This article is part of the ‘League Preview’ series, in which every day we take a detailed look at one of Aldershot Town’s 23 prospective opponents for the upcoming National League season.
Today’s focus is a club who, after once looking at risk of expulsion, are hoping to build upon a year of resurgence, 2024/25 National League North play-off winners, Scunthorpe United.
Founded in 1899, ‘The Iron’ are historically among the most storied sides in the division, spending 72 seasons in the Football League, including nine years in England’s second-tier. However, after financial issues brought on three relegations in five seasons, Scunthorpe competed as a sixth-tier club for the very first time in 2023.
The club was rescued from collapse by local businesswoman Michelle Harness and a supporters-led consortium, proving the genesis for what supporters hope will be the first of a series of promotion campaigns, beating Chester 2-1 in a home play-off final in May.
Tasked with continuing this momentum is former Iron’s defender Andy Butler, who has impressed thus far after his first full season in men’s management.
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Where is Scunthorpe United?
The town of Scunthorpe is situated in England’s East Midlands, in the northern reaches of Lincolnshire and below the River Humber. With a population of roughly 82,000, it is the third-largest settlement in Lincolnshire. Approximately 217 miles from the EBB Stadium, this 4h 23m journey will mark Aldershot’s ninth-furthest away trip of the upcoming league season.
The Iron are one of four professional teams in Lincolnshire, alongside Football League members Lincoln City and Grimsby Town, as well as fellow Enterprise National League side, Boston United. However, with the region being the 2nd largest by area in the country, this aforementioned ‘local derby’ remains almost two hours away by car. Outside of county lines, Doncaster Rovers (27 miles) and Hull City (30 miles) also represent nearby rivals. Outside of the town itself, Scunthorpe currently serves as the closest place to see fifth-tier football or higher in the towns of Brigg (~7,000 pop.), Goole (20,000), and Gainsborough (21,000).
Scunthorpe play their home matches at the Attis Arena, otherwise known as Glanford Park. Built in 1988, the Iron have been exclusive tennants since construction. With a capacity of 9,088, it is the 8th largest ground in this season’s National League.
The club’s most recent home outing made history in more ways than one, as a reported 9,086 supporters watched on as Scunthorpe secured National League North promotion against Chester in May. This figure marked not only a record attendance for the Attis Arena, but also a largest ever attendance for a fixture in England’s sixth-tier.
Scunthorpe finished the 2024/25 season with an average league attendance of 4,399, the 4th highest among teams in this season’s competition.
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Recent history and club highlights
It has been a difficult decade for the Lincolnshire side, receiving three relegations in five years and entering England’s sixth-tier for the first time in the club’s over-120-year history. Promoted at the second time of asking, supporters will be hoping this marks the start of a greater resurgence for the Iron.
2024/25 – NL North (2nd, Promoted via play-offs)
2023/24 – NL North (2nd)
2022/23 – National League (23rd, Relegated)
2021/22 – League Two (24th, Relegated)
2020/21 – League Two (22nd)
2019/20 – League Two (20th)
2018/19 – League One (23rd, Relegated)
2017/18 – League One (5th)
2016/17 – League One (3rd)
2015/16 – League One (7th)
Despite being one of four teams arriving from below, it is no secret that the Iron are automatically one of the most storied sides in the division, having spent 72 seasons as a Football league club, and have competed in the Championship as recently as 2011.
Their highest league placement came in 1962, where the then-monikered Scunthorpe & Lindsey United achieved a 4th place finish in the second-tier, just five points shy of an historic promotion to England’s top-flight.
Outside of league action, their most impressive showing in the FA Cup came in 1969-70, where the Iron defeated Macclesfield, Stockport, Millwall and most notably, Sheffield Wednesday, in order to reach the competition’s fifth-round. It was during this run that academy prospect Kevin Keegan would be first scouted by Liverpool. The midfielder would go on to achieve 63 England caps and win two Ballon d’Ors, making him undoubtedly the side’s greatest ever export.
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Pre-season, incoming transfers and other news
At time of writing, Scunthorpe have made 10 first team signings.
| Player | Pos. | Age | Arriving from… | Highest level played |
| Brandon Horton | LB | 24 | Gateshead | League One (Doncaster) |
| Jean Belehouan | CB | 24 | Gateshead | League Two (Tranmere) |
| Joey Dawson | CF | 22 | Celtic B | SPL (Celtic) |
| Declan Howe | CF | 27 | Gainsborough T. | NL North (Darlington) |
| Oliver Ewing | CM | 22 | Leicester U21 | NL North (Buxton) |
| Rory Watson (loan) | GK | 29 | York City | League One (Scunthorpe) |
| Billy Chadwick (loan) | LW | 25 | York City | League One (Hull) |
| Dubem Eze | CAM | 20 | Bolton B | National League (Halifax) |
The Iron’s activity in the transfer window shows a mix of both new and returning faces. Goalkeeper Rory Watson played 102 times for the club between 2017 and 2022, while Scunthorpe academy star Joey Dawson returns to his hometown club after failing to break through at Celtic.
Scoring 23 goals for Gainsborough Trinity in the Northern Premier League last season, 27-year-old striker Declan Howe has been entrusted with a significant step up, while Dubem Eze (no relation to Eberechi) joins temporarily from Bolton Wanderers’ academy.
Scunthorpe’s current pre-season schedule, which has so far seen 15 goals in five matches, is as follows:
Bottesford 0-4 Scunthorpe United (04/07)
Cleethorpes 2-4 Scunthorpe United (12/07)
Gainsborough Trinity 1-0 Scunthorpe United (19/07)
Skegness Town 0-3 Scunthorpe United (22/07)
Spennymoor 1-4 Scunthorpe United (26/07)
Worksop vs Scunthorpe United (02/08)
After preparations conclude with a trip to newly promoted National League North side Worksop Town, Scunthorpe are scheduled to begin their league campaign in Staffordshire, with an away tie against Tamworth on Saturday, 9th August.
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When will Aldershot and Scunthorpe play each other?
Following the release of the National League fixture list, the Shots are due to travel to Lincolnshire on Saturday, 25th October, while Tommy Widdrington’s men will host the Iron on Saturday, 21st February.
Including the history of Aldershot FC, the two sides shared 17 seasons in the Football League between 1969 and 1992. However, counting only the lineage of the phoenix club, the sides first met in the second round of the 2005/06 FA Cup. With two divisions separating them at the time, and a notable front three of Peter Beagrie, Billy Sharp and Andy Keogh on the day, the visiting League One club emerged 1-0 victors courtesy of a first-half strike from the latter.
They would briefly meet again in 2022/23, with the Shots’ first trip to Glanford Park since reformation proving a thriller, coming back from 3-1 down to secure an important point. The reverse fixture, and the most recent occasion that the two have faced each other, saw a 2-1 home win courtesy of Tahvon Campbell’s opener, and a late winner from Tyler Cordner.
Games played: 3
Aldershot wins: 1
Scunthorpe wins: 1
Draws: 1
Aggregate score: 5-5
Record Shots victory: 2-1 (2023)
Record Scunthorpe victory: 1-0 (2005)
