Lincoln City secured promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in 65 years with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Reading, extending their unbeaten run to 24 matches.
Ryan One gave the visitors an early lead, finishing well to put Lincoln in control during the opening stages.
Reading responded after the break and thought they had rescued a point deep into stoppage time when Lewis Wing converted a free-kick to make it 1-1.
However, Lincoln had the final say. Within moments of the restart, Jack Moylan struck to restore the visitors’ lead, sealing a crucial win to confirm their promotion and maintain their remarkable unbeaten sequence.
Lincoln, who last played in the second tier in 1961, required only a point to secure their return.
Michael Skubala’s side instead claimed all three to open an unassailable 19-point gap over third-placed Bradford City.
Jack Moylan restored the visitors’ lead deep into stoppage time, sealing a crucial win to confirm Lincoln City’s promotion and maintain their remarkable unbeaten sequence
Lincoln, needing just one point to clinch promotion, instead sealed all three to open an unassailable 19-point gap over third-placed Bradford City
The Imps have not lost since 22 November 2025 and now turn their attention to the League One title, where they hold a 12-point lead over Cardiff City
‘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,’ Moylan told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
‘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.
‘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.’
Imps fans sung ‘Tottenham away, ole, ole,’ in the aftermath, although there is still plenty of Premier League football still to play before that could become a reality.
Lincoln have not lost since 22 November 2025 and now turn their attention to the League One title. They hold a 12-point lead over Cardiff City, who drew at Peterborough United but have a game in hand.
‘It is amazing, this game was the epitome of our group, our work rate every point we get we earn,’ Skubala added.
‘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.’
Since their relegation from the old Second Division in 1961, Lincoln have dropped as far as the National League before climbing back up the pyramid.
Of all sides to have played in the second tier, only Crewe Alexandra have endured a longer absence, with a 102-year gap.
And Lincoln’s promotion has been underpinned by impressive form at both ends of the pitch. They have scored 77 goals – the highest in League One – while conceding just 35, the fewest in the division, and have lost only once at home all season.
