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What a day for Lincoln City Football Club. One that will go down in history.

Generations of Imps fans have been waiting 65 long years to return to the second tier and now they can celebrate.

Football can be a cruel game at times but today shows why we all love it.

Michael Skubala can start making preparations for the Championship, but for the rest of the chasing pack in League One, there is still a lot of work to do after Cardiff, Bolton and Stockport all dropped points.

The promotion, play-off and survival scraps look set to go to the wire.

Notts County, Swindon, Chesterfield and Crewe all won in League Two to boost their hopes of going up, while the bottom five all lost, so it's as you were.

That's us done for the day here. Thank you for joining us.

Congratulations, Lincoln. Until next time, goodbye!

Image source, BBC Sport/Shutterstock

Another big day in League Two as Notts County replace Cambridge in the automatic promotion race following their win against Newport who themselves sit just a point above the relegation zone.

MK Dons move within four points of leaders Bromley in second despite drawing with Oldham who now sit just three points off the play-offs.

A damaging defeat for Salford to Crewe just three days on from their huge victory over Notts County sees them slip to sixth position, while the Railwaymen move within two points of the play-offs.

Swindon sit just above in fifth giving themselves a real chance to reach the automatics as they edge Walsall 2-1. The Saddlers drop to 12th.

At the foot of the table, Harrogate are once again bottom of the league despite being out of the drop zone twice today, but ultimately succumbing to Bristol Rovers. Barrow still occupy the other relegation spot as they lost to seventh-placed Chesterfield.

Lincoln City

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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."

• Lincoln today earnt promotion and will play in England’s second tier next season for the first time since 1960-61. The Imps have now won 27 matches in League One this term, only taking more victories during an EFL campaign in 1975-76 (32) and 1951-52 (30).
• Luton Town’s Kasey Palmer struck the 25th goal of his league career this afternoon vs AFC Wimbledon, with his four strikes in 2025-26 the joint-most in a single season in his career, alongside 2016-17 when he played for Huddersfield Town.
• Radinio Balker netted Huddersfield Town’s second away own goal of the season against Leyton Orient, the first time that the Yorkshire side have netted 2+ own goals on their travels in a season since 2013-14 in the Championship (also two).
• Bobby Pointon has scored 10 League One goals for Bradford City this season, aged 22 years and 92 days today he’s the youngest player to reach 10+ in a league campaign for the Bantams since Nahki Wells in 2011-12 (21y 323d).
• Northampton Town have now lost each of their last six games in League One; it’s the first time that the Cobblers have lost six in succession in the EFL since April 2003 after which they were relegated from the third tier a few matches later.
• In their 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers today, Exeter City scored more goals than across their prior six League One matches combined (2).

Lincoln City

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Lincoln City midfielder and 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."

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If you can suppress your excitement for a few seconds, Lincoln fans, this is quite the sight.

Confirmation that the Imps will finish at least in the top two in League One and are on the way to the Championship.

Michael Skubala's side only need another seven points to guarantee the title.

Also worth remembering it was a big day in the play-off race today as defeat for Reading to Lincoln means Stevenage move above the Royals into the top six.

Lincoln City

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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."

The Lincoln fans have got a sense of humour to go with their celebrations.

"Tottenham away, ole, ole," they chant. Plenty of football still to play in the Premier League for that to happen.

Can't envy them this moment though.

Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire commentator

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The Lincoln City players are spraying the Champagne about.

Michael Skubala is fist bumping, and there are players giving piggy backs as they celebrate in front of the promotion board.

You can see the Imps fans are looking on at their heroes that have made this happen.

Northampton suffer their sixth successive loss in the league to leave them 23rd and 13 points from safety, as Wigan boost their survival chances with the 3-1 victory.

An incredibly late goal from Huddersfield in the 16th minute of stoppage time, courtesy of Ryan Ledson, gave them a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient and sees them just three points from the play-offs.

Exeter recorded a clinical 3-0 win over Doncaster to move within two points of safety.

Plymouth and Luton both won 3-0 away at Barnsley and AFC Wimbledon, respectively, to remain in contention for the play-offs.

Bradford held on to win 2-1 against Wycombe and keep their slim automatic promotion hopes alive, the Chairboys drop to 11th.

Stevenage occupy the final play-off position after getting all three points with a 1-0 win over Blackpool, who themselves are just two points above the drop zone ahead in 20th.

Mansfield versus Burton finished goalless.

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The moment Lincoln have been waiting for. The bubbly has been popped!

Players and fans dancing and celebrating together. Promotion 2025-26 banners all over the place.

Drink it in, Lincoln fans.

Michael Hortin
BBC Radio Lincolnshire commentator

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

Image source, Shutterstock

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.

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.

Bristol Rovers held on to beat Harrogate 3-2, leaving the home side at the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Gillingham took all three points in what was a comfortable 2-0 victory against nine-men Accrington, seeing Tyler Walton dismissed in the 81st minute and Dave Abimola removed in the 95th.

Barnet were eventual winners against Fleetwood despite the home side battling with one less player to make it 2-2 at one stage, but a Kabongo Tshimanga double sealed the 5-2 victory.

Crewe secured a vital 1-0 win over automatic promotion-chasing Salford but remain two points outside the play-offs.

A rotten day for Crawley as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Grimsby, with the home side still just four points above the drop, while the away side are now just three points from the play-offs.

A huge 1-0 win over Barrow for Chesterfield sees them occupy the final play-off spot but have played a game more than Grimsby. The Bluebirds sit 23rd.

A late own goal from Jake Eastwood meant Cambridge drew 1-1 to Cheltenham, seeing them drop to fourth and out of the automatic promotion spots.

Colchester held on to beat struggling Tranmere 1-0, who are just three points above the drop.

A stoppage-time winner from Aaron Drinan for Swindon gave them a huge 2-1 victory over Walsall, meaning they’re just two points off the automatic spots, whilst the Saddlers drop to 12th and six points adrift of the play-offs.

"We are going up," chant Lincoln's 3,000 travelling fans.

The Imps players are dancing on the pitch. Michael Skubala's smile is beaming.

This is what it's all about.

You can pop the champagne now!

Lincoln City have been promoted to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1961.

Of any team to have played at that level, only Crewe Alexandra - with a 102-year hiatus - have been forced to wait longer.

Incredible scenes.

It's all over at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Lincoln have done it!

A 24th game unbeaten. Truly remarkable. The 65-year wait is over. Jack Moylan with a late winner to put the icing on the cake.

Oldham come from a goal down to earn a draw and keep their play-off hopes alive.

Mike Fondop's header cancels out Marvin Ekpiteta's opener for MK Dons who stay second but continue their stuttering form picking up just two points from their past four games. Back-to-back draws now for Paul Warne's side.

Oldham drop down to ninth and are three points adrift the play-offs.