Founded: 1899
Nickname: The Ion
Honours: Football League Trophy Runners-up: 2009

Scunthorpe the town did not develop until around the 1880’s, when the steel industry began growing. The population of the area expanded rapidly and five villages became one larger area. In 1936 these villages assumed the name of Scunthorpe and became an established borough. As far as football is concerned , Scunthorpe United was formed on 29 August 1899, operating at a minor level playing only in the local football league. Locally there are also records of Brumby Hall and Scunthorpe Town, who became defunct in the late 1890’s.

Speaking of Iron, ever since the club entered the league their nickname has been ‘The Iron’, a metal which has long played a role in the team’s nomenclature. Before 1950s Scunthorpe United were known as the Knuts. The origin is uncertain but it is generally accepted as being when they won one of the local charity cups. The vicar of Frodingham, the Rev Cryspant Rust said “that indeed Scunthorpe and Lindsey United were a tough (k)nut to beat”. It stuck from 1910ish to about 1950.

Forest Green 1 Northampton 1- Leauge Trophy

Northampton Town kicked off their 2021/22 Papa John’s Trophy campaign at Forest Green Rovers. Jon Brady made a number of changes to the side with Michael Harriman and Jack Sowerby, the latter back from a shoulder injury, handed their first match action of the new season. Academy quartet Charlie Woods, Miguel Ngwa, Peter Abimbola and Josh Tomlinson, who would be the youngest player ever to feature for the club should he come on, were named on the bench. New loan signing Dominic Revan was not signed in time to feature.

Forest Green and Josh March weren’t to be denied for long though and when Jack Evans played in March his shot found the bottom corner, all be it via a deflection.

March had the ball in the back of the net at the start of the second half but the flag was already up and the Cobblers were back on level terms when Scott Pollock headed home a Sam Hoskins cross.

The Cobblers held out though and a penalty shoot-out followed to determine which team would pick up an extra point in the first group fixture.

Scunthorpe 1 Tranmere 0 – Leauge Two

Hippolyte fired his third-minute spot-kick down the middle after the visitors had been penalised for a handball inside the box and though keeper Joe Murphy got a hand to it, he could not keep it out.

Murphy ensured Rovers’ margin of defeat was not even greater with several fine first-half saves.

He flew low to his right to keep out a powerful drive from Alfie Beestin in the 24th minute, before later getting his body in the way of a Devarn Green effort as he latched on to a clever flick into the penalty area.

Despite plenty of industry in their attempts to get back into the game, Tranmere – who had scored just once in their four league matches going into the game – lacked a goal threat, with Ryan Watson off target with efforts either side of the break.

Teenager Dan Gallimore wasted a great chance to make the points safe for the hosts when he rushed a shot and fired wide after breaking into the box in the 71st minute.

He no doubt breathed a sigh of relief when visiting substitute Mani Dieseruvwe’s touch let him down when the ball broke to him on the edge of the six-yard box late on, allowing home keeper Rory Watson to gather – and Scunthorpe to secure all three points.

Kevin van Veen was sent off against his former club as Northampton extended their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions with a dominant 3-0 win over Scunthorpe.

Vadaine Oliver scored an early header and Van Veen’s red card led to a comfortable evening for the Cobblers as Oliver added to his tally and then Sam Hoskins converted from the spot.

The hosts were ahead just seven minutes in when new loan signing James Olayinka spread the ball out wide to Nicky Adams and his cross was headed into the bottom corner by Oliver.

The main flash point of the evening came eight minutes from half-time when Van Veen raised his hands and pushed Charlie Goode in the chest, resulting in a straight red card.

Goode then nearly scored, heading against the post, before Ian Lawlor saved with his legs from Adams at the start of the second half.

United were still a threat with 10 men as George Miller flicked just wide, however the game was done and dusted with two goals in eight minutes.

Oliver scored at the second attempt on the hour-mark after being played in by Hoskins, who then scored from the spot himself after a foul on Callum Morton.

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
67	22	19	26	80	97

Biggest Win	08/03/1994 – County Ground – League – 4-0W
Biggest Loss	16/10/1993 – Glanford Park – League – 7-0L
First-Ever Game	27/08/1963 – Old Show Ground – W – 2-1 – Jack Jennings

Played for both

Here’s an in-depth look at we look at Kevin Van Veen’s playing profile.

SIX GOAL THRILLER
Northampton Town 3-3 Iron
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Mark Hughes grabbed a late equaliser to earn Northampton the point they needed to climb out of the relegation zone as they drew 3-3 with Scunthorpe. And it was no less than Northampton deserved against play-off chasing Scunthorpe who twice led after coming back from going behind to Jason Crowe’s 38th-minute opener. Liam Trotter put Scunthorpe back on level terms in first-half stoppage-time, heading home a near-post corner from Grant McCann, and four minutes after the restart McCann put Scunthorpe ahead from the penalty spot after Luke Guttridge fouled Martyn Woolford.

Woolford should have increased Scunthorpe’s advantage when he struck the crossbar from close range and McCann failed to finish from the rebound. And Ikechi Anya equalised on the hour mark for Northampton, heading home at the far post from a Guttridge cross. Matthew Sparrow restored Scunthorpe’s advantage eight minutes later with a fierce first-time drive only for Hughes to pop up with a 76th-minute leveller, heading home a Danny Jackman corner.

The Birmingham-based official will arrive at Sixfields for his fourth game of the season in what is his debut campaign in the EFL. He spent three years on the National League prior to his promotion.

His first competitive game of the season saw him oversee Leyton Orient’s 3-0 home win over Exeter City where he issued two yellows and a red. Meanwhile his latest match came in midweek as he took charge of Newport County’s 2-0 home win over Plymouth Argyle in the Papa John’s Trophy – a game in which five cautions were issued.

Being new to the EFL, it will be Reeves’ first encounter officiating both the Iron and the Cobblers.

Last season, he took charge of a total of 15 matches in the National League, including one play-off game, and one in the FA Cup, showing 53 yellow cards and three reds.

On Saturday, he will be assisted by Dean Treleaven and Conor Farrell, while Andrew Hendley will assume the role of fourth official.

His latest Cobblers Game

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R

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Northampton Town won their last league game against Scunthorpe United but haven’t won consecutive league games against the Iron since March 1979, with this their 45th meeting since then.
Scunthorpe United have only lost three of their last 22 league meetings with Northampton (D9 L10) but they did lose their last game in January 2020.
Having won two of their first four league games this season (D1 L1), Northampton could win three of their first five opening matches to a league campaign for the first time since 2003-04, when they went on to reach the play-offs.
Scunthorpe are winless in 10 away league games (D5 L5), failing to score in 50% of those matches.