Lincoln City’s first crack at second-tier football in 65 years is rapidly approaching, with the first match at Middlesbrough now just two days away, writes Kyle Kennealey.
With that in mind, I’ve decided to put together a handy guide for Imps supporters looking to decide which away matches to attend this season.
This is a four-part series which looks at the prices and expected allocations for our Championship matches this season, following the order of the fixture list.
It’s worth pointing out that these are researched figures based on available data at the time of publishing, and may change as the season progresses. They also don’t take into account any offers that may be in place for specific fixtures, like the cheaper midweek tickets we benefitted from at Leyton Orient a few years ago.
EFL regulations state that clubs only have to provide 2000 tickets for visiting clubs, or 10% of capacity if the stadium holds less than 20,000 seats. Sincil Bank falls into the latter, with south coast rivals Portsmouth and Southampton receiving, and selling out, allocations of around 1200 tickets.
Below, we look at the first six fixtures of the Championship season to see what awaits City supporters in the coming weeks and months.
1) Middlesbrough
Date: Saturday 15th August (15:00)
Ticket Prices: £33 Adults, £26 Over 65, £15 U18
Total Allocation: 2118 (Full allocation- sold out)
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, Lincoln sold out their allocation for the Middlesbrough match across two days of priority sales. One of the questionable elements of the process was the allocation, with Boro supplying ourselves with 2118 tickets in a stadium that holds in excess of 30,000 seats.
However, as of Wednesday evening, there was just a solitary ticket remaining for home supporters. The Teessiders had previously announced over 27,000 tickets had been sold last week, and that a full sell-out was expected. Our allocation was in line with the full amount for Championship sides last season, and their decision has been fully justified.
2) Bolton Wanderers
Date: Saturday 29th August (15:00)
Ticket Prices: £32 Adults, £27 Concessions (Over 65 & U23), £18 U18 & £13 U14 (Family tickets (1x Adult & 1x U18) for £39)
Expected Allocation (if required): 4646
We have already been designated a Category B fixture by Bolton for our final fixture in August. Tickets for home supporters have been on sale since July, with visiting supporters housed in the South Stand. Imps supporters will be used to this section of the ground, having been housed in both the upper and lower tiers during our League One visits to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Allocations at this venue have varied in recent years, depending on demand for home supporters. For their opening match of the season against Preston North End, the Lilywhites were handed an allocation of 3370 tickets, which was increased to 4420 and was unsurprisingly snapped up. West Ham United face a midweek trip to Lancashire in early September, and they have been allocated a slightly higher number, presumably due to less segregation needed for a game that isn’t a local derby.
Tickets shouldn’t be in short supply for this fixture for City supporters.
3) Bristol City
Date: Tuesday 8th September (19:45) (Subject to League Cup Round Three progression & potential opponent)
Ticket Prices: £34 Adults, £31 Concessions (Over 64 & U25), £27 U22, £16 U19 & £1 U12
Expected Allocation (if required): 3400 (approximately)
City’s first away fixture in September sees a midweek trip to the South West for the ‘Michael Skubala derby’. This fixture remains subject to change, depending on whether Lincoln defeat Blackpool in the second round of the League Cup, and then face a side playing European football in round three.
For the 26/27 season, Bristol City announced a singular pricing structure for all Championship matches. For their opening game of the season, Millwall were handed a lower allocation of 2018 tickets, with the Atyeo Stand split between home and away supporters. This was also the case at the end of the 24/25 season for the Robins final day fixture against Preston North End, and the play-off encounter versus Sheffield United.
However, the demand hasn’t quite matched expectations, judging by availability in this area of the ground. For their next home match against Portsmouth, Pompey were provided with the maximum allocation of just over 3400, which again should be more than enough for our midweek trip next month.
4) Preston North End
Date: Saturday 12th September (15:00)
Ticket Prices: £30 Adults, £25 Concessions (Senior 65+ & U23), £15 U19, £10 U14 & £5 U11
Expected Allocation (if required): 5600 (approximately)
Continuing the theme of big away allocations, one of the most reasonably priced away trips takes us to Deepdale in our final league fixture before the extended international break in September. I seem to remember Preston also splitting their away end on the odd occasion, but the Billy Shankly Kop Stand will be solely for Imps supporters next month.
It’s one of the biggest allocations available in the second tier, meaning there should be no mad scramble for tickets once again. Wolverhampton Wanderers were provided with up to 5600 tickets for their visit to the north-west next weekend, and Lincoln supporters should have the same privilege, if required.
5) Sheffield United
Date: Saturday 10th October (15:00)
Ticket Prices: £33 Adults, £24 Seniors 60+, £21 Concessions (Full Time Students & Young Adult 18-21) & £15 Junior U18
Expected Allocation: 2842
Four weeks after our trip to Lancashire, it’s a much shorter journey to the Steel City to face Sheffield United. Bramall Lane is a ground that City visited in the League Cup a few seasons ago, knocking the Blades out on penalties. There was a sizeable contingent of away supporters that day, and there should be a similar number making the journey this term.
Renovation works are currently affecting the Bramall Lane Upper Tier, though that has no bearing on the allocation provided for away supporters in the Bramall Lane Lower Stand. One would imagine those works should be completed by October. The above pricing is the Blades Category B structure, which is in effect for the games against Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City.
The Imps may fall into the Category C bracket, but the prices almost certainly won’t be any higher than what Blues supporters are being charged this Saturday teatime. Expect there to be high demand for this fixture, depending on our start to the season.
6) Millwall
Date: Saturday 17th October (12:30)
Ticket Prices: £34/£33 Adults, £25/£24 Concessions (Over 65 & 18-21), £19 U18, £10/9 U14 & £7 U6
Expected Allocation: 1700 (approximate)
Our final fixture of the first part of this series is the only away match that has currently had it’s kick off time changed thanks to television scheduling. The first of four trips to the capital and Hertfordshire in little over a month takes us to The Den for a lunchtime clash with Millwall. The Lions have three sets of categories for matches, and with their first home encounter against Norwich City being a Category C game, I’d expect us to be in the same bracket.
The North Stand used to be for away supporters only, with clubs having differing allocations depending on various reasons, such as police advice. Some teams would get the upper and lower tier, while others would be allocated one or the other, predominantly the upper section. However, this season, the stand has been split down the middle, with upper priced slightly higher for most ages.
Imps supporters will have half the stand, resulting in an allocation of around 1700, and likely another big test for City’s ticketing system.
Comments Welcome!