EFL League One · League One · Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England · LNER Stadium (Sincil Bank)
Lincoln City Football Club
The club that became a national sensation by reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals as a non-league side in 2017, Lincoln City's rise from the National League to an established League One club under the Cowley brothers represents one of the great revival stories in English football.
1884–2011
Foundation to Non-League
Over a century in the Football League, then the fall
Lincoln City were founded in 1884 and joined the Football League in 1892. For most of their history, the Imps competed in the lower divisions, with brief spells in the Second Division (now the Championship) representing their highest achievements. The club held the unwanted distinction of being the first team automatically relegated from the Football League in 1987, though they bounced back the following season.
A second relegation from the Football League came in 2011, beginning a six-year spell in the National League that tested the patience and loyalty of the Sincil Bank faithful. The club's finances were stretched, attendances dipped, and Lincoln seemed destined for obscurity.
Key Facts
- Founded in 1884, joining the Football League in 1892
- First team automatically relegated from the Football League in 1987
- Dropped out of the Football League again in 2011
- Spent six seasons in the National League from 2011 to 2017
2016–2020
The Cowley Revolution
FA Cup magic and back-to-back promotions
Danny Cowley's appointment as manager in 2016, alongside his brother Nicky as assistant, transformed Lincoln City. The 2016-17 season was extraordinary: Lincoln became the first non-league club since 1914 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, defeating Championship side Brighton and Premier League Burnley along the way. The Imps also won the National League title, returning to the Football League in style.
The following season brought another promotion as Lincoln finished the 2018-19 League Two campaign as champions with 85 points. The Cowleys departed for Huddersfield Town in September 2019, but their legacy was secure: in just three years, they had taken Lincoln from the fifth tier to the third tier, building a squad and a culture that would sustain the club long after their departure.
Key Facts
- Danny and Nicky Cowley appointed in 2016
- First non-league club to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals since 1914
- Won the National League title in 2016-17
- Won the League Two title in 2018-19 with 85 points
2019–Present
Established in League One
Seven consecutive seasons in the third tier and new ownership
Since arriving in League One for the 2019-20 season, Lincoln have established themselves as a competitive third-tier club. Michael Appleton led the Imps to the play-off semi-finals in 2020-21, where they lost to Blackpool. Subsequent seasons have seen the club fluctuate between the top half and lower mid-table, with Michael Skubala's appointment providing stability and a clear identity.
Skubala signed a contract extension through 2027-28 and won the League One Manager of the Month award in September 2025, with the club sitting in third place at that point. The ownership landscape shifted significantly in early 2026, when former San Diego Padres co-owner Ron Fowler took a controlling stake and became chairman, replacing Clive Nates who had overseen the club's renaissance since joining the board in 2016. The transition reflects a shift towards American investment, though the club's identity as a community institution remains central to its ethos.
Key Facts
- Seven consecutive seasons in League One since 2019-20
- Michael Appleton reached the play-off semi-finals in 2020-21
- Michael Skubala won Manager of the Month in September 2025
- Ron Fowler became chairman in February 2026, succeeding Clive Nates