In the summer of 2024, Tendayi Darikwa returned to the EFL with Lincoln City following a stint in Cyprus. In his first season at Sincil Bank, he helped the club to an 11th-place finish and was named Player of the Year.
In July 2025, the Chesterfield academy graduate was appointed captain by then-manager Michael Skubala for the forthcoming League One campaign. Fast forward nearly 12 months, and Darikwa has led the Imps to the Championship for the first time in 65 years after a truly remarkable, record-breaking season.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Darikwa told LFE. “We had a few celebrations when we first achieved promotion, but after that we obviously had to focus on winning the league, which thankfully we did. We’ve since had a squad trip to Vegas and, immediately upon returning, had the trophy parade around the city, so there’s not really been a moment yet to fully reflect. It’s just been an amazing time for the football club.”
It wasn’t too long ago that Lincoln City were in the National League, with the club spending six seasons in the fifth tier of English football between 2011 and 2017. “The rise of this football club has been incredible. I was actually part of the Burnley team that was knocked out of the FA Cup by Lincoln during their special cup run in 2017 when they were in the National League.
“To now be part of the club and experience what we have this season is a really proud moment for me. I’m so grateful to everyone within the club and the supporters, who have been amazing all season; they really deserve this.”
Going into the 2025/26 season, it’s fair to say that the prospect of Lincoln City being crowned champions was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Imps supporters. “I think if you’d told someone at the start of the season that we’d go on a 29-game unbeaten run and win the league on 103 points, they might have called you crazy,” Darikwa admits.
“I was quite open about the fact that I wasn’t happy finishing 11th the season before, as I thought we were capable of a lot more. We had a really rough spell in which we had no wins in 15 games but still managed to finish above mid-table, so I think that shows that, with a bit of consistency that season, we could’ve achieved more.
“We obviously wanted to improve on that this season, and we believed that, with the personnel we had in the squad, we could give promotion a real go. We had a target of reaching the play-offs but, of course, we didn’t expect it to pan out the way it did and for us to become champions.”
Michael Skubala’s side started the 2025/26 campaign in electric fashion and never really looked back. However, an element of doubt from outsiders that they could sustain their all-conquering form was ever-present – a feeling that Darikwa and the rest of the squad unequivocally did not share.
“We quickly realised at the start of the season that we had built a special group with lots of quality. For myself and the rest of the players, we’ve always had that belief that we can go toe-to-toe with anybody and beat them on our day. Certainly, from the outside we’re not a huge football club or a massive name, but in that dressing room there is a togetherness that money can’t buy.”
The former Zimbabwe international said belief that something special could be happening began to grow within the group during a three-match spell over Christmas and the New Year.
“We had Cardiff, Stockport and Huddersfield during the festive period, and they were all direct rivals in the league at that time. We took seven points from a possible nine and performed really well. It set us up going into the new year and gave us the platform to have a really good crack at winning the league. Towards the end of the season, we literally felt unbeatable.”
The Lincolnshire club have turned to a data-driven approach in recent years, proving that if you evolve with the game, find edges through data analysis, and align your coaching, recruitment, and game model with it, you give yourself a real chance of success. Despite having the seventh-lowest budget in the third tier going into the campaign, this new-found formula allowed the Imps to construct a perfectly balanced squad.
“It’s an incredible squad,” said Darikwa. “I think the season before, I was the oldest player in the squad up until we signed James Collins in January, and at a few moments it was a little bit difficult to manage in terms of finding that balance.
“But last summer, the club went out and recruited really well. They brought in a few more experienced heads who have a proven track record of winning titles and promotions. We’ve got so much talent in the squad and a really nice blend of experience and youth. Combine all of that with our togetherness and hard work, and it all shines through on matchday.”
It’s not the first time the full-back has captained a League One title-winning team. In 2022, Darikwa was part of the Wigan Athletic squad that won promotion to the Championship. He admits that being able to draw on his experience with the Latics helped this time around.
“I’m proud of the two achievements and to be the leader who wears the armband. Having experienced it before definitely helps, but I like to think I’ve always led through the way I play.
“It was important throughout the season to reiterate to the lads how important it is to take each game as it comes, focus on ourselves, and keep doing what we are doing. There might have been games where we needed a certain result to secure promotion, or games where dropping points could have cost us, but it was important not to break our habits because what we were doing was working. Now we’re here as champions on 103 points.”
Individually, Darikwa, by his own admission, enjoyed what was perhaps the best season of his career to date. The 34-year-old was part of a defensive unit that conceded the fewest goals in the division and chipped in with nine goal contributions going forward.
“I’ve been around a long time, but from a personal perspective, it’s definitely up there. I’ve managed to get a few goals and assists and got myself into the EFL League One Team of the Season, which is the first time I’ve achieved that. It’s only really made possible by the people I have around me, though – my teammates, coaching staff and everyone connected to the club.”
It’s not just his on-field exploits that were recognised in the 2025/26 campaign. At the club’s end-of-season awards evening, Darikwa was named the club’s Community Player of the Year for his work with the Lincoln City Foundation.
“That was nice, but it’s not just me. All of the lads and staff at the football club have played their part. We’re all very proud to play for Lincoln and represent this city. It’s a very multicultural area with a lot of different races and backgrounds, and we can act as a heartbeat for all communities in the city. There is so much negativity and so many bad things going on in the world right now, and sometimes people – especially the younger generation – need someone to look up to. In Lincoln, we might be that someone.
“We have a duty of care to help and inspire people. We get involved with all kinds of initiatives, such as going into schools and hospitals, but a project I’ve been working closely on this season is helping children in care and from disadvantaged backgrounds – creating opportunities and positive experiences for them through the power of football. It’s something I’m really proud of, and I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can take the project.”
Looking ahead to next season – the Imps’ first taste of Championship football in over half a century – the club captain is under no illusions about the test that awaits.
“Look, it’s going to be a tough challenge,” he confesses. “We’re not naive enough to think we’re just going to go into the Championship and continue winning games at the rate we have been. There are a lot of big clubs in the division, but we’re not going up to that level just to be spectators and have a few days out – we want to be competitive and win football matches.
“We’ll have a break now, reset, and come back for pre-season ready to work harder than ever and give it our best shot. We want to keep this momentum going.”
