1987-88: First came the return of Colin Murphy followed by a large influx of players to replace those who had been sold at the end of the 1986-87 season. Second came the long hard season in the GM Vauxhall Conference. Finally, there was the triumphant return to the Football League, beating Barnet into second place by two points. The Imps were top of the GMVC for only three days in the whole season but they were the best three days because they were the last three days of the season. The season saw a new Vauxhall Conference aggregate attendance record of 79,005 set by the Imps, and the record attendance at a single game set by the Imps in their final GMVC game of the season when 9,432 people turned up to celebrate the championship with a 2-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Sincil Bank.

1988-89: Lincoln City's first season back in the Football League sees them finish 10^th.

1989-90: The Imps need to beat champions Exeter City to have a chance of qualifying for the play-offs but lose 5-1 at Sincil Bank leaving a 10^th place finish for the second successive season. Colin Murphy leaves the club by 'mutual consent'.

1990-91: Former Leeds United and England striker Allan Clarke succeeds Murphy as manager and prior to the start of the season, the Stacey West Stand - named after the two City supporters who died in the 1985 Bradford Fire - is officially opened to replace the old railway end terracing. A poor start to the season sees Clarke dismissed just 179 days after his appointment. Club captain Steve Thompson takes over the managerial reins. Off the field and the Board of Directors announce a record loss of £268,000.

1991-92: Lincoln City suffer a record 6-0 defeat at home to League newcomers Barnet in early September but a run of just one defeat in the last 18 games ensures a mid-table finish. Goalkeeper Matt Dickins is sold to Blackburn Rovers for £250,000 and Shane Nicholson to Derby County for £80,000 as a profit is made for the first time since 1987.

1992-93: The Imps begin the season as the bookies favourites for the title but, after being in the promotion places in February, a poor end to the season costs the club a chance of a play-off place. Manager Steve Thompson departs after the Board decide not to renew his contract and Youth Team Coach Keith Alexander is placed in charge for the final game of the season.

1993-94: A thrilling second round League Cup tie sees the Imps go out 8-5 on aggregate to Premiership Everton and although Alexander's team played some open, attacking football, the final position of 18^th was the worst since the club returned to the League. This prompted the Board to replace Alexander with Sam Ellis, captain of the 1975/76 Division Four Championship side.

1994-95: A return to the 'long ball' game brings some improvements on the field but, just like the previous campaign, the Imps spend the whole season in the lower half of the table. Off the field the season produces a massive loss of £464,000 but one bright spot was the completion of the Sincil Bank redevelopment with the opening of the 5,700 capacity Linpave Stand, which had been built on the site previously occupied by uncovered terracing.

1995-96: A series of uninspiring performances lead to the departure of manager Ellis in September and the appointment of former Chelsea defender Steve Wicks as 'Head Coach'. Wicks endears himself to the fans with his excellent communication skills but the results don't come along and, after just 42 days in office, Wicks is dismissed with the club lying bottom of the Football League. The Board turn to former Cambridge boss John Beck who completely rebuilds the team and a final position of 18^th is seen as a satisfactory conclusion to a turbulent season. The sale of Darren Huckerby to Newcastle United (£400,000) and Matt Carbon to Derby County (£385,000) ensure that a healthy profit is made for the first time in several years.

1996-97: Over 10,000 people see Newcastle United's new £15million signing Alan Shearer make his Magpies' debut in a pre-season friendly at Sincil Bank whilst on the League front, it was a season of consolidation for Beck's team, although they came within a whisker of reaching the play-offs. The club's exploits in the Coca-Cola Cup see them defeat Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate before losing to Southampton in a replay when a disputed penalty hands the initiative to the Premiership side.