Lincoln City Football Club has announced six new first-year scholars who will join the U18 squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. The new intake will join up with the current group of second years for the upcoming Youth Alliance North campaign as they look to build on a positive end to the 2025/26 season. Joint lead professional development phase coach Sam Tillen has given an insight into each of the new scholars and what they will bring to the academy programme. Tariro Darikwa is a versatile left-sided defender with a willingness to get forward and strong ability to drive forward with the ball who joins us from Nottingham Forest. Fletcher Don-Duncan is a left-sided central defender who featured regularly for City's U18 side throughout the 2025/26 campaign and will begin his scholarship next season. Leo Fifield is a striker who will start a scholarship with the young Imps next season after leaving Coventry City. Sam Male is a hard-working and clinical striker who will link up with the young Imps ahead of their 2026/27 Youth Alliance campaign from West Brom. Isaac Shaw is a goalkeeper who has been developing in City's Academy for three years and will now continue his journey as a first-year scholar in 2026/27. Prem Sidhu is a technically gifted central player who starts a two-year scholarship with the Imps following a period on trial after leaving Nottingham Forest.