Scunthorpe United v Darlington

Tuesday 15th August 2023, 7.45pm
Vanarama National League North

 

Scunthorpe United FC: Glanford Park, Jack Brownsword Way, Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire, DN15 8TD Twitter: @SUFCOfficial History: Scunthorpe enter the 2023-24 season in their lowest position since they were elected to the Football League in 1950. Founded in 1899, the Iron were twice Midland League champions in the 1920s and 1930s. The club relocated from the Old Show Ground to a new stadium at Glanford Park in 1988. Most of their league history has been in the basement division, although under one-time club physio Nigel Adkins, the club reached the Championship in 2007 and 2009. In 2022, they were relegated to the National League and suffered a second successive drop, after a long period of financial and takeover turbulence. Famous past players include Liverpool and England stars Ray Clemence and local boy Kevin Keegan, while cricketer Ian Botham famously turned out for the Iron. Darlington last played Scunny in 2005, a 1-0 victory, although older fans might remember it was here we lost our chance of automatic promotion in 1996 with a 3-3 draw and were later hammered 7-1 in 2001. Record attendances: 9,077 v Manchester Utd, League Cup, Sept 2010; 23,935 v Portsmouth, FA Cup 4th round, 1954, at Old Show Ground Capacity: 9,088 Last season: 23rd (National League, relegated) Honours: League One/Third Division North champions: 1957–58, 2006–07 play-off winners: 2009; League Two/Fourth Division runners-up: 2004–05, 2013–14, promoted: 1971–72, 1982–83, play-off winners: 1999 Record victory: 8-1 (v Luton, 1965 and v Torquay, 1995) Defeat: 0–8 (v Carlisle, 1952) Nickname: The Iron, Scunny Colours: Claret with blue Manager: Jimmy Dean Chairman: David Hilton Admission prices (2023/24) Away fans are behind the goal in the AMS Stand: Adults £20 (£16 early bird), OAP/Under 21, £15 (£12); under 18 £10 (£8); under 12, free with adult, max two. Tickets can be bought online in advance, for an early bird saving. The stand is all-seated, holding up to 1,678 supporters with TV screens and a bar located under the stand.	From the North (M1): (From Darlington - 99.5 miles, approx 1hr 35 mins) Off the M181 and M180, the ground is straight off the roundabout on the A18 Doncaster Road, just on the right, on the approaches to the town. Easy trip for the motorist - parking for 600 cars at the stadium. DAFTS Top Tip: "Take a couple of Tesco carrier bags. If you fill them with rubbish and leave them prominently on the back seat, you can leave your car in their car park and casually wander over the road to the ground, and you look like a shopper. Also take a comb... the local coppers video you on the way through the turnstiles." Parking Car parking at the ground costs £5 on a first-come, first-served basis. You can make a £1 saving by buying in advance via sufctickets.com Nearby, there is limited street parking with police restrictions, while there are parking restrictions in the retail car parks.. Darlington FC Supporters' Club Coach Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, call 01325 250531 or 07951 434731 to book a seat. Coach leaves 4.30pm, adult members £22, junior members £11. Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here. 121 Taxis 01724 355555 Candy Cabs 01724 755 555 Speed Line Taxis 01724 642009 Prime Taxis 01724 622222	Don't expect any trains as this is a midweek match. Normally, it's a long two mile walk from the station, take a left and across at the lights into Church Lane. Past the church and hospital, turn right onto the A18 Doncaster Rd, then across the roundabout, past The Berkley pub. Keep along the A18, the ground is another half mile on the left. You can taxi it from the station - you may even be able to book one to pick you up afterwards, although hopefully not the bugger who didn't bother coming back for us last time... There is a normal service bus the other side of the Berkley roundabout, which takes you within a short walk down Oswald Road to the Honest Lawyer and the station on the trip back. The official site is very easy to navigate, with lots of good information. Grimsby Telegraph Tourist Information Visit North Lincolnshire Map
Pubs near ground/town centre: The Honest Lawyer, 70 Oswald Rd 1.5 miles from the Berkley roundabout, but easily walkable from the station. Friendly real ale pub in an old grocer's shop, choice of more than half a dozen beers, a small but cosy bar. Since our last visit it now does tapas in the restaurant. DAFTS recommended. Old Farmhouse Doncaster Rd, by ground A large family pub, part of the Hungry Horse chain. Food served from lunchtime. This is part of the stadium complex - to be fair, it was a friendly atmosphere last season, with fans mixing and chewing the fat. DAFTS recommended Royal Hotel, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 7DE Large pub and hotel on the road out to the ground from the town centre. Blue Bell, 1-7 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 7PU Wetherspoon's pub in the town centre, not far from the station. Ironstone Wharf, Doncaster Road, Gunness, Scunthorpe DN15 8SX Pub to the west of Glanford Park, down by the River Trent.	Hot food and refreshments will be available inside the stadium, underneath the stand.