Lincoln City react on securing promotion to the Championship for first time in 65 years

Lincoln City players and manager Michael Skubala react on securing promotion to the Championship for the first time in 65 years.

Lincoln were nowhere near the list of pre-season favourites drawn up in the summer by the bookmakers, and with one of the smallest budgets in the division.

But as Sky Sports’ Julian Warren said, “team spirit, a way of playing and a side like they have got an organisation under Skubala. They are up, they’ve beaten Reading by two goals to one and after 65 years away from the second tier. Lincoln City will be back in the Championship next season.

“Will they go up as champions? That’s still to be secure. But Lincoln City, two on winners. They’ve gone up with a win at Reading.

“A 96 minute victory from one of their players of the season, Jack Moylan.

“What a moment for Lincoln City. A National League side less than 10 years ago, but with their third promotion in a decade, they will be up amongst some big clubs in the Championship next season.”

For the first time in 65 years, Lincoln City have sealed promotion to the Championship after a 2-1 win at Reading 👏 pic.twitter.com/SUslcxUSbb

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 6, 2026

Lincoln City manager Michael Skubala speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

“It is amazing, this game was the epitome of our group, our work rate every point we get we earn.

“We knew it would be hard here, but this wasn’t one game this was an amazing group of players and they give everything every time.

“If we keep doing our job we will get over the line, but if you are going to beat us you have to beat us with goals like Lewis Wing’s.

“They want to go on a night out tonight but I think everything will be closed. I will give them tomorrow off.”

Skubala, per Sky Sports:

“We want to win the title, the lads have said that they definitely want to win it. It’s going to be tough, but let’s go and get that done as well.

“Every game is tough, but if we can go and put in some more good performances, we can do it.

“We’ll enjoy tonight, we’ll go out and have a beer. But we’ll be back in on Wednesday, after a day off tomorrow, and then we’ll be ready for a big game at home [Leyton Orient on Saturday].

“It’s an unbelievable feeling now. The lads have been excellent all season and to get the job done today, to get promoted on Easter Monday, just epitomises our season.

“Every game is tough at this level. You have to be ready, you have to be on it, and Reading are good team and it was an excellent goal from Lewis Wing that brought them back into it.

“Be we kept believing, that we could catch them on the counter, and that’s what happened.

“I’m not really thinking about next season yet. I’m not thinking about anything else today, I’m just enjoying this.”

“Everyone is looking forward to what it will bring”

“We can have a good old go there” 🥊

After Lincoln City were promoted to the Championship, Ben House spoke to ITV about what next season could hold 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/QP0FlQKXlk

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 7, 2026

Lincoln’s match-winner Jack Moylan speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

“I had dreamt about this all week – I knew when I came on I had a chance and this is something I have given whole life up for.

“I have got the goal but this is 42 games of graft, these are best teammates in the world and the best group in the world and it is such a good place to be at the moment.

“It is stuff you dream of as kid and getting promoted with your best mates is the best way. These boys would die for each other and I would die for them, the staff would do the exact same.

“There are teams that get promoted where it wouldn’t mean as much for them as it does for us today.”

Lincoln City captain Tendayi Darikwa speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

“I don’t know what to say, the belief, the character, the desire to go to the last second of every game in this group, and for Jack Moylan to go and win it for today’s away support is special.

“I’m so happy for everyone, I’m so proud of this group and I’m proud of the supporters.

“I’m so proud to wear the armband for this team every week, with belief all season from day one.

“I think if we are going to be real about it, no-one really gave us a chance at the start of the season. I think the longer the season has gone it has driven us even more.

“As a group we have felt a bit disrespected at times, and we see what is put on social media about other clubs and budgets – it is nonsense.”

“People talk about budgets… it doesn’t mean anything” ❌

“Anything is possible” 🗣️

Tendayi Darikwa and Michael Skubala spoke to ITV after Lincoln City were promoted to the second tier for the first time in SIX decades pic.twitter.com/wm5f0x5nlL

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 7, 2026

Michael Hortin (BBC Radio Lincolnshire commentator): “They are jumping up and down and they are enjoying every single moment of this.

“Everyone has contributed this season – they are out celebrating with the fans. The noise is getting louder and louder.

“Generations of hopes and dreams, a decade of building and now the glory for Lincoln City.

“Micahel Skubala and his players have done it and they are celebrating inside the technical area. What a moment.”

Ben Ashton (BBC Sport England): “At long last. By winning promotion to the Championship, it feels like Lincoln City have finally arrived at their destination after a gruelling 65-year journey.

“Since relegation from the second tier of English football in 1961, the Imps have been all the way down to the National League, twice, and now they have managed to claw their way back.

“Of any team to have played in the second tier, only Crewe Alexandra – with a 102-year hiatus – have been forced to wait longer.

“After League One play-off semi-final heartbreak in 2020-21, and narrowly missing out on a top-six finish in 2023-24, Michael Skubala has led this group of players into a historic new chapter for the club.

“The best attack in the league. The best defence in the league. Just one home defeat. Few can argue it is any less than Lincoln deserve.

“And what an effort it has been to get there with victory over Reading stretching their unbeaten run to 24 games (W19 D5).

“Perhaps now all that remains for Lincoln this season is to put the cherry on top of the icing on the cake by sealing a first third-tier league title since 1952.”

“It’s weeks, months, years of hard work”, says Lincoln City Head Coach Michael Skubala

“We believed that we could do something special this season” 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xhKL1J3Ru2

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 7, 2026

Here’s the social media reaction as Lincoln City react on securing promotion to the Championship for the first time in 65 years…

@jamieallan1998: Absolutely fucking buzzing for you’s👏🏼👏🏼 congratulations lads, much more of a fairytale than Wrexham

@XtraLeicester: Congrats 👏 a shame we won’t play you next season as we’re going down 🤣 Enjoy Tottenham away

@CameronCairns87: I remember all the way back in 2018 in League 2 when you came to our place in Cov. You beat us 4-2 on that night, took about 3k of you to the CBS that night, one of the loudest fans to come here. Enjoy this promotion to the Championship because you guys deserve it! #PUSB #Imps

@MattSB92: Well done Lincoln 👏 Skabala deserves a statue 🏆

@ValleyFloydFred: Congratulations Lincoln City. The journey of your club in the last ten years can rightly be described as fairy tale. See you in the Championship next season.

@PompeyNewsNow: Congratulations @Reeco_Hackett @RyleyTowler and all at Lincoln. Great club.

@m1871e: Congratulations Lincoln, a proper team that deserved to go up. And at Reading if we want to go up, we definitely would have to learn a lot from a club like you.

@BigBadBraz: Simply ridiculous season. When you look at how much teams had to spend in recent years to achieve this, it has to be one of the stories of the season. Also one of my favourite away days from League 1, lovely city. Well done Lincoln City

@jackjonestrfc: That’s a fairytale, none of this Wrexham bollocks. Congrats 👍

@2022BenjiC: A better story than Wrexham. Respect the smaller clubs smashing it

@lufcollie_: congratulations to you and skubala 👏🏼 hope not to see you next season

@BCAFCBH: Congratulations lads, you fully deserve it. Proper football club. 👏

@andy_cov93: Congratulations Lincoln! Promoted to the best league in the world 👏👏

@MarkLane99373: Wycombe Wanderers Fan here just wanted to say congratulations you thoroughly deserve to win the league 👏 wishing you all the very best for next season.

@IpswichTownFans: Congratulations old nemesis. Hopefully we won’t be playing you 🤣 X

@conradchircop: Just brilliant. I remember you falling to the Conference in my lifetime twice, dealing with difficult owners and slowly making your way back into the EFL with @dancowley1. You’d made it in style! And hope you consolidate your place in the 2nd tier. Cheers from a @WBA Maltese fan.

@Howie_89: Statue for Clive Nates. Saved the club, bagged three promotions and the EFL trophy. Well done Lincoln.