Lincoln City Crowned League One Champions

Lincoln City Crowned League One Champions with Record 103 Points

By James Hargreaves
Lincoln, May 24, 2026

Lincoln City have been crowned champions of Sky Bet League One, securing automatic promotion to the Championship after a dominant 2025/26 campaign that saw them amass a club-record 103 points. The Imps sealed the title with a 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers on April 21, but the celebrations have continued as the season officially drew to a close this week.

Under the stewardship of head coach Michael Skubala, Lincoln delivered one of the most impressive seasons in the club's modern history. Finishing with 31 wins, 10 draws, and just 5 defeats, they accumulated an impressive goal difference of +48, scoring 89 goals while conceding only 41. The title win marks their return to the second tier for the first time since 1961, ending a 65-year absence from the Championship.

The campaign was built on defensive solidity and clinical attacking play. Key contributors included striker Freddie Draper, who led the line with 18 goals, and midfielder Reeco Hackett, whose creativity and goals from midfield proved vital. Summer signings Adam Reach and Justin Obikwu also made significant impacts, bringing experience and firepower to Skubala's squad.

Speaking after the final whistle on the last day of the season, Skubala reflected on the achievement: "This group of players has been outstanding all season. They've shown incredible character and consistency. To win the league with over 100 points is something special, and the credit goes entirely to the players and the staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes."

The promotion was mathematically confirmed on April 6 following a hard-fought 2-1 win against Reading at the LNER Stadium. From that moment, the focus shifted to clinching the title, which they duly did with a professional performance against Doncaster. A special one-off kit, inspired by Graham Taylor's 1975-76 title-winning side, was worn on the final day as a nod to club history.

Off the pitch, the club has remained active. Recent announcements include a new Gold Partnership with Ambrey Baker ahead of the 2026/27 season and community initiatives allowing local groups to use the LNER Stadium pitch. The club has also begun squad planning for life in the Championship, with several players earning international call-ups, including Jack Moylan for the Republic of Ireland.

Chairman Ron Fowler praised the entire organisation: "This promotion is the culmination of years of hard work and smart investment. We're immensely proud of what has been achieved. Our supporters have been phenomenal throughout, and we look forward to welcoming them back for Championship football next season."

With interest already emerging in Skubala from higher-placed clubs, including links to Bristol City, Lincoln have moved quickly to offer their manager an improved contract. The 42-year-old has built a reputation for attractive, high-pressing football that has transformed the Imps into genuine contenders.

As the dust settles on a memorable campaign, attention now turns to the summer transfer window. The club will look to strengthen their squad to compete in the Championship while retaining core talents who delivered this historic success. Fans are already dreaming of what could be possible at the next level.

Lincoln City's journey from near-relegation threats in previous seasons to League One champions highlights the progress made under the current ownership and management. For a club with rich history but limited top-flight pedigree, this promotion feels like the start of a new era.

The Imps will kick off their 2026/27 Championship campaign in August, with the exact fixtures to be released in mid-June. For now, the city of Lincoln continues to celebrate a season that will be remembered for generations.

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Home of Lincoln City FC

Opened 1895

Capacity 10,120

History (from Wikipedia)

Lincolnshire Co-operative Stand[edit]

The largest stand at the stadium holds approximately 5,700 people. It is located on the Sincil Bank street side of the ground and is home to the majority of the Imps' supporters. The block nearest the Bridge McFarland/South Park stand was given to visiting supporters until 2013, but is now used for only home supporters. The lower block closest the South Park Stand has now been made a family seating area as the old family stand now takes visiting fans. This side of the ground was occupied by uncovered terracing ever since the club moved from their first home, the John O'Gaunt's Ground, in 1895. The terracing was cordoned-off in August 1994 and demolition work soon began. The stand was officially opened before Lincoln City's match with Hartlepool United on 4 March 1995. The stand cost around £1 million to build and meant that the stadium had been completely redeveloped from its previous state in the 1980s (at a total cost of £3 million). Over the years the stand has been known under three different guises, depending on sponsorship contracts. It was first known as the Linpave Stand and, in 1998, was sponsored by Simons Construction. It was named the Lincolnshire Co-operative stand in 2001, but is more commonly known as the Co-op stand. It was home to the LCFC band, which was originally put together by former manager John Beck in 1995 in order to increase matchday atmosphere.

St Andrews/The Selenity Stand[edit]

Constructed in 1987, the structure replaced the old St Andrews Stand, which was named after the street that runs all the way from Lincoln city centre to the stadium. The old stand was constructed in 1932 (replacing a small predecessor) and was made out of timber. It had a total capacity of 2,250, in a seated enclosure and a small bank of terracing at the front. By the mid-1980s, however, the entire stadium was in a state of decline and a renovation project began when the stand was demolished in the close season of 1986. The new stand opened in November 1987 but was smaller in size than originally envisaged, partly due to City's season-long drop into Conference football. Running only half the length of the pitch, it has a capacity of 1,700 and holds the press box and Directors' enclosure. This is in addition to the majority of the club's offices and corporate areas.

Stacey-West Stand[edit]

This was the traditional home-end up until 2013 but now takes visiting fans who bring large numbers of supporters. Built in 1990, the Stacey-West Stand is named after two lifelong supporters - Bill Stacey and Jim West - who died in the Bradford City stadium fire. It replaced the old Railway End terrace in 1990, which had a goods rail line running behind the enclosure until the line was demolished in the early 1990s. The Stacey-West Stand first had areas of terracing at either end with a large area of seating in between so that supporters had the choice of sitting or standing at games. However, when City were promoted to the old Division Two at the end of the 1997–98 season, the stand was made entirely terraced. This was because a number of large clubs then in Division Two, such as Manchester City, Stoke City and Burnley were expected to bring large travelling support to the ground. This convinced the club that the Stacey-West stand should hold visiting fans, rather than a portion of the Co-op Stand. However, when the club was relegated back to the old Division Three in May 1999, a grant by the Football Trust partially enabled just under 2,000 seats to replace the Stacey-West Stand terracing which meant that, for the first time in the history of Lincoln City, it was an all-seater stadium. The stand continued to house visiting supporters until it was given back to home fans in the 2002 close-season. But at the start of 2013/14 season it was announced that the stand would no longer be housing home supporters but only used as an away-end for large quantities of supporters. As of 2016 the stand is used for home fans on certain games.

Bridge McFarland Stand[edit]

Named as part of a two-year sponsorship with GoCar motor dealership in 2009.[9] Previously named the I.M.P.S. Stand since 2003 when local company Industrial Marine Power Services signed a sponsorship agreement with the club. The stand was built in 1992 and houses 17 executive boxes, Strikers bar for supporters and companies using the executive boxes and the Centre Spot, a fans' bar that welcomes both home and away supporters on matchdays. It replaced the old South Park stand, which consisted of a small seated area and a terrace. As of 2013 visiting supporters now sit in half of the Bridge McFarland Stand and the Family Stand. If a large away crowd is expected then the Stacey West Stand is used to accommodate away fans instead.

Poacher's Corner[edit]

The Family Stand was built in 1994. It is situated to the west of the St Andrew's/Selenity Stand, nearest the Bridge McFarland/South Park Stand and is directly adjacent to the players' tunnel. The land on which it was built was previously occupied by a small, open terrace. When the Family Stand was built, a new building – which incorporates the club's dressing rooms and treatment areas – was also erected. On top of the stand there is a police control box, which is used to keep a close watch on all areas of the crowd. City supporters can pay to sit in this stand, although much of it is often given over to children from local schools who are invited to watch the Imps as part of the club's Football in the Community programme.

Since mid-2008 the stand has been known as 'Poacher's Corner', a reference to Imps mascot Poacher the Imp. The 'Poacher's Club' initiative by Lincoln saw cheap ticket deals and other incentives offered to any parent/child combination, and Poacher's Corner became the focal point of the efforts.

In the start of the 2011–12 season, Lincoln City signed a sponsorship deal with Network Telecom Rentals Ltd, changing the stand's name to the 'NTR Family Stand'. As of 2013 this stand and half of the Bridge McFarland Stand is used for visiting supporters.

For the 2016–17 season the stand has been part of the University of Lincoln partnership, and through the "Uni Imps" scheme offers students and staff the chance to attend matches.

Things to do in Lincoln.