Scunthorpe United F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Scunthorpe United Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Iron | ||
| Founded | 1899 | ||
| Ground | Glanford Park | ||
| Capacity | 9,087 | ||
| Chairman | Michelle Harness | ||
| Manager | Andy Butler | ||
| League | League Two | ||
| 2018–19 | League One, 23rd of 24 (relegated) | ||
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Scunthorpe United Football Club is a professional association football team from Scunthorpe, England. They are often called "The Iron" because of the town's history with iron and steel. The team plays in the National League North, which is the sixth level of English football.
The club started in 1899 and became professional in 1912. They joined the Football League in 1950. Scunthorpe United has had many ups and downs, including playing in the Second Division (the second-highest league) for six seasons. They have won promotions and faced relegations over the years. In 2022, they left the Football League after 72 years. They now play their home games at Glanford Park, also known as The Attis Arena. Their team colours are claret and blue.
Contents
History of Scunthorpe United
How the Club Started (1899–1958)
Scunthorpe United was formed in 1899. In 1910, they joined with another local team, North Lindsey United. They became "Scunthorpe & Lindsey United." In 1912, they joined the Midland Football League. They won this league twice, in 1926–27 and 1938–39.
After World War II, the club kept trying to join the Football League. In 1950, they finally made it! Their first game in the Third Division North was against Shrewsbury Town. A few years later, in 1958, the " & Lindsey" part was dropped from their name.
Playing in the Second Division (1958–1964)
In 1958, Scunthorpe United won the Third Division North championship. This meant they were promoted to the Second Division. This was a big achievement for the club. They kept getting better for a few years, reaching their highest-ever league position of fourth place in 1961–62.
However, things changed in 1962. By 1964, they finished last in the Second Division and were relegated. Around this time, a loyal player named Jack Brownsword retired after playing almost 600 games for the club.
Challenges and Changes (1964–1987)
After being relegated from the Second Division, Scunthorpe United spent the next four years in the Third Division. In 1968, they were relegated again to the Fourth Division.
In the early 1970s, the team had a small comeback. They beat a top-flight team, Sheffield Wednesday, in the FA Cup in 1970. They were also promoted back to the Third Division in 1972. During this time, a young player named Kevin Keegan played for Scunthorpe. He later became a very famous footballer for Liverpool and England.
Unfortunately, Scunthorpe was relegated back to the Fourth Division in 1973. The club struggled for many years, often finishing in the bottom half of the Fourth Division. Even famous cricketer Ian Botham played for Scunthorpe as a defender from 1980 to 1984. They did get promoted to the Third Division in 1983, but were relegated right back down in 1984.
A New Home and New Hopes (1987–1997)
In 1988, Scunthorpe United made history. They became the first English football club in modern times to move to a brand-new, specially built stadium called Glanford Park. Their old stadium, the Old Show Ground, was sold.
Before moving, in their last season at the Old Show Ground, the team almost got promoted. They reached the play-offs but lost in the semi-final. The first season at Glanford Park also ended in play-off disappointment. In 1992, they finally reached the Fourth Division play-off final at Wembley. This was their first time playing at Wembley, but they lost in a penalty shootout.
For the next four seasons, the team stayed in the middle of the Third Division table.
The Laws and Adkins Years (1997–2010)
In 1997, Brian Laws became the manager. In his first full season, the team just missed the play-offs. But the next season, 1998–99, they finished fourth in Division Three. They won the play-offs, beating Leyton Orient 1–0 in the final at Wembley! This meant promotion to Division Two. However, they were relegated the next season.
Laws led the team to the play-offs again in 2002–03, but they lost to local rivals Lincoln City. He was briefly sacked in 2004 but then brought back. In the 2004–05 season, Scunthorpe was promoted to League One as runners-up. They even played against Chelsea in the FA Cup, losing 3–1.
In 2006, Brian Laws left to manage Sheffield Wednesday. His assistant, Nigel Adkins, took over. Under Adkins, Scunthorpe United had an amazing season in 2006–07. They won the League One title and were promoted to the Championship (the second tier)! They set a club record with 16 games unbeaten.
They only stayed in the Championship for one season. But in 2009, they returned to Wembley for the League One play-off final. They beat Millwall 3–2 to get promoted back to the Championship! In 2009–10, they managed to stay in the second tier, which was a big achievement. Nigel Adkins left in 2010, and after that, Scunthorpe was relegated again.
The Final Football League Years (2011–2022)
The club struggled in the following seasons. Brian Laws returned as manager in 2012 but couldn't stop the team from being relegated to League Two. In 2013, a new chairman, Peter Swann, took over.
Laws was replaced by Russ Wilcox in 2013. Wilcox led the team on an incredible 28-game unbeaten run, which was a record for the Football League! This helped Scunthorpe get promoted straight back to League One. However, Wilcox was sacked the next season.
The team nearly reached the play-offs in 2015–16. In 2016–17 and 2017–18, they finished third and fifth in League One, reaching the play-offs again but losing both times.
In 2019, Scunthorpe was relegated back to League Two. The next few seasons were tough. In 2022, the club was relegated from League Two, ending their 72-year stay in the Football League.
Non-League Football (2022–Present)
After leaving the Football League, Scunthorpe United faced many challenges. There were worries about the club's future. In January 2023, a new owner, David Hilton, took over. He helped settle some of the club's debts. However, the club's academy was closed to save money.
At the end of the 2022–23 season, the team was relegated again, this time to the National League North. In September 2023, the club faced more problems when the owner decided to stop funding it. Fans rallied together and raised money to help pay staff and players. On October 4, 2023, local businesswoman Michelle Harness bought the club. In their first season in the sixth tier, they finished as runners-up but lost in the play-off semi-final.
Club Stadiums
The Old Show Ground
The Old Show Ground was Scunthorpe United's first home, from 1899 to 1988. It was a historic place in the centre of Scunthorpe.
By the 1980s, the Old Show Ground needed a lot of money for repairs and to meet new safety rules. The club was having financial difficulties, so they decided to move. The ground was sold to a supermarket chain. In 1988, Scunthorpe United became the first English club to move to a new, specially built stadium.
Today, a Sainsbury's supermarket stands where the Old Show Ground used to be. A stone on the wall of the store remembers the football ground.
Glanford Park
The new stadium was built outside Scunthorpe, in an area called Glanford. This is why it was named Glanford Park. It was built with money from the sale of the Old Show Ground, sponsorships, and loans. Because of this, it has a simple, box-like design. It can hold 9,088 fans.
Since January 2024, the stadium has been officially known as The Attis Arena due to a sponsorship deal.
Stadium Ownership Changes
In May 2021, the club's owner, Peter Swann, moved the stadium's ownership to another one of his companies. He said the club would have a long-term lease. When David Hilton took over the club in January 2023, he said the deal included buying the stadium.
However, there were disagreements about the stadium's value and other issues. Hilton did not buy the stadium within the agreed time. For a while, the club stayed at Glanford Park under a special agreement. There were legal arguments between Swann and Hilton.
In September 2023, the club even said they might have to play games at another stadium. But negotiations continued. On November 16, 2023, the club agreed to buy Glanford Park back from Peter Swann. A local lawyer helped create a deal where a non-profit group and the local council bought the stadium and surrounding land. The purchase was completed on November 29.
Club Identity
The club's nickname, The Iron, comes from Scunthorpe's history as a town known for its iron and steel industry. The team's main colours are claret and blue.
Mascots
Scunthorpe United has two official team mascots: 'Scunny Bunny' and 'Honey Bunny'. They both wear the team's kit.
Rivalries
| Club | Last match | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Boston United | D 2–2 | 2023–24 |
| Doncaster Rovers | L 2–3 | 2018–19 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | L 0–1 | 1930–31 |
| Grimsby Town | W 3–0 | 2020–21 |
| Hull City | L 1–5 | 2010–11 |
| Lincoln City | D 1–1 | 2020–21 |
| York City | D 1–1 | 2022–23 |
Scunthorpe United has rivalries with other football clubs. Two main rivalries are the Humber derby and the Lincolnshire derby.
The Humber derby is played against Hull City and Grimsby Town. These clubs are all near the River Humber. The Lincolnshire derby involves several clubs from the county of Lincolnshire, including Scunthorpe, Lincoln City, Boston United, and Grimsby.
Doncaster Rovers are also considered rivals because they are the closest club geographically. However, Grimsby Town is usually seen as Scunthorpe's biggest rival.
Players
Current Team Squad
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Famous Former Players
Many talented players have played for Scunthorpe United. Some even played for their national teams while at the club. Grant McCann played 12 matches for Northern Ireland, which is a club record.
Other famous players who played for Scunthorpe at some point in their careers include:
- Graham Alexander – played for Scotland.
- Jermaine Beckford – played for Jamaica.
- Ray Clemence – a famous goalkeeper for Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and England.
- Jack Cork – played for England and Great Britain in the Olympics.
- Matt Elliot – played for Scotland.
- Kevin Keegan – a two-time European Footballer of the Year, who played for Liverpool and England. He also managed England.
- Ian Botham – a famous England cricket player, also played football as a defender for Scunthorpe. He was even the club's president from 2017 to 2023.
Team Management
As of May 4, 2024, here are some key people managing the team:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager: |  Andy Butler |
| Assistant Manager: | John Schofield |
| Goalkeeping Coach: | Paul Musselwhite |
| Academy Manager: | Tony Daws |
Club Records and Statistics
Attendance Records
- Highest attendance at the Old Show Ground: 23,935 fans against Portsmouth in 1954.
- Highest attendance at Glanford Park: 9,077 fans against Manchester United in 2010.
Position Records
- Highest league position: 4th in the Second Division in 1961–62.
- Lowest league position: 23rd in the National League in 2022–23.
Record Results
- Biggest win: 8–1 against Luton Town in 1965 and 8–1 against Torquay United in 1995.
- Biggest defeat: 8–0 against Carlisle United in 1952.
Transfer Records
- Highest fee paid for a player: £700,000 for Rob Jones.
- Highest fee received for a player: £2.5 million for Billy Sharp.
Honours and Trophies
Scunthorpe United has won several titles and cups throughout its history:
League Titles
- Third Division North / League One (Level 3)
* Champions: 1957–58, 2006–07 * Play-off winners: 2009
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (Level 4)
* Runners-up: 2004–05, 2013–14 * Promoted: 1971–72, 1982–83 * Play-off winners: 1999
- Midland League
* Champions: 1926–27, 1938–39
Cup Competitions
- Football League Trophy
* Runners-up: 2008–09
- Lincolnshire Senior Cup
* Winners (22 times), including recently in 2021–22 and 2023–24.
Images for kids
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The crest of Scunthorpe United.
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A chart showing Scunthorpe's league positions over the years.
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A view of Glanford Park, Scunthorpe United's modern stadium.
See also
In Spanish: Scunthorpe United Football Club para niños
