Barnsley will welcome Lincoln City to Oakwell tomorrow evening for their final pre-season friendly, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm. The match is the first and only pre-season fixture to be staged at the ground this summer and follows a busy preparation period for the Reds.
Recent form and summer changes
Lincoln arrive in South Yorkshire having secured promotion from League One as champions last season under Michael Skubala. Skubala has since left to take a role at Bristol City and Lincoln’s coaching setup is now led by Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.
The Imps have been active in the transfer market. Their most notable incoming is Romanian centre-back Andre Coubis, signed from Universitatea Cluj for around £2.6m — a figure that exceeds Barnsley’s highest ever outlay. They have also brought in former Barnsley full-back Callum Elder on a two-year deal after his contract with Derby County expired. Former Red Adam Jackson has featured in Lincoln’s pre-season matches so far.
Fixture context and local ties
The meeting at Oakwell renews a recent rivalry: Lincoln defeated Barnsley on three occasions last season — twice in the league and once in the Football League Trophy. The Imps will also play Barnsley’s South Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Rovers at 3pm the same day, making it a busy schedule for Lincoln in the region.
- Date and time: Tomorrow, kick-off 7pm (Oakwell)
- Lincoln summer signings: Andre Coubis (approx. £2.6m), Callum Elder (two-year deal)
- Barnsley pre-season so far: two wins, two defeats (details below)
Barnsley’s pre-season results
The Reds have used a mix of local non-league opposition and higher-level preparation to fine-tune ahead of the new campaign. To date their results include victories over Matlock Town and Scarborough Athletic, both by 2-0, and defeats to League Two side York City and to Blackburn Rovers in a closed-doors match.
| Meeting | Score |
|---|---|
| Lincoln at Oakwell (league) | 2-0 to Lincoln |
| Lincoln away (league) | 3-1 to Lincoln |
| Football League Trophy | 2-0 to Lincoln |
For supporters, the fixture offers a last opportunity to see the team at Oakwell before the competitive season begins and a chance to assess new signings and tactical approaches during pre-season. Fans travelling to the match should check club notices for ticketing and turnstile information ahead of the 7pm start.
This game marks the final local friendly before Barnsley turn their attention to the new campaign; how the squad performs against a side recently promoted to the Championship will be a useful barometer of the Reds’ readiness.
