IMPS Tale Of Raggs To Riches

- Matt Badcock

SEAN RAGGETT headed Lincoln City past Premier League Burnley and into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Yes, you read that right. The National League Imps are in the last eight of the world’s most famous cup competition.

And people said romance was dead. Danny Cowley’s heroes have planted yet another kiss on the trophy by becoming the first Non-League side to get this far since 1914.

It’s been a remarkable run that started with a 0-0 draw against Guiseley back in the fourth qualifying round in October.

League scalps Oldham Athletic, Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion were then claimed.

But this was supposed to be the end of the road, the time to bow out and focus back on the main ambition of winning promotion to the Football League.

We should have known better. Roared on by another raucous following, the Imps continue to raise expectations.

Cowley compared getting past Ipswich to scaling a mountain. Beating Brighton & Hove Albion was like a trek to the moon and, after going into half-time of that game a goal behind, coming back to win like reaching Pluto. Now we’re into discovering new galaxy territory.