New Lincoln United manager Scott Hellewell has put his trust in those he knows best, bringing in five players from his previous club Winterton Rangers.
The new Whites boss was appointed on May 12, following the departure of Chris Funnell at the end of last season.
Hellewell brought with him his trusted coaching team of Jon Taylor and player-assistant manager Paul Grimes and immediately set to work in rebuilding a squad for the upcoming campaign after ten players were announced to be leaving the club this summer.
A Reoccurring Theme:
Bringing the manager’s players to their new club is a theme that can often be seen in football.
For a recent example, former Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley has started to add some of his former Imps players to the squad he is building ahead of the new season at Colchester United. The ex-Lincoln duo of Harry Anderson and Jack Payne have both reunited with the Cowley brothers ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
League One promotion challengers Rotherham United have called on the services of ex-Miller Peterborough United forward Jonson Clarke-Harris. He signed with the club after former manager Steve Evans returning to the helm at the New York Stadium.
Evans also signed Alex MacDonald, who has followed him from Stevenage to South Yorkshire this summer.
New Stockport County recruit Lewis Fiorini has been signed by Michael Appleton three times, at the Imps, Blackpool, and more recently Charlton Athletic. It goes to show that managers are often keen to sign players they are familiar with, while adding new signings around them.
New (Yet, Familiar) Signings a Plenty at Lincoln United:
In a frenzy of quickfire singings at Ashby Avenue, Gregg Smith and Tom Hipwelll came through the door first, before the first former Winterton player joined the club. Centre-back Henry Moore put pen to paper at Lincoln United.
Speaking via Lincoln United’s X (formerly Twitter) account, the defender said: “I’m buzzing, I think I’m ready for it now. I’ve had a bit of time off and I just want to get back to it now and pick up from where I left off last season. I was hitting a good run of form.”
Next to make the move across Lincolnshire was a man many will remember from a previous spell with Lincoln United. Scott Matthews joined the club as the fourth singing of the summer and the second from Winterton.
Scott Hellewell said: “He adds a bit of bite to midfield, he’s a leader and very very experienced.”
Next to make the move was Jamie Ture. The former Gainsborough Trinity man was a part of The White’s FA Vase run last season and has returned once more on a permanent basis for the new season. The forward thinking midfielder said he was “buzzing to get started” upon re-joining the club.
Adam Barthram then became the seventh singing of Lincoln United’s busy summer and the fourth to come from the new management team’s former club. The former Salford City academy full back was announced on June 20, and many Whites fans would have been thinking their summer business was nearly over.
In truth it was, but not before the announcement that member of the management team Paul Grimes had decided to be a part of the playing squad for the season, alongside his coaching responsibilities.
The forward, who has also played for the club previously, said: “I hope the fans get to see attractive football, lots of goals, a good shape, and more importantly – winning football matches.”
So five familiar faces later Lincoln United have a new look squad. The relationships and connections those players have will undoubtedly allow for any transition period to be easier. Hellewell and supporters will surely be hoping it therefore bring results sooner rather than later in their quest for promotion to step four this season.
Lincoln United get their competitive season underway with a trip to Wisbech Town on Saturday July 27 before welcoming newly promoted Newark Town to Ashby Avenue on Tuesday July 30.
Feature Image Credit: Ed Mayes Photography