Football club will stop playing Dam Busters March before kick-off

A football club has suspended the use of air raid sirens and the Dam Busters March on match days in response to the war in Ukraine.

Lincoln City said it wanted to ‘strike an appropriate balance’ between its heritage and being ‘socially aware’.

The theme of the 1955 film The Dam Busters, about raids on German dams in World War Two by RAF’s 617 Squadron – which was based near Lincoln and has a long association with the League One club – was played before kick-off.

A siren is also heard at the LNER Stadium when corners are taken. The matter will be reviewed in the summer.

Liam Scully, chief executive of the League One club, said neither would be used for the rest of the season, but the matter will be reviewed in the summer.

He acknowledged the position is ‘not flawless’ and may ‘polarise views’, but appealed for unity.

Lincolnshire became known as Bomber County for the role it played during the Second World War.

A supporters’ group for the club was formed in 2011 and named 617 Squadron, with their aim to boost the atmosphere at Lincoln games.

Mr Scully, in an update to supporters, wrote: ‘At the most recent supporters’ board meeting we discussed at length the merits of the air raid sirens we hear before corners at the LNER Stadium and the use of the Dam Busters March, which we play in the build-up to games, in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

‘As a club we are very aware of our heritage and wish to ensure we strike an appropriate balance between our long-standing synonymous gestures and actions, along with being socially aware and generally good citizens.

‘The supporters’ board and I discussed the topic at great length and we collectively concluded it would be appropriate to temporarily suspend the use of the