History of Scunthorpe United F.C.

[2] When the 1939–40 season came to an abrupt end, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Scunthorpe & Lindsey finished as runners-up in the second emergency competition, losing 3–2 to Peterborough United in an unofficial play-off game.

A slight resurgence occurred in the very early 70s, with the Iron first defeating top-flight Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup during January 1970, and then gaining promotion back to the Third Division in 1972.

It was during this short period that a young Kevin Keegan was discovered and developed by Ashman before being sold to Liverpool in 1971 for £35,000,[5] having racked up 124 appearances and 18 goals for Scunthorpe.

In 1988 Scunthorpe United became the first English football club in the modern era to move to a new, purpose-built stadium, Glanford Park.

The following four seasons saw United sit consistently in the middle of the now Third Division table under a succession of managers, namely Richard Money and David Moore.

Despite three of these four games ending in defeat, results elsewhere swung in the Iron's favour, with the club eventually avoiding the drop to the Conference National by four points, finishing 22nd.

Another highlight of this season came with the Iron leading Chelsea, the Premiership champions, 0–1, in the FA Cup third round at Stamford Bridge thanks to an 8th minute Paul Hayes goal.

[15] In the 2005–06 season, the club secured a mid-table League One finish, marking the first time that the Iron had managed to avoid immediate relegation following a promotion since 1958.

Young strikers Billy Sharp and Andy Keogh established themselves as the first-choice strike partnership, and scored 38 goals between them.

[17] After a successful start to the 2006–07 season, Laws was offered the job of manager at Sheffield Wednesday, which he accepted, ending almost a decade in charge of the Iron.

[32] The campaign included a 2–1 home win over eventual champions, Newcastle United,[33] Scunthorpe's first appearance on UK terrestrial television in the FA Cup third-round 4–2 home defeat to Manchester City,[34][35] and Gary Hooper as the club's top scorer (and the Championship's third-highest) with 19 goals;[36] he was sold to Scottish club Celtic at the end of the season for £2.4 million.

[39] Former Scunthorpe defender Alan Knill was appointed from Bury with eight games of the season remaining, but was unable to prevent the Iron from finishing bottom and returning to League One.

On the same day it was confirmed that ex-United boss Brian Laws would return after a six-year absence, along with former assistant manager Russ Wilcox.

[45] Laws' first game in charge was a 4–0 defeat to Gillingham in the FA Cup, but this was followed by consecutive away wins against Walsall and Coventry City in the league.

Ultimately, however, Laws was unable to stop the club's slide back into League Two, with relegation confirmed on the last day of the season despite a 3–1 home victory over Swindon Town.

[47] During the 2013–14 season in League Two, on 20 November 2013 following a 2–1 home defeat to local rivals Grimsby Town in the FA Cup, Laws was sacked after a run of five games without a win.

Russ Wilcox was the LMA League Two Manager of the Season while forward Sam Winnall picked up the Golden Boot for his 23 goals.

[51] Nick Daws and Andy Dawson were placed in temporary charge of the club, with their first game (a 3–0 home win over Colchester United) coming on 23 January.

A spell of positive results followed, and on 22 February it was announced that Daws had been installed as manager until the end of the season, with Dawson as his assistant.

[53] Alexander's first game in charge was a 0–0 draw away to Barnsley on 25 March, followed by an emphatic 6–0 home victory over Swindon Town a week later.

The club mounted a late charge towards the League One play-off positions, narrowly missing out to Barnsley on goal difference, finishing the season in seventh place with 74 points.

Despite climbing back to the top of the table in January, a dramatic slump in form saw Scunthorpe fail to win through February; the club was fifth in early March 2017.

On 24 March 2018, the club was 5th in League One but without a victory in eight games following a 1–1 home draw against Rochdale, and Graham Alexander was sacked as manager.

In October 2018, it was revealed that a £2 million loan from the outgoing chairman Steven Wharton was helping to keep the club financially stable.

[73][74] After a disappointing start to the 2021–22 season, Cox was sacked on 1 November 2021 with his side sitting bottom of the Football League with just eleven points from the first 15 matches.

[76] On 31 March 2022, with the Iron bottom of League Two and 10 points from safety, chairman Peter Swann announced his resignation with immediate effect.

[89] However, following reports of missed wage payments,[87] it was announced on 1 December 2022 that a local consortium, headed by ex-director Simon Elliot and Scunthorpe-born entrepreneur Ian Sharp, had agreed to buy the club.

[92] On 14 January 2023, United fans invaded the pitch during the second half of their 2–0 National League defeat by Woking, in a protest against Swann[93] (also involved in separate court action regarding gambling debts) while another consortium, led by former Notts County owner Alan Hardy, was reported to be interested in a takeover.

[112] Tahina Akther, a local born Barrister, crafted a deal that enabled The New Show Ground Community Interest Company, a not for profit entity, to purchase Glanford Park.

As part of the deal the local council also purchased the surrounding land including the training fields and car parks for development.