Lincoln City, the U.S.-Owned Club Aiming for Championship Glory

Led by former Padres owner Ron Fowler and USMNT legend Landon Donovan, the modest English club is punching above its weight in League One.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:08pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a Lincoln City football match, with the players and field broken down into fragmented geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the club's innovative tactical approach.Lincoln City's data-driven approach to the game has transformed the modest English club into a Championship-bound powerhouse.Lincoln City Today

Lincoln City, a small club in the East Midlands of England, has secured promotion to the Championship for the first time in 65 years. Despite having the seventh-lowest budget in League One, Lincoln has dominated the division this season, leading the league in points, goals scored, and fewest goals conceded. The club's success is attributed to a data-driven approach to recruitment and player development, as well as a focus on set-piece strategies that have made them a formidable opponent.

Why it matters

Lincoln City's rise to the Championship is a remarkable underdog story, showcasing how a well-run, data-driven club can achieve success despite limited resources. The involvement of American investors like former San Diego Padres owner Ron Fowler and USMNT legend Landon Donovan also highlights the growing influence of U.S. money and expertise in English football.

The details

Lincoln City has achieved promotion to the Championship with five games to spare, sitting 19 points clear of third place. The club's success has been built on a data-driven approach to recruitment, with the team identifying talented players from lower leagues and abroad, such as Ukrainian midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev. Lincoln also employs advanced analytics to develop a highly effective set-piece strategy, which has seen them score a significant portion of their goals from corners, free kicks, and long throws.

  • Lincoln City secured promotion to the Championship with a 2-1 win over Reading on Monday.
  • The club is now 12 points clear at the top of League One with five games remaining.
  • Lincoln City last played in the second tier of English football in 1952.

The players

Ron Fowler

A former co-owner of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres, Fowler now has the largest stake in Lincoln City.

Landon Donovan

The USMNT's joint record goalscorer, Donovan is an investor and strategic advisor for Lincoln City.

Clive Nates

A South African former hedge fund manager, Nates has been involved with Lincoln City since 2016 and is the third-largest shareholder.

Jez George

The sporting director of Lincoln City, who has overseen the club's data-driven approach to recruitment and player development.

Michael Skubala

The manager of Lincoln City, who previously coached England's futsal team and Leeds United's under-21 side.

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What they’re saying

“I love the people. It's not the England most people would know if you've been to London or Manchester. It's countryside. It's rolling hills. There's a sweetness to it. A beautiful cathedral in the town. A university city. A lot of young people. It's been phenomenal to watch this club shape the town in some ways.”

— Landon Donovan, Investor and Strategic Advisor

“We've got to create a unit that is better than the individual sum of its parts. Then we think about what the game model needs to look like. We don't like putting the ball at risk in our defensive third, because we don't think there's much value in that when set against the risk. We like pressing high, because other teams do put the ball at risk (at the back) and we can get reward from that.”

— Jez George, Sporting Director

What’s next

Lincoln City will look to secure the League One title in the final five games of the season, as they aim to continue their remarkable rise. The club will also need to carefully manage the transition to the Championship, where they will face greater financial challenges but hope to maintain their data-driven approach to success.

The takeaway

Lincoln City's promotion to the Championship is a testament to the power of smart, data-driven decision-making in modern football. Despite limited resources, the club has been able to punch above its weight by identifying undervalued talent, implementing innovative tactics, and creating a strong team culture. This model could serve as an inspiration for other smaller clubs looking to achieve success against the odds.