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Behind the scenes at Lincoln City's field of dreams

Its hallowed turf is a field of dreams that every Lincoln City fan knows like his, or her, own back garden.

But in the latest installment of the Lincolnshire Echo's Hidden Lincolnshire series, we go behind the scenes at Sincil Bank Stadium to give readers a glimpse of what they do not see on match days.


Photographer Chris Vaughan was given exclusive access to take pictures at the club from first thing in the morning until after the game when the team played against Forest Green Rovers in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

One of his most revealing images shows manager Steve Tilson delivering his pre-match team talk to players including team captain Josh Gowling at 1.40pm just before the match began.

The day begins, however, with Lincoln City's venue manager Wayne Banks preparing some food in the kitchen.

At 9.55am, head groundsman Phil Kime is pictured moving security fencing into position outside the players entrance.

Chris then photographed apprentice groundsman Paul Ash painting the white line between the goalposts at the Bridge McFarland Stand end of the ground at 10.15am.

Half an hour later, stadium manager and safety officer Darren Curtis was pictured checking the club's CCTV cameras to make sure they were working properly.

And at 11.15am kit manager Matt Carmichael is pictured laying out kit in the home changing room ahead of the players arriving at the ground.

Stewards have to keep in contact with one another during matches, and Ray Hill is pictured at 12.45pm checking radios before handing them out to the rest of the stewarding team.

As kick-off draws ever closer, player Ali Fuseini is pictured signing autographs for David Franks as he arrives at the ground.

The match then began and just over 90 minutes later it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Following the final whistle, Chris photographed players Simon Russell and Kyle Perry walking back to the changing rooms.

And then, at the end of the day, youth team player Aaron Rice is pictured sweeping up the corridors outside the changing rooms.