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Preston North End v Lincoln City in the Championship is set for a 3.00pm kick-off on Saturday, 12 September 2026, with local BBC radio providing the main live coverage for British listeners. BBC Radio Lancashire will carry the match with Tom Sandells as main commentator and former Preston goalkeeper Alan Kelly alongside him, while BBC Radio Lincolnshire will also be on air with Michael Hortin leading the commentary team.
For supporters in the North West and Lincolnshire, this is the most accessible way to follow the game if they are not at Deepdale, and it underlines the continued importance of local radio in EFL coverage. BBC local stations remain a trusted route for live football, especially when a fixture has appeal on both sides of the country and there is no wider national TV broadcast in the opening build-up.
Tom Sandells has become a regular voice on BBC Radio Lancashire, where he covers Preston North End and wider local sport, bringing a clear matchday style that suits the pace of live radio. Alan Kelly, meanwhile, offers strong football credibility through his long association with Preston North End as a former goalkeeper, and his insight should be particularly valuable in assessing the Lilywhites’ defensive shape and the demands placed on the home side in a tight Championship contest.
Michael Hortin is one of the best-known figures in Lincolnshire sport broadcasting, having spent many years at BBC Radio Lincolnshire and helping to build the station’s football coverage over a long period. BBC material has credited him with overseeing the growth of the station’s sport output, and he is also closely linked with the club’s regular audio coverage, making him a familiar and authoritative voice for Lincoln City fans. His long-standing role gives this game added familiarity for Imps supporters following the action from afar.
The radio coverage is also a reminder of how deeply local broadcasters are woven into English football culture. BBC Radio Lancashire has repeatedly provided matchday reaction and analysis around Preston North End, while BBC Radio Lincolnshire has been central to Lincoln City coverage for years, with the station’s football output extending well beyond basic commentary to include interviews, analysis and fan-focused discussion.
Preston North End and Lincoln City both arrive with strong regional followings, and a Championship meeting between the sides adds extra weight to the local coverage. Preston, one of the founding members of the Football League, play at Deepdale, a historic venue with deep roots in English football, while Lincoln City’s modern rise has been closely tracked by their local BBC team and supporters have long relied on radio updates for away-day coverage and analysis. The Championship remains one of the most fiercely followed competitions in the country, and local stations are often the best way to capture its detail and atmosphere.
For listeners, the appeal is straightforward: live ball-by-ball commentary, knowledgeable summarising and a strong local perspective on two clubs with very different recent histories but similar ambitions. With Tom Sandells, Alan Kelly and Michael Hortin all involved in the broadcast picture, this is a fixture where the radio coverage should be every bit as engaging as the football itself.
Article generated: 12 September 2026, 15:07 GMT