Lincoln spirits soar despite defeat on second-tier return 65 years in the making | Lincoln City

There is optimism to be found in almost every corner of the footballing landscape at this time of the year, but you would do well to find anyone without a smile on their face on this sunny Saturday lunchtime in one of Britain’s most picturesque cities.

Football may not necessarily be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Lincoln. After all, Sincil Bank sits in the shadow of…