Lincoln City have not requested the first couple of games to be played away from home, contrary to varying reports.
It had been rumoured that the Imps had enquired to the EFL about playing our first Championship match in 64 years away from home, along with the first round of the League Cup, if we were drawn at Sincil Bank.
Building works are currently ongoing at the LNER Stadium, and it was feared by some that they would not be completed before the first fixture of the Championship season on 14/15/16th August.
However, Head of Marcomms Luke Thornhill posted on Vital Lincoln City to declare those claims are untrue.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire have reported that the building works at the LNER Stadium and Elite Performance Centre will cost almost £10m. The project, particularly at the ground, commenced virtually as soon as the title was lifted against Wycombe Wanderers in April, with a tight turnaround to get everything ready ahead of the following campaign.
City supporters have the first opportunity to see the fruition of the stadium enhancements today, with the formal opening of The Clubhouse. The new community space is located next to the Imps club shop, and serves a variety of drinks, sandwiches and sweet treats. To celebrate the opening, Lincoln supporters also have the opportunity to see the League One trophy until 1 pm today.
It’s one of many enhancements to our home ground ahead of life in the second tier. But, as Luke said, there is no truth to City supporters having to wait that little bit longer to witness a home game this season, depending on how the fixtures fall, of course.
“Just to clarify – the rumour we’ve asked to be away for the first *insert number here* number of games to be away from home is not true.
“As anyone who has been down to the stadium recently will know it is full steam ahead on the works – these things move really quickly and the required timeline has been known since the start of the planning process.
“To give the team the best chance of delivering all of the work ahead of the season itself starting, we are unable to have a home friendly or an open training session at the stadium. No one at the club is pleased with that, but understands why it is needed.”
Fixture Release Day Approaches
While the Imps news has gone quiet in the past few days, it’s set to be full steam ahead next week. There are just six days to go until the Championship fixtures for the 26/27 season are released. Personally, it feels like the first date that we can really feel like the new campaign is upon us, even if there are seven further weeks to go after that before a ball is kicked.
Also announced next Thursday afternoon is the draw for the first round of the League Cup. It’s a competition that Lincoln have fared fairly well in recent years, entertaining Southampton, West Ham United and Chelsea. Remarkably, two of those opponents will now be league games next season, and the Imps find themselves among one of the top 24 teams in the draw.
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