Lincoln City Earns Historic Promotion to Championship After 65 Years

For the first time in 65 years, Lincoln City has secured a spot in the Championship, achieving this milestone with five games to spare following a thrilling 2-1 victory at Reading. The winning goal was scored by Jack Moylan in stoppage time, capping an extraordinary rise for the Imps, who were playing non-League football just nine years ago. Under the guidance of Michael Skubala, the League One leaders have now gone 24 matches unbeaten and hold a 12-point lead over second-placed Cardiff. This win makes Lincoln the first team in the EFL to earn promotion this season. By securing 27 wins in League One this term, they have achieved their highest victory count in an EFL campaign since the 1975/76 and 1951/52 seasons. The Imps' journey to the second tier began with their promotion to League Two in 2017, followed by their advancement to League One in 2019. Their stoppage-time win at Reading sealed their return to the Championship for the first time since 1961. Lincoln initiated the scoring in the fifth minute with a goal from Ryan One, only to see Reading level the match in the second minute of stoppage time courtesy of a Lewis Wing free-kick. However, Moylan's goal four minutes later secured the win for the Imps. The packed away end, filled with 2,884 City fans, had ample reason to celebrate early on when One headed home a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild free-kick. Despite Reading's unbeaten home record in their previous 10 matches, they were unable to breach the Imps' well-organized defense. As the second period progressed, Lincoln adopted a more defensive stance, content to protect their lead as Reading pushed forward in pursuit of an equalizer. The visitors' strategy ultimately paid off, as they dealt a significant blow to Reading's play-off aspirations while solidifying their own position at the top of League One. In the aftermath of the match, Lincoln boss Michael Skubala expressed his team's desire to win the title, emphasizing the challenges that lie ahead but voicing confidence in his team's ability to overcome them.