Quick Summary: Lincoln City's Rise to the Championship

  • Lincoln City were relegated to non-league football in 2011
  • The club rebuilt under Danny and Nicky Cowley
  • A historic FA Cup run helped transform Lincoln financially
  • Michael Skubala later guided the Imps into the Championship
  • Lincoln secured promotion after a remarkable 28-game unbeaten run

Lincoln City's promotion to the Championship marks one of the most remarkable rises in modern English football. Just over a decade ago, the Imps were struggling in non-league football after relegation from the EFL in 2011.

Now, after years of rebuilding, smart recruitment, and managerial stability, Lincoln City’s promotion back to the second tier has completed a journey few supporters could have imagined.

From FA Cup giant-killings under Danny Cowley to Michael Skubala’s record-breaking unbeaten run, Lincoln have transformed from National League survivors into one of the EFL’s biggest success stories.

Here is the full story behind Lincoln City’s rise from non-league football to the Championship.

Lincoln City's Fall Into Bon-League Football

After nearly going under and being saved from administration in 2002, it has certainly not

been all glory for Lincoln in recent years. The 7th of May 2011 saw Lincoln City relegated to the National League after their 3-0 defeat at home to Aldershot meant that Barnet and Hereford survived the drop, and saw the Imps drop down to the 5th tier of English football. 

The seasons that followed offered little optimism. Lincoln finished 17th, 16th, 14th, and 15th across successive National League campaigns, with crowds regularly falling below 2,000. The club looked stuck in non-league football with little sign of progress.

For many supporters, survival had become the main objective rather than promotion. But behind the scenes, change was beginning to take shape.

Danny and Nicky Cowley Changed Everything

The turning point came in February 2016 when South African businessman Clive Nates joined Lincoln’s board before later becoming chairman. One of the club’s most important decisions followed soon after: appointing brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley from Braintree Town.

The Cowleys quickly transformed the atmosphere around the club. Energy returned to Sincil Bank, performances improved, and belief slowly started to build among supporters.

The 2016/17 season became the beginning of Lincoln City’s revival. The Imps not only won promotion back to the Football League with 99 points, but also captured national attention with one of the greatest FA Cup runs in modern history.

Their success was built on organisation, relentless work ethic, and smart recruitment qualities that would define Lincoln’s rise over the next decade.

Lincoln City's Historic FA Cup Run

Lincoln City became the first non-league club since 1914 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals during the 2016-17 season.

The run began with victories over Altrincham and Oldham before a dramatic replay win against Ipswich Town thanks to a late goal from Nathan Arnold. Suddenly, the football world had started paying attention.

A stunning 3-1 victory over Brighton set up a trip to Premier League Burnley in the fifth round. At Turf Moor, defender Sean Raggett scored a dramatic late winner to secure one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history.

Lincoln’s journey eventually ended at Arsenal in the quarter-finals, but despite the 5-0 defeat, the impact of the cup run was enormous. The club reportedly earned around £2 million in prize money and commercial revenue, allowing Lincoln to invest in infrastructure, facilities, and squad development.

More importantly, the FA Cup run completely changed how Lincoln City were viewed nationally.

Michael Appleton and the League One Years

Promotion back to the EFL marked the beginning of Lincoln’s steady climb through the divisions. A seventh-place finish in League Two and an EFL Trophy triumph at Wembley showed the club’s momentum was continuing. Another promotion soon followed as Lincoln secured the League Two title and moved into League One.

However, major change arrived when Danny and Nicky Cowley departed for Huddersfield Town in 2019. Losing the managers who had rebuilt the club represented a huge challenge.

Michael Appleton was appointed as their successor and continued Lincoln’s upward trajectory. During the 2020-21 season, the Imps reached the League One play-off final, narrowly missing out on promotion after defeat to Blackpool.

Appleton’s side featured exciting loan talents such as Morgan Rogers and Brennan Johnson, further strengthening Lincoln’s growing reputation for recruitment and player development.

After Appleton’s departure in 2022, Mark Kennedy took charge but struggled to maintain consistency. His dismissal left Lincoln sitting 16th in League One and searching for another fresh start.

Michael Skubala's Championship-Winning Side

Lincoln turned to Michael Skubala, a coach who had previously worked within Leeds United’s setup and briefly served as caretaker manager at Elland Road.

The appointment was viewed as a gamble by many supporters. Skubala had never managed a club full-time, and expectations around Lincoln were relatively modest heading into the following campaign.

But under Skubala, Lincoln City produced one of the most remarkable runs in League One history.

After an inconsistent opening period, the Imps went on a stunning 28-game unbeaten streak, collecting over 100 points and securing promotion to the Championship with games to spare.

Despite losing key players such as Paudie O’Connor and Ethan Erhahon, Lincoln rebuilt effectively through a combination of experienced additions and younger talent. Players like Sonny Bradley, Ryley Towler, and Adam Reach helped strengthen the squad as Lincoln developed into one of the hardest teams in the division to beat.

Massive victories over Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers highlighted their attacking quality, while defensive consistency became the foundation of their promotion-winning campaign.

Few outside the club predicted Lincoln City’s rise to the Championship this quickly. But under Skubala, belief turned into consistency, and consistency eventually turned into promotion.

Why Lincoln City's Promotion Matters

Lincoln City’s journey from non-league football to the Championship is about far more than one promotion. It is proof of what long-term planning, stability, and smart decision-making can achieve in modern football.

At a time when many clubs chase short-term success, Lincoln built gradually. They invested in infrastructure, trusted young managers, recruited intelligently, and created a sustainable identity both on and off the pitch.

The Imps spent years fighting simply to survive outside the Football League. Now, after a 65-year absence from the second tier, they are back among some of English football’s biggest clubs.

For Lincoln supporters, it is the reward for more than a decade of rebuilding. For the rest of the EFL, it may be one of the clearest examples yet that long-term vision still matters in football.