Red Imps – Lincoln’s top award

POPULAR SPORTING DUO WIN LINCOLN’S TOP AWARD

Red Imps fans had another great reason to celebrate today, when it was announced that Lincoln City Football Club’s managers had won a top accolade.

Team manager Danny Cowley and his brother and assistant manager Nicky Cowley have been named winners of the 2018 Lincoln Civic Award, and they will be presented with the striking silver accolade at a private ceremony in the city’s Guildhall on April 12.

The Awards Trustees revealed that the Cowleys, who have transformed the football club’s fortunes – and who will be taking the Imps to Wembley on April 8 - were an obvious choice after receiving several nominations suggesting they were well worthy of the top honour.

Trustees Chairman Henry Ruddock said: “We were delighted to receive a good variety of nominations this year, for individuals and organisations from a wide range of sectors.

“The Cowleys had some competition, but the Trustees were unanimous in their decision that they should receive the Lincoln Civic Award.

“Everyone recognises how much they have done in turning around Lincoln City FC’s fortunes but, equally, they have put our wonderful city on the wider map and acted as ambassadors in ensuring more people worldwide now know how much Lincoln has to offer visitors.”

People who nominated Danny and Nicky were in no doubt that the pair should be credited with completely “revitalising and re-energizing” Lincoln City FC, which now regularly attracts gates of up to 10,000 people, including many visitors to the city.

One nominator said: “After six years in the non-league doldrums, Lincoln regained its place in the football league by winning the non-league title in May 2017.

“At the same time, Lincoln became the first non-league club for over 100 years to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, playing against Premiership sides such as Burnley and Arsenal.

“All this resulted in putting Lincoln firmly on the map with much media coverage at home and abroad.  What a wonderful view of a floodlit Cathedral appeared on our television screens during one televised match. It was such an excellent advert for Lincoln tourism.”

Danny and Nicky, who are former school teachers, have also been praised for the way in which they encourage young people to get involved with sport and how they have forged inks with schools, colleges, universities and local businesses.

The Award, which is presented annually, is presented to a person(s), charity or company which has, in the opinion of the Trustees, brought credit to the City of Lincoln.

The Cowleys join a glittering line-up of award-winning individuals, organisations and firms who have made a real difference over time or through one outstanding act or performance.

Previous winners include Candles (a cancer survivors’ charity set-up by Pam Connock and Dyllys Firth), The Red Arrows aerobatic display team, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Echo and The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia.

The highly-prized Lincoln Civic Award stands 19 inches high and features an eight-sided obelisk.  It was made by the late Lincoln silversmith Derek Birch.  The trophy was first presented in 1967.