Lincoln City to silence Dambusters March and air raid sirens due to Ukraine war

Lincoln City supporters have backed a move to stop playing the Dambusters March at home games

A football club has suspended the playing of the Dambusters March and the use of an air raid siren at matches while the war in Ukraine continues.

Traditionally, the famous World War Two film theme had been played before each Lincoln City home game, while the siren was sounded ahead of corner kicks.

But the club and fans said they should be silenced for the rest of the season.

Lincoln City claims a long association with the Dambusters 617 Squadron, which was based at nearby RAF Scampton.

The EFL League One side agreed the move at a supporters board meeting.

'Challenging matter'

Lincoln City FC chief executive Liam Scully said the club wanted to strike an appropriate balance between its "long-standing synonymous gestures and actions".

The decision was a "very challenging matter to navigate" and could "polarise views", Mr Scully said.

He asked asked fans to support the move "in the spirit the decision was made" and said it would be reviewed at the end of the season.

However, Lincoln City fan Alex Webber said he did not feel that playing the Dambusters March was disrespectful.

"I believe the club should look at reinstating our anthem before the matches and in the second half when the teams come out," he said.

"I can understand not using the air raid siren due to the ongoing bombing in Ukraine and how that would make people feel."

Bomber crews often used Lincoln Cathedral as a landmark to guide them home

Meanwhile Ben Ward, who has followed Lincoln for 30 years, said he thought the silence was "probably fair enough given we have a large Eastern European/Ukrainian component to the population in Lincoln who will likely be on edge".

He added: "I think there's been a massive overreaction to these two things. I don't think missing a siren for four games is a decision that's killing the club."

The Dambusters 617 Squadron famously flew Lancaster bombers from RAF Scampton to destroy dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley during World War Two.

Many bomber crews used Lincoln Cathedral as a landmark to let them know they had returned home safely.