John Reames Profile

Although John Reames is listed as a former manager of Lincoln City FC, he was in fact a chairman who decided to try his hand at player management.

Reames originally joined the board of Lincoln City Football Club in 1983, following DR Day - that is Directors Resign Day. On that day in March 1983 the entire Lincoln City FC board resigned, led by then Chairman Gilbert Blades, following death threats. This action left the club in turmoil, not only for a few days but also for the remainder of that season, which resulted in Lincoln missing almost certain promotion to the old Division 2. It is also widely regarded as the start of Lincoln's dramatic decline that culminated in relegation from the Football League, just four seasons after being clear leaders of the old Division 3.

Promotion to chairman came in 1985 when Reames took over from departing Chairman Denis Houston. Reames was to stay for 15 years, which makes him one of the longest chairman in Lincoln City FC''s history.

He appointed himself as Lincoln City FC manager in November 1998 after sacking his twelfth manager since 1985. The football improved but many supporters and one or two players felt that strange tactics were used, which perhaps cost Lincoln the victory. The 1998/99 season saw Lincoln relegated to Division 3 after just one season in the higher division.

In August 1999, Reames announced that he would stay on as manager for the entire 1999/2000 season before handing over to his assistant manager Phil Stant. As well as being one of the few chairman ever to become a manager, he is also one of the few to have won an award, which came when he won the "Manager Of The Month Award" for October 1999.

There is no doubt some out of the twelve managers that Reames sacked deserved their fate. Yet others such as Steve Thompson - sacked after missing out on the play-offs by virtue of goal average - or Steve Wicks, who was sacked after just 42 days, did not.

For reference the full list of sacked managers reads - Colin Murphy (1978 -1985 left by mutual consent), John Pickering (July 1985 - Dec 1985), George Kerr (Dec 1985 - Mar 1987), Peter Daniel (Mar 1987 - May 1987), Colin Murphy (July 1987 - May 1990 left by mutual consent), Allan Clarke (June 1990 - Dec 1990), Steve Thompson (Dec 1990 - May 1993), Keith Alexander (May 1993 - May 1994), Sam Ellis (June 1994 - Sept 1985), Steve Wicks (Sept 1995 - Oct 1995 just 42 days), John Beck (Oct 1995 - Mar 1998) and Shane Westley (Mar 1998 - Nov 1998).

Reames handed over the managerial reigns to Stant in May 2000, as promised. He would return to the boardroom but his days at Sincil Bank were numbered and in November 2000, after announcing losses of £1.7 million at the AGM, Reames resigned as chairman of Lincoln City FC.

Sadly John Reames died on 6th May 2008 aged just 65 after losing his battle with cancer.