George Wickens reflects on his journey to 100 appearances for the Imps, the memories of a historic promotion and his continued development as City establish themselves in the Sky Bet Championship.
For Wickens, the decision to leave Fulham and move to Lincoln was driven by one thing above all else: the opportunity to play regular first-team football.
Now, having reached 100 appearances for the Imps, the goalkeeper can reflect on a journey that has brought individual milestones, a historic promotion and memories that will stay with him throughout his career.
Wickens explains: “When I first signed, if you’d told me there’d be a promotion and I’d reach 100 games in the time I’ve been here, I’d have been very happy.
“It’s been a fun time, with ups and downs, as there always is with football, but there’s been plenty of development and plenty of memories that will last with me for the rest of my career.
“I’m incredibly proud, but at the same time, the hunger to play more and more is probably lit by reaching 100 appearances."
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Wickens arrived at the ProAmpac Stadium knowing that regular football was the most important next step in his development.
Having previously experienced loan spells at Wealdstone and Ross County, the shot-stopper had already seen the benefits of playing senior football. Returning to a period without regular minutes, however, reinforced exactly what he wanted from the next stage of his career.
He said: “I knew that’s where the most development takes place, especially for a young goalkeeper.
“I’d had a taste of it when I was on loan at Wealdstone, and I felt that was a really positive experience for me. To then go back and have a year and a half without playing men's football, I found that hard.
“It was a big realisation that what I wanted for the rest of my career was to play regular football, feel part of the team and do some special things.
“When you’re actually playing, that feeling is multiplied compared to when you’re second or third choice, watching it. I wanted to make sure I was number one somewhere.”
Moving away from the south, where he had become settled, was not without its challenges. However, the opportunity to join a club he had supported from a young age helped make the decision easier.
He continued: “It was a big move. I was fairly settled where I was, but I knew I needed to take the risk to get where I wanted to in my career. Looking back, it was the perfect place.”
Few experiences could have better rewarded that decision than the events of 2025/26, when City secured the League One title with 103 points to return to the Championship.
For Wickens, the promotion-clinching victory at Reading stands out, alongside the home celebrations when the trophy was lifted. Yet it was the subsequent promotion parade that perhaps brought home the scale of the achievement.
He reflects: “The parade was an incredible day for us as players and for the city as a whole.
"It was a bit of an eye-opener to see that many people come out on the day and support us. It really settled in and made it kick in another bit about what we’d achieved for the club and the city.”
The connection between the players and supporters has remained a constant throughout his time at City, with Wickens keen to acknowledge the role the fans have played in the team's success.
He adds: “They’ve been incredible. They’re always loud, regardless of how we’re doing, and they’re very understanding.
“Every football player will say it’s the best thing in the world when you hear your name being sung by loads of fans. I can certainly vouch for that.
“The support they give goes a long way and is a big reason why we’ve achieved what we have and continue to push on.”
