Director: Roger Bates

Lincoln-born Roger grew up in Sleaford and has been following the Imps for over 55 years. He became an Associate Director of the club in 2008 and also a member of the Academy’s Youth Development Board.

He joined the club board as a Director in March 2011 and was accountable to that board for the club’s Academy until 2018. In June of that year, Roger was appointed the Lincoln City’s Vice Chairman. In 2020 he stepped down from the role but remains a board director, attending most games home and away.

Roger played an active role in ensuring the club’s Academy survived during the years in the National League by leading its fundraising efforts. He also played a key role in the return of the Womens’ team to the club and initiated the idea of a Former Players Association.

Roger spent a successful 33-year career in the public sector, primarily working in Human Resources as a personnel manager and HR consultant, before becoming Head of Recruitment for a department of over 100,000 people and later leading a team of over 500 people, with budgets of £30m.

Roger finished his career as a senior manager in a team that created and implemented an organisation which provided recruitment services to the whole of the Civil Service.

Roger first became actively involved with the club and its board during the administration period in 2002, selling copies of the 'Best of Deranged Ferret!', the fanzine he had founded in 1990, to raise funds for the club.

Before joining the board Roger had spent many years as a coach and administrator in local junior football, holding both the Secretary and Chairman posts at Caythorpe and Fulbeck Junior Football Club.