Lincoln Red Imps F.C.

Lincoln Red Imps Football Club is a professional football club from Gibraltar. They play in the Gibraltar Football League, and share Victoria Stadium with all other clubs in the territory. They are the country's record champion with 29 league titles, including fourteen consecutive titles between 2003 and 2016, and in 2014 were the first team to represent Gibraltar in the UEFA Champions League's qualifying stage. In August 2021, Lincoln became the first club from Gibraltar to ever reach the group stages of a European club competition after defeating the Latvian champions Riga FC in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The club has won 7 domestic trebles and 4 doubles in its history. They hold the record for Europe's longest men's chronological unbeaten league run of 88 matches over 1,959 days from May 2009 to September 2014.

History The football club was formed in 1976 by Charles Polson and managed by Charles Head . A group of players associated to the old Police youth team called the "Blue Batons" and complemented by players that had been released by Glacis United and St Jago's joined forces to form the first Lincoln team that played in the Gibraltar fourth division as a youth team. The team was named after Lincoln City FC, who are nicknamed the "Imps" after the legend of the Lincoln Imp. Lincoln Red Imps received their name after they were sponsored by Reg Brealey, the former Sheffield United chairman and Lincoln resident who is friends with Charles Polson.

When this Lincoln team became old enough to play Senior Football, it was decided to place the young team into the GFA second division. The team started to climb to the top in the second division in the season 1981–82 winning the league, the division cup and gaining promotion to the GFA's first division after only one season. The next year Lincoln finished in mid table in the first division. In 1983–84 Lincoln won the league and promotion to the Gibraltar Premier Division.

In 1984–85 Lincoln played their first season in the Gibraltar Premier Division in which they were joint champions with Glacis United – the first of seven league titles which were won between 1984 and 1994.

Lincoln won 14 Gibraltar Premier Division titles in a row from 2003 to 2016, bettering the previous record of nine in a row held by Glacis United in the 1960s. They also won the national treble of League, Rock Cup and Senior Cup in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011.

In 2014, after Gibraltar had joined UEFA as the 54th member, Lincoln became the first Gibraltarian team to play in the qualifying stages of the UEFA Champions League. After claiming a 1–1 draw in the home match, they lost 5–2 at Faroese team HB and were eliminated in the first qualifying round.

Lincoln won both the 2015 Rock Cup with a 4–1 victory over Lynx F.C. and the 2014–15 Gibraltar Premier Division championship by 16 points, again playing in the qualification stages for the UEFA Champions League for with their second straight double. In the First Qualifying Round Lincoln were drawn against FC Santa Coloma of Andorra. After a scoreless draw in the first leg in Gibraltar, the club earned a 2–1 victory at the Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella to advance to the Second Qualifying Round with goals coming from Anthony Bardon and Lee Casciaro. With the victory, Lincoln became the first club from Gibraltar to reach the second round of UEFA Champions League qualification, setting up an encounter with 2015 Danish champions FC Midtjylland, which Lincoln Red Imps lost on aggregate 0–3.

In 2016 Lincoln pulled off a surprise victory against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, with a 1–0 victory at home after a 48th-minute strike from Lee Casciaro in the club's second round match of the UEFA Champions League qualifying stage. The match was Brendan Rodgers first competitive fixture as manager of Celtic. The Glasgow side still comfortably qualified with a 3–0 victory in the return leg at Celtic Park. It is still seen as one of Celtic's worst moments.

On 26 August 2021, Lincoln became the first team from Gibraltar to qualify for the group stage in a European Competition, as they defeated Riga FC by a score of 3–1 (4–2 aggregate) and advanced to the group stage of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

On 28 August 2025, Lincoln Red Imps qualified for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League league phase after defeats in the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League play-off round to Braga, making it their second time in European group stage competition. On 23 October 2025, they made history by becoming the first team from Gibraltar to win a match in the European group stage by beating Polish champions, Lech Poznań, 2–1 at home.

Seasons (since UEFA acceptance)

SeasonDivisionLeague recordRock CupPepe ReyesCupEuropeCompetitionResult2013–14Premier141130666361stWinnersRunners-up——2014–15Premier2119118012581stWinnersWinnersChampions LeagueFirst qualifying round2015–16Premier2725111309761stWinnersWinnersChampions LeagueSecond qualifying round2016–17Premier27233110016722ndRunners-upRunners-upChampions LeagueSecond qualifying round2017–18Premier2721247119651stWinnersEuropa LeagueFirst qualifying round2018–19Premier2721338419661stRunners-upChampions LeagueEuropa LeaguePreliminary roundSecond qualifying round2019–20National1713046815393rdAbandonedRunners-upChampions LeagueEuropa LeaguePreliminary roundSecond qualifying round2020–21National2015326213481stWinners—Europa LeagueSecond qualifying round2021–22National2019106517581stWinnersRunners-upChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueEuropa Conference LeagueSecond qualifying roundThird qualifying roundGroup stage2022–23GFL2017126814521stRunners-upWinnersChampions LeagueEuropa Conference LeagueFirst qualifying roundSecond qualifying round2023–24GFL2521228615651stWinnersRunners-upChampions LeagueEuropa Conference LeagueFirst qualifying roundThird qualifying round2024–25GFL252131687661stSemi-finalsRunners-upChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueConference LeagueSecond qualifying roundThird qualifying roundPlay-off round2025–26GFL2723318917721stWinnersWinnersChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueConference LeagueSecond qualifying roundPlay-off roundLeague phase, 26th

Stadium

Lincoln currently plays all league games at the 2,000-seat Victoria Stadium. They often play home games in front of hundreds of spectators. The Lincoln Red Imps share this ground with all clubs currently participating in the Gibraltar Premier Division, as well as the Gibraltar Women's Football League, of which Lincoln also runs a team.

Due to the ground's failure to meet guidelines in the 2017–18 season, Lincoln, along with Europa and St Joseph's, were forced to play their European competition matches at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal, while improvements were carried out on Victoria Stadium.

Renovations are underway to expand it to a football specific stadium with a capacity of 8,000 seats.

Honours

Gibraltar Premier Division & Gibraltar Football League: 30 1984–85, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 Rock Cup: 21 1985–86, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2025–26 Pepe Reyes Cup: 14 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2025, 2026 Gibraltar League Senior Cup: 18 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14

European record

Lincoln's first qualifying round match of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League marked the first match played by a Gibraltarian club in UEFA competition. After converting a penalty, a second half goal was conceded and the game ended in a draw.

Overall

CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGD UEFA Champions League 33 10 5 18 33 56 –23 UEFA Europa League 19 3 6 10 16 37 UEFA Conference League 22 4 3 15 20 48 –28 Overall 74 17 14 43 69 141 –72

Matches Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate Y/N 2014–15 UEFA Champions League 1Q HB Tórshavn 1–1 2–5 3–6 2015–16 UEFA Champions League 1Q Santa Coloma 0–0 2–1 2–1 2Q Midtjylland 0–2 0–1 0–3 2016–17 UEFA Champions League 1Q Flora Tallinn 2–0 1–2 3–2 2Q Celtic 1–0 0–3 1–3 2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q AEK Larnaca 1–1 0–5 1–6 2018–19 UEFA Champions League PR La Fiorita 2–0 style="text-align:center;" Drita 1–4 style="text-align:center;" UEFA Europa League 2Q The New Saints 1–1 1–2 2–3 2019–20 UEFA Champions League PR Feronikeli 0–1 style="text-align:center;" UEFA Europa League 2Q Ararat-Armenia 1–2 0–2 1–4 2020–21 UEFA Europa League PR Prishtina 3–0 () 1Q Union Titus Pétange 2–0 2Q Rangers 0–5 2021–22 UEFA Champions League 1Q Fola Esch 5–0 2–2 7–2 2Q CFR Cluj 1–2 0–2 1–4 UEFA Europa League 3Q Slovan Bratislava 1–3 1–1 2–4 UEFA Europa Conference League PO Riga 3–1 1–1 4–2 GS Copenhagen 0–4 1–3 4th place PAOK 0–2 0–2 Slovan Bratislava 1–4 0–2 2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1Q Shkupi 2–0 0–3 2–3 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Tobol 0–1 0–2 0−3 2023–24 UEFA Champions League 1Q Qarabağ 1–2 0–4 1–6 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Bye 3Q Ballkani 1–3 0–2 1–5 2024–25 UEFA Champions League 1Q Ħamrun Spartans 0–1 1–0 1–1 (5–4 p) 2Q Qarabağ 0–2 0–5 0–7 UEFA Europa League 3Q Dinamo Minsk 2–1 0–2 2–3 UEFA Conference League PO Larne 2–1 1–3 3–4 2025–26 UEFA Champions League 1Q Víkingur 1–0 3–2 4–2 2Q Red Star Belgrade 0–1 1–5 1–6 UEFA Europa League 3Q Noah 1–1 0–0 1–1 (6–5 p) PO Braga 0–4 1–5 1–9 UEFA Conference League LP Zrinjski Mostar 0–526th place Lech Poznań 2–1 Rijeka 1–1 Ħamrun Spartans 1–3 Sigma Olomouc 2–1 Legia Warsaw 1–4 2026–27 UEFA Champions League 1Q Inter Club d'Escaldes 3–1 1–1 4–2 2Q Mjällby AIF 0–0 0–3 0–3 UEFA Europa League 3Q Omonia 1–1 0–1 1–2 UEFA Conference League PO Larne 0–2 3–0 3–2 LP Brann TBD Twente Hajduk Split Egnatia Midtjylland AS Monaco

Notes PR: Preliminary round 1Q: First qualifying round 2Q: Second qualifying round 3Q: Third qualifying round PO: Play-off round GS: Group stage LP: League phase

Players First team FIRST TEAM Retrieved 21 June 2019.

Out on loan

Club staff First Team Lincoln Red Imps FC. PositionNameHead coach Juanma PavónAssistant coach José María Pajares Daniel SegoviaGoalkeeper coach Miguel Ángel BazánFitness coach Álvaro Echevarne GómezU23 Head coach Ryan CasciaroU23 Assistant coach Kyle GoldwinHead physio Keith RamirezTeam doctor Francisco MoyaKitman Alberto TorremochaPerformance Analyst Diego BartoliBoardPresident Dylan ViagasDirector Christian LagueaDirector Elton DuarteSporting director Juan José GallardoSecretary Michael Ruiz

Lincoln Red Imps F.C.

Bron en licentie