The first league visit of Scunthorpe Utd. Some quick facts –

  • Former players include Kevin Keegan, Ray Clemence, Ian Botham (played 11 games in 1980), and Neil Warnock.
  • Local rivals include Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town, Hull City, and Lincoln City. Grimsby and Lincoln games are known as Lincolnshire Derbies.
  • ‘The ‘Iron’ nickname refers to the town’s steel-making tradition.
  • Scunthorpe’s official mascots are ‘the scunny bunny’ and ‘the hunny scunny bunny’!
  • Last time out Scunthorpe were knocked out of the FA Cup by Crawley Town (4-1).

The match with Scunthorpe United FC is the first ever league encounter between the two clubs. FGR have met the “Iron” once before in a 2014-15 first round FA Cup tie which Scunthorpe won 2-0. In their one hundred and twenty year history Scunthorpe have spent eight seasons in the second tier of English football. Although currently sixteenth in League Two Scunthorpe arrive at The New Lawn in good form having won their last four games in all competitions. They have lost only once in their last eight games. On the road this season Scunthorpe have gained five points from their nine games.

After Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Carlisle you will know that a third round game against Cardiff awaits the winners of the replay.

Look out on matchday (as always) for the ever popular Supporters Club Rovers Raffle with prizes of £175, £50 and £25.The pre christmas raffle will be held at the Swindon game with bumper prizes of £300, £200 and £100. The monies raised by the raffle are the main income source for the FGR Supporters Club so please have a flutter when you see a seller.

This season the Supporters Club has given the club £20,000 to help support the development of the Gym Bar and the three outdoor kitchens. The club will be putting up plaques in each location to acknowledge these contributions.

One of the benefits of joining the FGR Supporters Club is to have your opinions considered and passed on to the FGR CEO at regular meetings. Amongst supporters there has been the request for improved facilities in the South Stand. The Supporters Club has provided the club with drawings and costings of a steel frame with a profile metal roof and sides in order to build a covered structure adjacent to the serving hatch in the South Stand. The Supporters have pledged 50% of the estimated £8,000 cost.

At the recent fans forum our manager said that the great away support this season has been really appreciated by himself and the team. It would be wonderful if you were able to take advantage of the Supporters Club offer of subsidised away travel at one of next three away fixtures. FGR travel to Northampton, Stevenage and Crawley on Sat 14th Dec, Thurs 26th Dec and Sat 4th Jan respectively. Note that the Crawley game will be subject to the result of FGR’s FA Cup replay.

At the recent Fan’s Forum chairman Dale Vince reported that FGR now have fans in fifty countries world wide. This is a remarkable achievement and if you would like to get involved with the Supporters Club please get in touch with us either by email or through our website at fgrsc.com or on twitter @FGR_SC.

As ever let’s get behind the team and help create a great atmosphere. Enjoy the game!