Scunthorpe Utd trace their history back to 1899. After merging with local rivals Lindsey Utd, they joined the Midland League (as Scunthorpe & Lindsey Utd) just before the First World War, and after several creditable performances there, were elected to the Football League in 1950, ending up in Division Three (North) in 1950, which was expanded by two places to allow both The Iron and Shrewsbury Town entry. In 1958 they reverted back to their original name, dropping the Lindsay. A short spell in the late 1950s/early 1960s in the Second Division apart, they spent much of the following decades alternating between the third and fourth tiers, with rather more seasons spent at the lower level. However, a combination of investment and good fortune (in the short term, at least) enabled the team to spend three seasons in the Championship between 2007 and 2011. However, they soon fell back to their more traditional level. Amid a prolonged period of dissatisfaction among fans with the club’s owner, in 2022, the club fell out of the Football League. But worse was to come, as the Iron spent only one season in the National League before being relegated further, to the National League North. After a couple of changes of ownership, things finally got better, and after two seasons of performing strongly in the NLN, the Iron were promoted back to the National League in 2025 – and here we are.

Iron Brew – The Blast Furnace.

Registration required, but worth it.

Rovers last met Scunthorpe at Home in April 2022, when Rob Edwards was still to be found in the Nailsworth area. BBC report here. 

Despite being a top of the league vs bottom of the league match, it was a narrow victory for Rovers, thanks to a 75th minute header from Dan Sweeney.

After a chaotic few years—featuring ownership drama that wouldn’t have been out of place in a soap opera (or a documentary questioning the FA’s definition of a “fit and proper person”)—Scunthorpe United are finally on the rise again under much-improved ownership.

Having reached the heights of the Championship earlier this century—arguably punching above their weight—The Iron suffered a sharp decline, tumbling down the divisions and eventually landing in the National League North. At one point, even their survival as a club seemed uncertain.

But with a sizable and loyal fan base for that level, Scunthorpe steadied the ship. In their debut season in the sixth tier, they finished a frustrating second, only to fall short in the play-off final against Lincolnshire neighbours (and themselves no strangers to controversy) Boston United. The 2024/25 campaign brought more déjà vu: another fierce title race, another second-place finish—this time edged out by Brackley Town on a dramatic final day.

But this time, The Iron completed the job in the play-offs, beating Chester in the final to secure their return to the National League.

Scunthorpe were active in the summer transfer window, making several key additions to strengthen their squad. Former longstanding goalkeeper Rory Watson returned on loan from York City, while defenders Branden Horton and Jean Belehouan both arrived from Gateshead. In midfield, Oliver Ewing joined from Leicester City and Dubem Eze from Bolton Wanderers. Out wide, Billy Chadwick also made the switch from York. Up front, Joey Dawson signed from Celtic’s B-team—who themselves compete in Scotland’s fifth tier—and Declan Howe arrived from Gainsborough Trinity.

The club have had a reasonably respectable start to the season. While they failed to keep a clean sheet in every game played in August, they also scored in every match, with 11 goals in 5 games (in all competitions)

Scunny’s current league position (9th) is perhaps a little lower than their performances have warranted: their most recent two games both ended up being suspended (or abandoned) during injury time at the end of the second half; in the match against Eastleigh owing to head injuries received by a player on each team; and, more contentiously, against Wealdstone, when a shoulder injury among the Stones led to the team refusing to play on. In any case the Iron have made an impressive start to their season and can reasonably expect to be, at least, in the play off places by season’s end, if their early form continues .

A fist clutching a girder labelled “iron” – this could only be Scunthorpe.  The extremely distinctive badge, which came about as the result of a school and college competition, has been used (other than last season) since the mid-1990s. An alternate circular “unity” version, as used last year, first saw the light of day in 1982.

Scunthorpe’s official mascots are ‘the Scunny Bunny’ and ‘the Scunny Hunny Bunny’!

John Betjeman once said of Southend, “Southend is the Pier, and the Pier is Southend.” In much the same way, Scunthorpe is synonymous with iron and steel. It’s no surprise, then, that the town’s football club carries the nickname The Iron—a nod to its industrial heritage.

Known at that time as Scunthorpe and Lindsey United, the club joined the Football League in 1950 and remained a part of it until 2022. Though they spent the majority of their time in the fourth tier, the club enjoyed stints in the old Second Division during the 1950s and ’60s, and made brief returns to its modern equivalent—the Championship—in the 21st century.

Their current home, Glanford Park, opened in 1988 and is often cited as the first of England’s modern football stadia—albeit predating the sweeping changes triggered by the Taylor Report. Its design is nearly identical to Walsall’s Bescot Stadium, which opened soon after (and has since been expanded). Now approaching 40 years old, Glanford Park shows its age, and ambitious—but controversial—plans to relocate to a new site even further from the town centre became part of the crisis that nearly led to the club’s collapse.

In early 2023, former Ilkeston Town chairman David Hilton took over the club. His tenure was marked by a string of controversies, including disputes over ground ownership with the previous regime and significant cost-cutting measures. At one point, club staff and players went unpaid for two months, prompting fans to raise over £70,000 to help cover wages. Later that year, local businesswoman Michelle Harness stepped in to buy the club, and in 2024 she reduced her stake to become one of four co-owners.

After years of turbulence both on and off the pitch, a sense of stability finally seems to be returning to Scunthorpe United.

Neil Warnock played as a winger for Scunthorpe though he never managed them.

Scunthorpe can boast some famous former players.  These include Kevin Keegan, former England and Liverpool goalie Ray Clemence, Ian Botham (who played 11 games for the Iron in 1980 before concentrating on his cricket), and Neil Warnock.  Warnock has never managed Scunthorpe, in spite of the fact that he seems to have managed most other clubs – Scarborough, Notts County, Torquay, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Sheffield Utd, Crystal Palace (twice), QPR (twice), Leeds, Rotherham, Cardiff &, most recently, Middlesborough.

Ian (now Lord) Botham made 11 appearances for Scunthorpe before concentrating on cricket.

Parking is available in the adjacent school car park, just a short walk from the stadium. Spaces cost £15 per car and must be booked in advance by calling 0333 123 1889 (Monday, Thursday and Friday at 11am to 2pm) or by emailing reception@fgr.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can use the Park and Ride service from Renishaw (Bath Road, Nailsworth, Stroud, GL5 5EY). It opens at 12:30pm on matchdays and costs £5 per car (card only).

If parking on surrounding streets, please be considerate of local residents.

The Green Man bar and Fan Zone will be open pre-match for food, drink, and live music, with bands performing before each game. Both will also be open at half-time, while the Green Man stays open after the final whistle, showing live Sky Sports games. This season, the Gym Bar also returns for East Stand ticket-holders.

The New Lawn is a cashless stadium — card or contactless payments only.

Hospitality details and offers:

The FGR Shop will be open in the Fan Zone, East Stand concourse, and the Carol Embrey Suite.

A free digital matchday programme will be available online before each home game. Keep an eye on the club’s social media channels for the download link ahead of kick-off.