For the 2026/27 season, The Stacey West is delighted to bring you a new feature that provides a personalised supporters’ guide for Lincoln City supporters.
Unlike the previews that Kyle Fox provides, this piece focuses fully on the matchday itself for all 23 of our Championship away fixtures. Information for this first feature includes ticket information, travel details, alongside food and drink options.
Any suggestions for future pieces would be greatly appreciated so we can provide our supporters with as much information as possible for our away trips this campaign.
Tickets
Lincoln’s full allocation of 2118 tickets was snapped up after two days of priority sales. Boro supporters have also been keen to return to the Riverside, and while the club haven’t formally announced a sell-out, as of midday on Friday, there were no tickets available for home fans either.
Imps supporters will be housed in the South East corner of the ground tomorrow, situated closest to car parks D and E. Imps fans should follow The Leeway to find ourselves outside the away end.
Travel
By Train (2h50 to 3h10- 2 changes)
It’s quite a nice route up to Middlesbrough from Lincoln. If you get onto the East Coast Mainline, using LNER / EMR / Northern to get to either Newark Northgate or Retford, it’s a comfortable journey with our former stadium sponsors LNER up to Darlington. From there, it’s a short 30-minute train to Middlesbrough. Upon arrival, it’s a brisk 18-minute walk (0.8mi) to the Riverside Stadium.
Services following that rough route are hourly, arriving into Middlesbrough at around half past the hour. In terms of the return journey, there is a train that leaves Teesside at 17:25, though that means a swift exit after the final whistle. For supporters who want a more relaxed journey, various routes, involving changes at York and Doncaster alongside our original route, leave as late as 20:25.
By Road (2h45- 124 to 131mi)
As of midday on Friday, it takes up to three hours from Sincil Bank to the Riverside Stadium. Imps fans, depending on their location in and around Lincoln, can use the A15/M180/M18/M62, A46/A1 or A52/A1 to eventually get on the A1(M). After exiting at junction 49, it’s onto the A168 and A19 until you enter Middlesbrough. Most City supporters will be entering from the south, so it’s then a brief stint on the A66 for the final part of the journey.
Parking
There are six designated matchday car parks at the Riverside Stadium, which cost £8.50, inclusive of a processing fee, on a first come first serve basis. These can be purchased by calling Boro’s ticket office on 01642 929421. There are paid locations available in the town centre, with more than 3500 long-stay car parking spaces. All further information can be found on Middlesbrough’s website.
As this will be my first visit to the Riverside, I am unable to offer any parking recommendations myself. As the season progresses and we visit a few familiar grounds, I will hopefully be able to provide some tips from my own experiences.
Food & Drink
Away Pubs
The north-east is famous for its drinking scene, particularly with Newcastle on Middlesbrough’s doorstep. As such, there are plenty of locations in the town centre for Imps supporters to enjoy a pre-match pint. Reading various sites to compile my research, The Isaac Wilson was a good recommendation close to the train station for both sets of supporters.
Bar Cuda, which is unsurprisingly a bar, is located slightly further into the town centre. For those on coaches, Albion Social Club had some pretty good reviews from a couple of seasons ago, and is located in South Bank, to the east of the ground. Closer to The Riverside, there is a pub called Six Medals near the Gateway Retail Park. The general consensus is that Lincoln fans will be fine drinking in pretty much every venue, as long as you remain respectful. Given there is no prior history between the clubs, it should make for a fantastic occasion of fans mingling before the season opener.
Fan Zone
Boro have a FanZone at the ground, located opposite the Ayresome Park gates. There are food and drink options available, alongside music and entertainment. It opens around three hours before kick-off, with specific information for each fixture available across social media.
Ahead of our first look at the new and improved fan zone at Sincil Bank, this should be a good marker for what to expect in the Championship this season.
Comments Welcome!