids to. And while it might not be like that anymore - memories and perceptions linger and get passed down the generations. I think about the Bangladeshi community living on the doorstep of Valley Parade, Children hurried inside by anxious parents on match day while the ‘fans’ stomped down their streets shouting racist abuse and throwing bricks. Those children are now parents. Why would you think its changed - unless you see it for yourself. But what would make you want to take the risk? It’s not enough to internally or verbally abhor racism, and other discrimination. We have to actively show we stand against it, to give others confidence that it's not a tick box exercise. We have to show that we want anyone and everyone in Lincolnshire to support our team, and we do that by reaching out, saying welcome and bringing new Imps on board. I don’t know of any club which would say it doesn’t need more fans. The pandemic has tested everyone; the boards and staff of football clubs, ours included. To flourish we need to ensure everyone who wants to can feel part of the Imps family; attending regularly or sometimes, supporting from afar geographically, virtually, buying every season's new kit or a programme every now and again. Everyone starts somewhere.. So we ask Imps and the people of Lincolnshire for your support. Support the project, buy a ticket, make a donation, tell us about people who would love to come and experience a day at the Bank! You can find out how to nominate or get in touch about the project below. What Lady Imps Supporters Association has done before? We've seen the how everyone has enjoyed Lincoln City FC's success, it's galvanised the city. Yes some miss out. We are part of the #FansFor Diversity project (a joint campaign run by the FSA and Kick It Out). Here's a poster we created in 2018 to encourage people to come and find out more about out=r club. We have previously hosted people from the Eastern European community, linking with the Lincolnshire Polish Society. We've also hosted families from the Afghan Hazara community in Lincoln. Our fan exchange project also built friendships with the Bangla Bantams fan group at Bradford City AFC – furthering historic ties with the West Yorkshire club. It’s brought new people together, new people to the club and is part of enhancing the clubs values around inclusion. Supporters at Lincoln City FC have come together to encourage those from different communities or groups to come and experience a match at LNER Stadium – especially if they’ve never been to a game before. The Lady Imps Supporters Association (L.I.S.A) is working with Lincoln City Foundation and other supporters to raise money to purchase a group of season memberships to enable members of the community to attend a league fixture during the 2021/22 campaign. A star prize of a pair of Season Membership tickets are available for the winners of the fundraising raffle, among other great prizes including;
More prizes will be announced in due course. With all raised funds being used to purchase Imps Season Memberships, the Lincoln City FC board have kindly offered to match the final total allowing seats at LNER Stadium to be allocated to disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in our local community. If the lucky winner has already renewed their Season Membership for the 2021/22 campaign, the Club will issue you with a full refund. The draw will take place week commencing 2nd August. Details tbc. Your digital raffle ticket will be entered into the prize draw. You will receive a confirmation email of your purchase, check your spam/junk folder. You will receive a further email confirming your raffle ticket numbers. To nominate a group to receive these tickets for a league fixture during the upcoming season please email, [email protected] Thanks for your fantastic support, and good luck Imps! #ImpsAsOne 11/9/2020 0 Comments #FootballVoicesAs part of the Fans For Diversity campaign the Football Supporters Association is developing a series of features talking to football fans from different backgrounds about their experiences.
In this one our very own Lincoln City supporter Delores, speaks to Maria about her experiences and we also hear from Samsun who took part in the Bangla Bantams fan exchange with Lady Imps. You can read more by following the link here And the previous article in the same series here Click on the logo to take you to the competition details
Gary Hutchinson from the Stacey West Blog and podcast has lent his support to encourage young Imps to get writing about their club while at home. Gary will be helping to judge the entries and will also publish some entries before the finals! He's very excited to see what you are going to come up with and to help you on your way, here he outlines some handy tips to help you prepare ….
By Maria Ryder Supporters of Lincoln City FC hold many former players dear to their hearts, but especially Richard Butcher. Richard joined the club for the first of his three spells as an Imp in 2002 when another Lincoln hero, manager Keith Alexander signed him from Kettering. It was to be a partnership which is forged in Lincoln City history and recalled with deep affection. As a midfielder Richard was a key part of the Imps ‘oh so close’ promotion pushing side in the early 2000’s. He later returned on loan for a short time in 2005, before coming back again in 2009/10. He left for the last time to join Keith Alexander who was then managing Macclesfield Town. Just over a month later Richard was the last person at the club to speak to Keith who died suddenly in March 2010. Keith was already cemented in the love of Imps, so although he was managing another side his death shook the Lincoln City FC family. When Richard, who was just 29 passed away suddenly ten months later in January 2011, cruel fate seemed unbearable. Acknowledging the distressing tragedy for both families first and foremost, for Imps fans these untimely and unexpected events has underlined a period of the clubs history and ensured these two men are treasured in our memories. It’s one thing to remember with fondness the gift a player or manager has given a club, especially after they’ve died but what about the families left behind? We as fans know football can be all consuming, and for parents seeing a child through to achieving their dream means everyone is immersed in football - you give your time, energy and soul to the game. For Gail and Butch, Richard’s parents, the memories of Richard are of course meshed in the game and with the length of time Richard spent with the Imps, Lincoln is a special place. They visit the city and the club regularly and some L.I.S.A members were privileged to spend some time with them recently. Gail spoke to Maria Ryder about a young Richard Butcher. Part 1 below... So what about the move to Lincoln and Keith Alexander. Part 2 below .... Gail also spoke about losing Richard and bereavement.. Part 3 below.... Since Richard’s death, in trying to sort his affairs, Gail discovered that there are rules in place which would appear to be not only unfair but override the wishes of someone who’s died. In summary; if you have a private financial arrangement such as a pension, which is managed by a company, you can indicate what you would like to happen to that money in the event of your death - your ‘expression of wishes’. However, Gail says she has discovered that even if you are named as a beneficiary of someone’s wishes, the trustees of the money are not obliged to inform you and can also decide to override those wishes and allocate the money elsewhere. This is because the word ‘discretionary’ is used in the wording of the ‘expression of wishes’. The financial body is given the discretion to consider what you requested, but can disregard it. Gail is petitioning for this word ‘discretionary’ to be removed so that people’s ‘expression of wishes’ are followed. Gail needs more support for her campaign and you can find out more by clicking the link below. By L.I.S.A Committee
We are delighted to announce that on Friday 20th September, L.I.S.A was declared winner of the inaugural FSA Fans for Diversity award for League 2 (2018-2019 season). The award was presented at the Fans for Diversity awards ceremony held at the HQ of Amnesty International in London. Having won the award, L.I.S.A is now entered for the third successive year into the annual FSA Awards back in London in December. We are incredibly proud to be flying the flag for the Imps as we continue to promote and encourage a whole range of supporter diversity to our fan base and in helping with community and club ties. The L.I.S.A loco continues at speed with over 140 paid members, women and men. We are now also active in promoting the women’s game, supporting the great people at Lincoln City Women FC, raising funds and hosting the first LCWFC fan engagement event. We look forwards to an exciting future, hoping to create new and fresh projects, working with a range of groups using the power of football to make a positive difference to club and community. Thank you for your continued support |
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