Welcome to the "Lincoln and Macclesfield Division"
By Nathan Jackson
April 17 2010
With the promotion of Rochdale and relegation of Darlington, Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town will be the longest serving sides in League Two next season. Both were relegated to the division in 1999 and have remained here ever since, three years longer than the next longest serving side.
LEAGUE TWO'S CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS
TEAM
IN THIS DIVISION SINCE
Rochdale
1974/5
Darlington
1992/3
Lincoln
1999/2000
Macclesfield
1999/2000
Bury
2002/3
Grimsby
2004/5
Notts County
2004/5
Shrewsbury
2004/5
Barnet
2005/6
Accrington
2006/7
Bradford
2007/8
Chesterfield
2007/8
Dagenham
2007/8
Morecambe
2007/8
Rotherham
2007/8
Aldershot
2008/9
Bournemouth
2008/9
Port Vale
2008/9
Burton
2009/10
Cheltenham
2009/10
Crewe
2009/10
Hereford
2009/10
Northampton
2009/10
Torquay
2009/10
Rochdale had been in League Two for nearly 40 years, whereas Darlington had been in since the early 1990s, but now that they will be in League One and the Blue Square Premier respectively next season, it means that Lincoln and Macclesfield will become the longest serving sides in League Two, that's assuming the Imps avoid relegation.
The Imps and the Silkmen have been effectively linked at the hip since Macclesfield won promotion to the League back in 1997. The clubs won promotion together, got relegated together, faced each other in the Playoffs, shared a manager and numerous players.
If they don't win promotion, Bury will become the third longest serving and Shrewsbury Town will become the fourth, potentially joined by Grimsby if they somehow manage to stay up.
More than half of the division have been in League Two for less than 3 years.
It will feel strange not to go to either Rochdale or Darlington next season. I started going to every game back towards the end of 2001/2 and they, as well as Macc, are the only sides we've played in the League every season during that time.
I first went to Rochdale and Darlo in 1992.
Rochadale's ground has changed a lot since then but the pub didnt.
Darlo should never of moved just continued doing what they had but Mr Reynolds had other ideas.
Some cracking pubs just near the old ground been on many a pub crawl round there!
Just hope City are still in league 2 so I can go Burton and Stevenage next season granted it does look like it.
Having said that Lincoln must start doing better before I start going to away games after a two year break meaning I'm a lot better off.
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