EFL side promoted to Championship after 65 years and become first English team to go up following Easter win

Ed Griffiths
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:46:15 +0000

Lincoln City have clinched their place in the Championship for the first time in 65 years following a thrilling 2-1 triumph at Reading on Easter Monday.

Jack Moylan's strike in the 96th minute proved the decisive moment, sparking jubilant scenes among the travelling supporters at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The victory stretches Michael Skubala's side's remarkable unbeaten sequence to 24 matches.

The Imps have not tasted defeat since November 22 last year.

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Lincoln became the first club in the English Football League to secure promotion this campaign, with five fixtures still remaining.

The result establishes an insurmountable 19-point advantage over Bradford City in third, whilst Cardiff City trail by 12 points in second.

Ryan One handed the visitors the perfect start in the fifth minute, nodding home from a set-piece to quieten the home faithful.

Lincoln controlled proceedings throughout much of the opening period, with their resolute defensive organisation frustrating Reading's attempts to find a way through.

The hosts mounted sustained pressure after the interval but found the Imps' backline difficult to penetrate.

Deep into added time, Lewis Wing appeared to have salvaged a point for Reading with a superb free-kick conversion, levelling the scores at 1-1.

Yet the drama had one final twist.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Moylan fired home from close range to restore Lincoln's advantage and confirm their historic achievement.

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Moylan, speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, expressed the magnitude of the moment: "I had dreamt about this all week - I knew when I came on I had a chance and this is something I have given my whole life up for."

The match-winner emphasised the collective effort behind the success: "I have got the goal but this is 42 games of graft, these are best team-mates in the world and the best group in the world and it is such a good place to be at the moment."

Head coach Skubala said: "It is 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."

Lincoln's ascent represents one of English football's most extraordinary transformations in recent years.

Just nine years ago, the club was competing in the National League after dropping out of the Football League in 2011.

Their journey back has included three promotions, a memorable FA Cup quarter-final appearance as a non-league outfit, and an EFL Trophy victory at Wembley.

The Imps had a dominant season, scoring 77 goals, the division's highest tally, and merely 35 conceded, the fewest in League One.

With promotion secured, attention now shifts to claiming the title.

Skubala added: "We want to win the title, the lads have said that they definitely want to win it."