Lincoln City Academy

Lincoln City runs a category 3 academy based in Lincolnshire. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

As an EFL Category Three Academy, the club actively commits to progress and focuses on recruiting individuals who embody the 3E’s: Exceptional, Edge, and Energising.

More information about the Academy’s Emerging Talent programme can be found here.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @LCFCAcademy.

The club also runs a Shadow Scholars programme for post-16 players who want to combine education with playing football.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the following competitions:

• U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
• U18 Youth Alliance League – an English youth football competition made up of two regional divisions, serving as the League Two tier within the U18 Professional Development League system.
• U18 Youth Alliance Cup – organised by the English Football League, featuring Under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance. The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase, designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Lincolnshire FA County Senior Cup – a regional knockout competition involving senior and academy sides from clubs across Lincolnshire.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season with Sam Tillen as Under-18 Head Coach.

Full details of players retained, released, or returned from loan following the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Scholars 2025/26

Lynden Huggins, Donald Inyama, Josh Kennealey, Gael Mande, Lewy Oliver, Kian Sagoo, Jaden Taylor and Leo Vout.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Charlie Carlisle (Defender) – Lincoln United
• Oisín Gallagher (Midfielder) – Boston United
• MJ Kamson-Kamara (Defender) – Glentoran
• Zane Okoro (Forward) – Coleraine
• Charlie Parks (Midfielder) – Gainsborough Trinity
• Daniel Vanderpuye (Forward) – Lincoln United
• Gbolahan Okewoye (Midfielder) – Grimsby Borough
• Jaden Taylor (Goalkeeper) – Pinchbeck United
• Noah Simmons (Defender) – Lincoln United

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Gbolahan Okewoye (Midfielder, #37), Zane Okoro (Forward, #36), Freddie Draper (Forward, #34).

International Players 2025/26

Oisín Gallagher (Midfielder) – Ireland U21.

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Lincoln City were drawn against Under-17 teams from Notts County, Burton Albion and Crewe Alexandra in the group stage, and advanced into the U17 PDL Shield after finishing second in their group.

They were then drawn away against Stevenage in the round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup first round, Lincoln City’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Salford City; their campaign in the competition ended at that stage.

For the FA Youth Cup first round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against Peterborough United, where their run in the competition ended.

In the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Cup quarter-final, the Under-18s were drawn against Lincoln United.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Academy graduates Gbolahan Okewoye and Charlie Parks committed their immediate futures to Lincoln City by signing professional contracts with the club.
• Okewoye agreed to an initial one-year deal with an option for a further year, while Parks signed a two-year contract that includes an additional two-year club option.

June 2025

• Lincoln City were set to face Lincoln United or Stamford AFC in the quarter-finals of the Lincolnshire County Senior Cup.
• Zane Okoro committed his future to the Imps by signing his first professional contract.

July 2025

• 18-year-old goalkeeper Isaac Allan joined Sunderland AFC’s Under-21 side following his departure from Lincoln City.

October 2025

• Lincoln City’s Under-18s were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup following an away defeat to Peterborough United.

December 2025

• Lincoln City progressed to the U17 PDL Shield quarter-finals following a penalty shootout victory away at Stevenage.

Released Academy Players

Isaac Allan (joined Sunderland AFC Under-21s).

2024/25 Season

Lincoln City Academy coach Sam Tillen reflected on the 2024/25 season, describing it as “a season of two halves.”

• Top 5 finish in the Youth Alliance North League.
• The Under-18s reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Michael-John Kamson-Kamara (Defender) – Peterborough Sports
• Oisín Gallagher (Midfielder) – Peterborough Sports; Boston United
• Denny Oliver (Midfielder) – Grantham Town
• Gbolahan Okewoye (Midfielder) – Grantham Town; Lincoln United
• Charlie Parks (Defender) – Grantham Town
• Dakara Wifa (Forward) – Skegness Town
• Kelly Fombad (Defender) – Lincoln United

Academy Products in the First Team 2024/25

Oisín Gallagher (Midfielder, #26), Jovon Makama (Forward, #27), Freddie Draper (Forward, #34), MJ Kamara (Defender, #35), Denny Oliver (Midfielder, #38), Charlie Parks (Defender, #39), Zane Okoro (Forward, #36).

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup group stage, Lincoln City’s Under-18s were drawn in Group D against Under-18 teams from Chesterfield, Burton Albion, Mansfield Town, Notts County and Rotherham.

For the FA Youth Cup, Lincoln City progressed through the first three rounds, defeating Lichfield, Bolton Wanderers and Wrexham in turn, before their campaign ended in the fourth round against Plymouth Argyle.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Lincoln City were drawn away to Lichfield in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Having beaten Lichfield in the first round, Lincoln City secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, drawn away to Bolton Wanderers, with the match scheduled for Monday 25 November at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

November 2024

• Following victory over Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Lincoln City were drawn at home to Wrexham.

December 2024

• Lincoln City earned a spot in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after victory over Wrexham in the third round.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, Lincoln City were drawn away to Plymouth Argyle.
• The FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie away to Plymouth Argyle was scheduled for Wednesday 8 January at Home Park.

January 2025

• Lincoln City’s FA Youth Cup campaign concluded with a penalty shootout defeat against Plymouth Argyle, following a draw in normal time. U14s player Jaxon Tomak made history as the youngest known scorer in FA Youth Cup history during the tie.
• A hat-trick of academy scholarships was awarded to the Oliver family, with 14-year-old Kenzie offered a pre-scholarship agreement with the Imps.

March 2025

• Jovon Makama became the Imps’ first academy graduate to score a senior career hat-trick since Mick Harford in 1980.
• As the EFL celebrated Youth Development across all 72 League clubs, Lincoln City highlighted three academy players for their contributions this season: Jovon Makama (Forward) with 2,381 minutes played, 11 goals and 6 assists; Freddie Draper (Forward) with 1,680 minutes played, 5 goals and 1 assist; and Sean Roughan (Defender) with 3,825 minutes played, 1 goal and 4 assists.
• Lincoln City’s academy graduates had accumulated 7,984 minutes on the pitch this season, contributing to 29 goals in total.

Released Academy Players

Denny Oliver (joined Sheffield Wednesday).