Lincoln City FC - Reinstate the Stacey West Please!

Now. I am not a fan of locating myself in the Stacey West stand at Sincil Bank. For me the view is not what I am looking for but for many that is not the case.

The Stacey West Stand pre-match

The Stacey West, remember it is named after Bill Stacey and Jim West two life-long Imps fans who tragically lost their lives in the horrific Bradford fire, has always been viewed as a "home-stand" and should be regarded as just that. In my mind it has always been a rather perverse idea that it should be used for away fans and I know that I am far from alone in that belief.

When the decision to give the stand to the "away fans" was made the major effect was to move the "617 Squadron" into the upper tier of the Co-Op despite the resistance of many to the decision. "617" have never really sat, or should I say stood, comfortably there and there have been problems. Thankfully, these problems have been overcome but the feeling still remains that the Co-Op is not their proper home. Love them or not they are the noise generators and the atmosphere generators in the ground and having them tucked away in their present location does detract from their efforts, in my opinion. I am certain that if they were given the opportunity to return "home" to the Stacey West then hands would be bitten off!

There should be little difficulty housing away fans somewhere else within Sincil Bank, especially given the very small numbers in the majority of cases, that teams in the National League bring with them. The song fondly sung by "617" "You should have come in a taxi", bares witness to that. Do we really need the whole of the Stacey West to house, with very few exceptions, 30 or 50 away fans?

"617 Sqn" in full cry

My understanding of the decision to change the use of the stand was financial. It would save money on stewarding costs. When that decision was made I personally accepted it because of the financial position of the club which was, let us say, fairly fragile but that is no longer the case.

With the arrival of our new management duo there appears to be an uplift in positivity around the club and there is expected to be an uplift in attendance figures at the ground, which admittedly, have been less than one would like to see over the last few seasons. A deal of positivity would be added to the upswell if the Stacey West was returned to its natural use.

There seems to be little reason for the Stacey West not to be returned to the home fans, so come on Lincoln City. Let's see a sensible decision that will please a majority of your supporters, especially among the younger element who are the lifeblood of the club going forward.

"STACEY WEST FOR HOME SUPPORTERS IN 2016/17"

Lincoln City FC. The Only Way Is Essex!

Welcome to the Cowley brother Danny and Nicky to Sincil Bank. I was unable to attend the Fans Forum on Friday evening last but I have managed to watch all the footage of it. Cowley's seem to have their heads screwed on and their recent successes at other clubs would tend to support that view. I was a bit put off by all the management speak that was evident in their answers to supporters questions but that is probably just a bit of a phobia of mine. Having worked in the NHS for the best part of 10 years some time ago management speak does tend to make me shiver.

Danny and Nicky Cowley. Photo - Lincolnshire Echo.

Liked the positivity that the brothers showed though. I really do hope they help to lift the club away from the depths of the last few seasons. Chris Moyses started that process over the last 2 seasons and it was very good to hear Danny acknowledge that at the forum.

Lincoln City, despite the sour grapes from the Braintree Town chairman, are by far the biggest club that the Cowleys have managed and the expectations of the fans match the size of the club. I hope the weight of that expectation does not impair the new management duo. The fans of Lincoln City, probably like most fans at most other clubs, can be extremely fickle and I am not sure Danny and Nicky will have encountered that before. Give them a break guys!

Bring on next season and after, hopefully, a good summer with new signings strengthening the squad of players and those players buying into the plans and outlook of the new management team, we will see a lot of improvement on the field and a modicum of success coming the way of the long-suffering Imps fans.

Here's to you Danny and Nicky Cowley. All the best and I wish you well!

The Russians Liking This!

Fascinated that all of a sudden I am getting a really big interest in this blog from Russia. I wonder why that is? Is it because they like the thought of being able to follow ELDC in the imposition of a completely unfair car parking payment regime? I don't really know but something appears to have peaked their interest. I can just see Mr Putin standing up in the Politburo and explaining why some parts of Russia can have free car parking and others can't. Would he get away with it? Well based upon what has happened in East Lindsey I don't see any reason why not!

Free parking for some but not others? Yes I think that will work. Moscow perhaps but not the Black Sea coast.
Oh No!

This is a chart showing from which parts of the world this blog has been viewed. As you can see Russia is extremely prominent! Dobroye utro Rossiya!

Mother Russia

ELDC - Car Park Charges - Update

Since I last posted about this issue under the title ELDC - Completely Unfair Car Parking Charge Changes - What About The Coast, the District council have decided that they should put in place an "independent piece of research" which "will be conducted into the economic and financial impact of car parking charges in 
the district." This from Leader of the Council, Craig Leyland as reported in the Skegness Standard. 

What a pity they did not do this prior to making the recent announcement. However, there is more. Further along the following little gem was dropped: 

“Given the feedback on the overnight charge and this impending piece of work it seems sensible to defer the overnight charge until we have a full understanding of the impact of car parking charges.

“This does not affect the reintroduction of free car parking that was the outcome of a separate piece of work conducted by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.”

I struggle to understand how it can be sensible to defer the overnight charges whilst at the same time going ahead with the completely unfair decision to allow free car parking in some communities within the district whilst other communities, chiefly the ones on the coast, will still continue to pay full prices to park their cars.

Unfortunately, Cllr Sandra Harrison, who has the responsibility for the operation of the car parks tells us this in the same Skegness Standard article:

"The Council does, however, recognise that car parking arrangements, including the cost to park and tariff structures, have an impact on a significant number of people and whilst there will never be a solution that suits every circumstance, the Council will be looking at the matter over the coming months to ensure the arrangements are the 
best they can be.”

Would it not have been more sensible and more logical to have deferred the changes to car parking charges in their entirety? What will happen if the "independent piece of research" informs the council that the way the changes have been implemented is unfair? That if car parking charges need to be removed for the economic well-being of our communities that is the same for all communities? Are the council then going to make the decision to remove the charges right across the District? If the review informs them that free car parking is not a necessity or desirable, are the council then going to go to the communities who have been given free parking and take it away from them again? 

I have to agree that "there will never be a solution that suits every circumstance" but at least there should be a solution that is fair to every one of the residents of this district.

That solution is Free Car Parking For All or All Car Parks Chargeable! FAIRNESS!

Here Come The Coasters

Great to see the Stagecoach Seasiders back on the road again. They really are a fantastic addition to the scene in and around Skegness. Loved by both visitors and locals alike. Just goes to show what a little imagination and investment can achieve.

Look out for The Seasiders, Rocky, Pierre, Candy, Shelly, Sandy and the latest addition Lolly as they transport people around the local area. Grab yourself a ride on the open-topped upper deck, you won't be disappointed!

Skegness Clock Tower Going Green - UPDATE.

I have just been contacted by East Lindsey District Council Press Office who have informed me that our wonderful Clock Tower is scheduled to be cleaned. This will take place some time after Easter.

This is excellent news.

Skegness Clock Tower Going Green

Now don't get excited you eco-warriors.

This has nothing to do with The Clock Tower being powered by solar energy or a wind turbine.

Clock Tower by local photographer John Byford

No this is about The Clock Tower, or to give it the correct name The Diamond Jubilee Clock Tower, actually going green. This lovely iconic old structure, that is as famous as the Jolly Fisherman is getting covered in green algae, mould or slime. Take a walk up there and have a look.

I have tried to get a photo of it but my equipment is not good enough to show just how bad it is starting to look.

I really do think that East Lindsey District Council should be having a look at this and getting it cleaned. If we cannot look after one of the true emblems of Skegness then what hope is there?

This has stood at the top end of Lumley Road for 117 years. It needs looking after to ensure that it stands there for another 117 years!

Please sort it out ELDC!