Adam Reach is excited for the start of the 2026/27 campaign as City kick off the new season with a Carabao Cup first-round trip to Derby County.
The experienced defender is looking forward to Saturday's clash at Pride Park, believing it will provide the perfect test ahead of City's return to the Sky Bet Championship against Middlesbrough a week later.
He said: “On Monday the business starts, we have the Carabao Cup on Saturday against Derby. They’re a Championship team so it’s going to be a really good test of what we’re going to come up against.
“Football moves quickly. We won the league last year but that’s behind us and we have to reset and focus on a different challenge. We’re just as prepared, focused and ambitious as we were last season.
“We’ve got lots of experienced people, two wonderful coaches and as a group we’re really looking forward to the Championship season. We deserve to be there and we just need to be ready for Derby and then Middlesborough the next week.”
Reach suffered an injury towards the back end of the 2025/26 campaign but says he's in a great place physically and excited to be back and playing in the Sky Bet Championship.
The 33-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the second tier, making 375 appearances in the division with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston North End and Middlesborough.
He added: “I’m feeling good and strong. Physically I’m in a great place and excited to be back in the Championship.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to make hundreds of appearances in the Championship and I want to keep doing that. I want to play a part in what we all believe will be a really successful season.”
New signing Andrei Coubis made his first appearance in City colours during Saturday's friendly at Doncaster Rovers, with Reach believing the defender has all the attributes to make a big impact this season.
He said: “I think he’s made for the Championship physically. He’s going to be a great addition to our defensive line.
“He’s going to add really vital competition in there. We’ve got the perfect group of players and staff to support him with everything he needs - he’ll soon realise how welcoming of a city Lincoln is.”
