The first team bearing the name Scunthorpe United took to the field in 1899 after a merger with local side Brumby Hall. A further merger with North Lindsey United took place in 1910 and led to the club rejoicing in one of the longer names in football : 'Give us an S....'!

Scunthorpe is another club that appears rather uninterested in its pre-League history. It's quite difficult finding much information about the club's early years other than noting that they joined the Midland League in 1912, when they also turned (semi-)professional, which they went on to win twice, in 1927 and 1939. They applied to join the Third Division (North) on its formation in 1921. Sixteen of the twenty places were gifted and the final four went to a ballot. Scunthorpe & Lindsey United as they were then called came a poor thirteenth, second from bottom. Whether they felt humiliated, or for some other reasons, they didn't put themselves up for election again until 1938 and 1939. However by then Shrewsbury Town were the clear front runners amongst the Non-league hopefuls in the North, having built up a healthy support, though they didn't get in either. The Iron applied each year after the War and in 1950 their moment came. With Division Three (North) expanding by two clubs Shrewsbury waltzed in, but the other place took three ballots to settle before first Nelson and Workington and then finally Wigan Athletic were seen off. Their first ever League game was a 0-0 at the Old Showground against Shrewsbury Town. They were solid if unspectacular performers through the Fifties until winning the Championship in 1958. They dropped the "& Lindsey" part of their name, becoming simply Scunthorpe United. Two years later they also changed their colours from the traditional claret and blue.

The Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph Stand, but called the West or even Main Stand by we proles. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

The club finished 4th in Division Two in 1962 and that gentle reader is as good as it's ever got for Scunthorpe United in terms of league position. Two years later and they were back in Division Three after finishing bottom of the pile in the Second, and four years after that they were last again and into Division Four. Since then they have achieved four promotions out of the basement division, the most recent last season, but returned after a single campaign the first three times. However they only needed to call upon re-election on two occasions. The 2003-04 season was their worst performance since 1981-82, at the end of which season they had reverted to their former colours in response.

In the F.A. Cup Scunthorpe's best efforts have been a couple of Fifth Rounds, losing to Liverpool in 1958 and Swindon Town in 1970. They reached the Fourth Round in 2003-04, eventually going out to Premiership Portsmouth. They don't seem to bother with the League Cup much, generally going out in Round One with two appearances in Round Three the furthest they've gone to date.

The Country Chef Stand as was, now the Grove Wharf Stand, a.k.a. the East Stand. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

In 1988 the Iron left their original home, the Old Showground (for them a Safeway supermarket rather than a Tesco) for a brand new purpose built stadium at Glanford Park. They've been to Wembley twice for Play-off Finals, losing their first go in 1992 against Blackpool on penalties, but coming through second time around in 1999 when they beat Leyton Orient 1-0 to gain promotion. True to form they came straight back down the following season. In 2002-03 the Iron reached the Third Division play-offs again, this time going out at the semi-final stage, losing 6-3 on aggregate to Lincoln City. Times seemed relatively positive for the Iron, with a stability in the manager's chair that is a rarity down in the lower reaches on the Football League. Brian Laws had been manager since 1997, but in 2003-04 it all went pear-shaped.

Scunthorpe were already having a poorish season when then Chairman and major shareholder Steve Wharton decided to step down in December 2003. By the spring they were sinking fast with relegation a distinct possibility, and the board decided Laws had to go. However behind the scenes Wharton launched a coup, and in the following bloodbath no less than four of the six club directors were ousted including the new chairman. Twenty days after his sacking Brian Laws was reinstated. The battle still rumbled on with former board members joining a consortium to try and take the club over. The season had by then come to a close with Scunthorpe surviving in 22nd place and Wharton giving Laws a one year contract. His faith was rewarded as the club turned around in 2004-05 and achieved automatic promotion, finishing runners-up to Yeovil Town by three points.

The only Glovers connections we know about is that former Yeovil striker and all-round nice guy Paul Wilson went to Scunthorpe as youth team coach after he left Huish Park, and is still there under the posher title of Youth Development Officer. And one I.T.Botham played for both clubs, and is an Iron Vice-President. Er, that's it.

The Caparo Merchant Bar Stand, thankfully still referred to as the South Stand by most. This is the seated away end and holds 1,650. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

Prediction corner:
Badly wrong last season (what's new?), predicting a 10th place. Scunny in fact leapt from nearly going out of the Football League in 2003-04 to automatic promotion last term. Who'd be a football pundit? As for this season: Scunthorpe were perhaps the most limited and conservative in their play of the four sides gaining promotion, but that may actually stand them in good stead as there is less to go wrong. Paul Hayes departing to Barnsley looked like a major loss, but new teenage acquisition Andy Keogh may prove even better. Instinct is to say The Iron will struggle, but once bitten twice shy, so : a comfortable 11th.

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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name

LGE

FAC

FAT

LGC

CC

Total

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 0, vs ,
Lowest League Attendance: 999999, vs ,
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:			Overall Results Sequence:

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Glanford Park is situated on the outskirts of Scunthorpe, a mere 200 yards from the motorway entering the town.

By Road

Leave the M180 at Junction 3 and take the M181 to Scunthorpe. Follow the motorway to its end, where Glanford Park will be clearly visible. Turn right onto the A18 and right again for the club car park - there is a charge of £2 per car. Failing this, limited street parking is available.

By Rail

Scunthorpe railway station is over 2 miles from the ground, so a taxi is probably the most sensible option. If you like a walk however then turn left out of the station and head towards the crossroads (facing a church) and turn right into Oswald Road, going past a set of traffic lights and the Honest Lawyer and Blue Bell pubs. At the next traffic lights turn left into Doncaster Road (where there a number of fast food outlets). Then just go straight down this road and you will eventually reach Glanford Park on your left. Otherwise catch the number 341 bus from the bottom of Doncaster Road (outside the Atlantis Chippy) down to the ground (fare £1).

Taxis

A selection of Scunthorpe taxi companies can be found here.

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One of the new style stadiums. Looks like a slightly larger version of The Deva from the outside (Lego code no. 4406). But built early enough to have pillars inside. A small retail park has been growing up adjacent to the ground and boasts McDonalds and KFC. The Old Farmhouse (see below) is the best bet, providing they'll let you in......and providing they haven't run out of food as well as beer. Running out of beer on a matchday? Oh well, I mean who could have predicted football fans would want a drink?! A Pizza Hut is supposed to be on the way - whoo er, hoo........... If really desperate you can eat in the Tesco cafe.

Club Bar :

There is one, called The Iron Bar. Oh come on, you wouldn't have been able to resist naming it that either!

The Iron Bar, clubhouse at Glanford Park. Photo © 2003-04 Ciderspace

Local Pubs :

Berkeley Hotel - huge © Hugh Gleave Berkeley Hotel: Massive red brick building popular with home and away fans, and only five minutes walk from the ground on the A18. Has a number of bars. Mostly keg, but for keg the Sam Smith's Dark Mild and Double Stout were pretty good. Ayingabrau lager and Ayingabrau Pils - if that means anything to lager drinkers. The one real ale is Sam Smith's Old Brewery. Pleasant, and at £1.23 a pint a real bargain. Berkeley Hotel, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 7DS. Tel: 01724 842333. Map: Click Here.

Blue Bell Inn - a Wetherspoon © Hugh Gleave Blue Bell Inn: Usual fairly town centre location that Wetherspoon pubs frequent. It's on the way from the railway station to the ground, but only if you like long hikes. Standard Wetherspoon beer selection plus a better range of guests than the norm. There's a cask conditioned cider - Addlestone Cloudy. Opening is 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m., with children welcome until 7.00 p.m. Sunday to Thurday, but 5.00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Has its own parking - must be somewhere round the back as you certainly couldn't park on the main road. Blue Bell Inn, 1-7, Oswald Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 7PU. Tel: 01724 863921. Map: Click Here.

Honest Lawyer - quality local full of good ol' boys © Hugh Gleave Honest Lawyer: A major refurbishment since our first visit in 2003-04. Half way between the railway station and the Blue Bell (above). Open 11-11 with food served at lunchtimes from 11.30 a.m. and the evenings from 6.30 p.m. The food side is run separately through a restaurant upstairs, but it also provides a range of bar meals with the option of eating downstairs. Has Daleside (from Harrogate) as the house beer, and an excellent range of interesting guests. The cask conditioned draught cider on tap is Addlestone Cloudy. There's a wide screen TV downstairs with Sky Sports. Quiet old-fashioned hostelry with a friendly landlord. Honest Lawyer, 70, Oswald Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 7PG. Tel: 01724 849906. Map: Click Here.

Malt Shovel: In the Ashby district of Scunthorpe (south of the town centre). Open 11-11. Meals lunchtimes and evenings are good value. The four regular beers are Directors, John Smiths, Tetley and Old Peculiar, and there are two changing guests, most commonly from the Abbeydale brewery of Sheffield and the Glentworth brewery, Doncaster. Part of the hostelry is given over to snooker, with temporary membership available. Malt Shovel, 219, Ashby High Street, Ashby, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 2JP. Tel: 01724 843318. Map: Click Here.

Old Farmhouse - right outside the ground © Hugh Gleave Old Farmhouse: Closest pub to the ground; in fact on the very doorstep. Still badged under the Tom Cobleigh logo, but they were recently acquired by the Spirit Group, and it has done them no favours. However as chains go there are far worse. Tom Cobleigh pubs are aimed at the 'family' market, and this one has a Play Barn, play area and nappy changing facilities. It is wheelchair friendly, and has its own parking. Open 11-11, with food available from 11 a.m. until 9.30 p.m. From 12.00 - 7.00 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays there's a "two courses for a fiver" offer. Most pubs in this chain carry two or three fairly standard real ales. This had five - trouble is they were ALL off on our visit in 2003-04, so we haven't bothered again. It has no problem with admitting football fans - which is pretty sensible given its location - though reports say conspicuous colours (especially away ones) are likely to be turned away. Anyway the bouncer on the door let me through after the match - he clocked the club badge on the jacket but clearly decided that didn't occasion refusal. Packed on matchdays - arrive early if you want a table. Old Farmhouse, Doncaster Road, Gunness, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 8TE. Tel: 01724 276376. Fax: 01724 276524. Map: Click Here.

Queen Bess: Residential estate outlet that is particularly child friendly. Food is of the snacks rather than full blown meals variety. The one real ale is Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter, reputedly the best pint of Sam Smith's in the area. The pub has its own parking and is open 11.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. (4.00 p.m. Saturdays) and 6.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. Queen Bess, Derwent Road, Ashby, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 2PE. Email: 01724 840827. Map: Click Here.

Warren Lodge: Another from the Spirt Group, this time under the Big Steak logo. A 'Wacky Warehouse' attached for the smaller kids. Own parking. About a twenty minute walk from the ground. Warren Lodge, Luneberg Way, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 8LP. Tel: 01724 271314. Fax: 01724 279342. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

What do you know about making iron and steel? So, that's not a lot............ any conversation in Scunthorpe out the window then.

Top-Tip :

Skegness is quite close for that Great British Holiday Experience. Okay, we admit it, we have no top-tip for Scunthorpe.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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