Greg Lincoln

Greg Lincoln

Personal information
Full name	Greg Dean Lincoln
Date of birth	(1980-03-23) 23 March 1980
Place of birth	Cheshunt, England
Height	5 Foot 11 in
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1996–1998	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2001	Arsenal	0	(0)
2001	Torquay United	0	(0)
2002–2004	Northampton Town	19	(1)
2004–2005	Redbridge	24	(3)
2005	Chelmsford City	17	(2)
2005–2007	Cambridge City	52	(3)
2007–2009	Thurrock	70	(12)
Managerial career
2010–2011	Thurrock
2012-2023	Arsenal Youth Team
2022–2023	England U16s
2023–2024	England U17s
2024–	England U16s
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Greg Dean Lincoln (born 23 March 1980) is an English professional football coach and former professional footballer. He represented England at Under-20 level. He was involved in the Arsenal First Team squad under Arsene Wenger. With the Team beating Panathinaikos away 3-1 in the Champions League, with a young Nicolas Anelka on the score sheet. He returned to Arsenal in a coaching capacity after an invite from his previous Head of Youth and former player Liam Brady. He first joined the Arsenal under 14's at Hale End, where he helped to bring through the likes of Bakayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Chris Willock, Joe Willock, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Eddie Nketiah. He would develop this same group of players 4 years later in the Arsenal under 18 squad at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Greg would work with this group until they were given first team opportunities by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. These achievements allowed Lincoln to be given the opportunity to coach the Three Lions at Youth Level. In this role he helped to continue the rapid progress of young England U16s potential, such as Ethan Nwaneri, Chris Rigg and Mikey Moore. He is currently at St. George's Park as the Head Coach of England U16s. Most recently Greg Lincoln led the Under 16 squad onto win the prestigious Montaigu Mondial tournament in what was the 50th year anniversary of the competition in 2025.

Career

Lincoln was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. He began his career as a trainee with Arsenal in 1996, earning a Premier Youth League winners' medal in 1998 and signing a professional contract the same year. Playing alongside Ashley Cole, Jermaine Pennant, Julian Gray, Paolo Vernazza and Steve Sidwell. Later he made the bench for League Cup and UEFA Champions League games, after a serious ankle injury that had put him out of action for 2 years, he was released by Arsenal in 2001 after 11 years with the Club. Interestingly, Billy Wingrove, the YouTube Freestyler, has stated that watching the silky skills of his older cousin Greg, as an Arsenal youth midfielder, was his main influence in trying his tricks and skills. Billy went onto become a successful Freestyler with the F2 Freestylers.

On 14 September 2001 he joined Torquay United on non-contract terms along with his former Arsenal colleague Lee Canoville. He left Plainmoor soon after joining, and joined Swedish side Hammarby IF on trial after a recommendation from both Freddie Ljungberg and Liam Brady who knew him from Highbury. Interestingly, Greg Lincoln later went onto coach alongside Freddie Ljungberg at Arsenal Youth Level. Then in June 2002, Lincoln joined Northampton Town, making his league debut on 29 October 2002 as a second-half substitute for Marco Gabbiadini in Northampton's 4–0 defeat away to Oldham Athletic. Lincoln remained with Northampton until May 2004 when he was released. He scored once during his spell at Northampton, his goal coming in a 1–1 draw with Boston United in December 2003.. Greg also started in the FA cup tie versus a Manchester United side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Diego Forlan.

In August 2004 signed for Redbridge and joined Chelmsford City in June 2005, but in December 2005 moved to Cambridge City. In May 2007, Lincoln joined Conference South side Thurrock, where he captained the side, moving to Aveley in December 2009. Before calling time on his career to start his coaching badges. He had a brief interim stint at Thurrock F.C aged only 30, taking over with them bottom of the league until a replacement was found.

Then on 16 August 2022, Lincoln was appointed as Head Coach of the England U16s. On 18 August 2023, he moved up to take charge of the England U17s.On 23 August 2024, Lincoln moved back across to take charge of the England U16s. Leading the Three Lions Under 16 squad onto win the prestigious Montaigu Mondial tournament in what was the 50th year anniversary of the competition in 2025.

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Premier Youth League: 1998

External links

• Greg Lincoln at Soccerbase