The new League One fixture list has dropped—and for Lincoln City fans, the campaign begins with drama and ends on the road for the first time in years.
From Paudie O’Connor’s immediate return to Sincil Bank to a typically gruelling Christmas period, the schedule offers no shortage of talking points.
The biggest headline from the opening day? Reading at home—and with it, the return of former skipper Paudie O’Connor. Having made the move to Berkshire in June, the centre-back will walk back out at Sincil Bank just weeks after his departure. The Royals are expected to be among the frontrunners this season, but an early clash might actually be a blessing. Big sides don’t always start fast, and if Lincoln are to land an early statement, this is the perfect stage.
Beyond the narrative of O’Connor’s return, the early fixture list offers a blend of winnable matches and opportunity for momentum. AFC Wimbledon away, Harrogate in the League Cup, and then Plymouth at home follow Reading—none are easy, but none are unwinnable either.
Lincoln’s historic December woes are well known—and this year’s schedule offers no favours. The festive period is stacked with challenges: Barnsley (home), Blackpool (away), Cardiff (home), Stockport (away), and Barnsley again (this time away) all come in quick succession, followed by Huddersfield and Peterborough in early January.
The lack of a Saturday fixture against Barnsley is a shame, especially with both matches crammed into midweek. That run is not just physically demanding—it’s financially tricky, too. Fans choosing between games in tight windows may reduce attendances, and back-to-back home fixtures (e.g. Burton and Bradford in late January) could force supporters to pick one or the other.
For the first time since Lincoln returned to the EFL in 2017, they’ll finish the season away from home. A trip to Port Vale awaits on the final day—a decent away day in theory, but a clear break from recent tradition.
There’s also the usual complication of international weekends. Fixtures against Doncaster (home and away) and Bradford fall on FIFA windows, and while no postponements are guaranteed, any call-offs could leave long gaps between home games. One concern raised on the podcast: if the Wigan game in early September is postponed, City could go over a month without a home match, especially with clashes like the Equinox Festival already ruling some fans out.
The Carabao Cup first-round draw sees Lincoln travel to Harrogate Town—a repeat of last season’s fixture, but this time at Wetherby Road. With Harrogate tipped for relegation from League Two, it’s a favourable draw. Win that, and a home tie against a Premier League club could follow in Round Two.
Meanwhile, the EFL Trophy draw is typically chaotic, with Lincoln placed alongside Barnsley, Notts County, and Manchester United U21s. As ever, the group stages are unlikely to excite fans, but they do offer minutes for fringe players and a possible path to Wembley if the side progresses. Players like Jovon Makama and Jack Moylan could use this competition to impress early on.
There’s a lot to unpack in this year’s fixture release—from O’Connor’s instant return, to awkward international gaps, to another Christmas that looks daunting on paper. But the reality is simple: Lincoln play every team twice, and as always, it’s what happens between those lines that will define the campaign.
Momentum is everything. An early win against Reading, followed by success in the Carabao Cup and a positive showing at Wimbledon, could set the tone. Lose those, and pressure mounts. The fixtures are a framework, but it’s what the Imps build with them that counts. A strong start, rotation during busy spells, and smart recruitment will matter more than dates and days.
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