Lincoln City Football Club are proud to announce the opening of a city centre retail store in the Waterside Shopping Centre.
The Imps, in conjunction with retail partner Elite Pro Sports, will be taking over the unit on the lower level of the centre, which was recently home to St Barnabas Hospices' pop-up shop.
Fans of the League Two champions will not have long to wait, with the new store expected to open before the end of July, on an initial short-term lease.
"This is a fantastic signing for the centre and is a win-win for both the club and us," says Dean Cross, General Manager of the Waterside Shopping Centre. "Over 50,000 people visit our centre every week, many of whom will be Lincoln City fans. While Sincil Bank isn't too far away from us, being able to visit the club shop during their lunch break, on the way to work or on their way home will make it a lot easier for them.
"Having such a large presence in the city centre is a real sign of just how far the football club has come over the last few years!"
Last season The Imps sold more replica shirts than ever before from its Sincil Bank shop, and the 2019/20 shirt has proved to be very popular so far since being revealed recently as the football club prepares for their return to League One for the first time in 20 years.
“We have enjoyed amazing success on and off the pitch over the last few years," said Liam Scully, Lincoln City Chief Executive Officer. "We want to continue this success, and we know to do so we have to look at as many possible ways of how we can continue to engage with our supporters and the local community, which is vitally important to the football club. Our retail shop is one of those areas and opening a city centre store will give us fantastic visibility and an amazing opportunity to benefit from the Waterside's significant footfall."
The opening of the new club shop in the Waterside Centre does not affect the existing store at Sincil Bank, which will remain open for people who wish to visit the ground to buy tickets and merchandise.