Sands Venue Stadium
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Last Update:
July 27, 2024
Glanford Park was opened in 1988. At this time it was the first new league football ground to be built in England since the Second World War. However, with the Club’s intention to build a new stadium nearby, it may not be around for much longer.
From the outside Glanford Park is somewhat uninspiring, mostly a grey drab affair. In fact, it if were not for the tops of the floodlights being visible, you would probably not know it was there as it is obscured by the adjacent retail park and trees.
Inside it is a simple affair with all four stands being of equal height and similar in appearance. The ground is totally enclosed, although the corners are not used for spectators.
The home end is terracing, whilst the other three sides of the ground are all seated. The main downside is the many supporting pillars running along the front of the stands that may impede your view. There is a small electric scoreboard suspended below the roof of the South Stand. The stadium is completed with a modern looking set of four floodlight pylons.
In 2023, Scunthorpe United was sold and the new owners have grand plans for the club. One of the first things announced was that the club will move from Glanford Park by 2025.
David Hilton, the new owner, has confirmed that two plots of land adjacent to each other in Scunthorpe town centre are being purchased where the new stadium will sit alongside a new training ground.
Scunthorpe’s stadium, Glanford Park, was quite the big deal when it opened back in 1987/88. It had been over three decades since England saw such a vast development. Since then development has been limited. Of course, Scunthorpe existed for a century before this stadium was known as home.
The first ground Scunny played at was ‘The Old Show Ground’; it’s the only placed they’d known as home prior to the 1988 move out. There was little to be done to avoid a change though. The old Scunthorpe ground was in need of modernisation and improvement throughout and with tightening regulations coming into force, it proved beyond reasonable costs. A relocation was the only viable option.
Away fans are housed in the South Stand at one end. This is all seated and can house 1,678 supporters. If demand requires it, then an extra 500 seats can be made available in the south corner of the Clugston (East) Stand.
Normally away fans can really make some noise from this end and the stewarding is normally tolerant and relaxed. Although there is a concourse area located near the stand entrance, there is, in fact, another small food kiosk located on the other side of the stand, which is accessed from within the stand itself. Although there are a couple of supporting pillars in this stand, the view is generally okay.
Inside the ground, food and drink are available for purchase but don’t expect too much as the food menu is limited to pies and burgers.
At Glanford Park itself is the Iron Bar which admits visiting supporters. Pub options outside the stadium include:
- Old Farmhouse – Doncaster Rd, Gunness, Scunthorpe DN15 8TE
- Warren Lodge – Luneberg Way, Scunthorpe DN15 8LP
- Royal Pub – Doncaster Rd, Scunthorpe DN15 7DE
The ground is on the outskirts of Scunthorpe, making it easy to find from the motorway. Leave the M180 at Junction 3 and take the M181 for Scunthorpe. At the end of this motorway, you will see the ground on your right. Turn right at the first roundabout onto the A18 and right again into the large car park at the ground, which costs £3. The car park holds 600 cars and is for both home and away fans.
Post Code for SAT NAV: DN15 8TD
Scunthorpe Railway Station is over two miles away from Glanford Park. If you don’t fancy the 45-minute walk then ordering a taxi is your best. However, if you do…
Turn left out of the station and head towards the crossroads (facing a church) and turn right into Oswald Road, going past a set of traffic lights and the Honest Lawyer and Blue Bell pubs. At the next traffic lights turn left into Doncaster Road (where there a number of fast food outlets). Then just go straight down this road and you will eventually reach Glanford Park on your left.
Scunthorpe ticket prices 2023/24
- Adults: £20
- Concessions: £15
- Under 18s: £10
- Under 12s: Free
Official Programme: £3
Scunthorpe vs Grimsby rivalry: This fixture is part of a three-way Humber derby series and is, probably, the most fiercely competed of the three with just 30 minutes between the two towns. Add into that the fact neither have enjoyed much recent success and the derby games are all they’ve got.
Scunthorpe vs Hull City rivalry: Hull is the other of the three teams situated close to the river Humber. The Tigers sit the other side of the river though; this puts slightly more miles between the two fanbases although – as the crow travels – they are closer. The real thing that softens the bitterness though is that Hull have moved beyond the other two sides.
Scunthorpe vs Doncaster rivalry: This game doesn’t come with quite the same animosity of the prior two listed but with just half an hour between the two, there are bragging rights aplenty at stake.
Scunthorpe vs Lincoln rivalry: Lincoln are the last side located in and around Scunthorpe at around a 40 minute drive. It’s more than a normal game Scunny welcome them to Glanford Park, but it’s the tamest of the four.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Record Attendance
At Glanford Park:
9,077 v Manchester United
League Cup 3rd Round, 22nd September 2010.
At The Old Showground:
23,935 v Portsmouth
FA Cup 4th Round, 30th January 1954.
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 4,204 (National League North)
2022-2023: 3,259 (National League)
2021-2022: 2,423 (League Two)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 3,546 (League Two)
2018-2019: 4,227 (League One)
2017-2018: 7,195 (League One)
Official Web Site: Scunthorpe-United.co.uk
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Scunthorpe United v Grimsby Town
League 2
Saturday 7th March 2020, 1pm
Niels Horsewood (Grimsby Town)
Scunthorpe United v Exeter City
League 2
Tuesday 22nd October 2019, 7.45pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Sands Venue Stadium?
I have always seemed to miss out on this ground so finally, I was able to make the visit especially as they are again talking about a new ground.
How easy was your journey and finding the ground?
I travelled up on the supporters coach for this fixture, leaving Exeter just after midday and arriving about 6pm.
What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
On arriving at the ground we had opted to drink at the Berkeley Hotel, a 10 minute walk from the ground, only to find it had been closed. So we returned to the Old Farmhouse, a short walk from the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then the other sides of the Sands Venue Stadium?
From the outside, the ground looks like a warehouse, once inside it clearly shows the age. We were housed in the corner of the Clugston Stand with the away end being closed for this fixture.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was not fantastic with the hosts running out as 3-1 winners. The atmosphere was good especially with the home and away fans all under one roof. The stewards were friendly and low key. The refreshments were not great as it seemed they only had half the menu and not enough for the number of away fans, someone telling me just before half time there were only 5 pies left and they were waiting for some more to come from another stand. The toilets were functional but not over clean.
Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away afterwards was easy as I was on the supporters coach, an easy run out to the motorway and back in Exeter at 4am.
Attendance: 3,055 (156 Away Fans)
Scunthorpe United v Northampton Town
League 2
Saturday 12th October 2019, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral)
Scunthorpe United v Crawley Town
League 2
Saturday 17th August 2019, 3pm
Stephen Webb (Crawley Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Sands Venue Stadium?
This was a new ground for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The railway journey from Crawley was easy with two changes of train and only taking just over four hours. We got a taxi to and from the ground, costing £6.80 each way. The taxi driver arranged return pick up before dropping us off and was very prompt for the return journey.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Once we arrived at the station we got a taxi straight to the ground. Had some lunch in Costa, although being in a retail park there was a lot of choice food-wise. We then walked to the ground where all the home fans were extremely friendly, and I went into the Irons Bar, while my daughter went off to the away end. Although I was the only Crawley fan in the bar, as soon as I walked through the door I was made welcome and spent the time before the game chatting to the home fans. Nice to be able to drink from proper glasses in the bar, though plastic only outside.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Sands Venue Stadium?
A typical older small club stadium, nothing special in looks, but at least not a massive metal structure like so many new stadiums these days. The away end was behind one of the goals. The views were good, though an upright was in the way if you sat behind the goal. The low roof certainly made for a lot of noise, our following was small, probably around 80, but we made our presence known. The bar under the stand was very small, but adequate for us, and the pies were good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was really good, ending 2-2, but Crawley missed a penalty and hit the post late on. Really good atmosphere, thanks in part to the low roof, and stewards were fine. The bar under the stand was very small, but adequate for us, and the pies were good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problem getting away from the ground, we'd booked the same taxi back who met us outside Debenhams next door, though we still had a bit of wait for the train home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out, long way from home, but the welcome of the home fans made the journey worth while. Only disappointment was we didn't come away with all 3 points.
Scunthorpe United v Bristol Rovers
League 1
Saturday 9th March 2019, 3pm
Yaz Shah (Bristol Rovers)
Scunthorpe United v Sunderland
League One
Saturday 19th January 2019, 3pm
Callum Snell (Doing the 92)
Scunthorpe United v Portsmouth
League 1
Saturday 24th November 2018, 3pm
Steve Burghard (Portsmouth)
Scunthorpe United v Peterborough United
League One
Saturday 13th October 2018, 3pm
James Walker (Doing the 92)
Number of Grounds Visited: 127 (88/92)
Scunthorpe United v Plymouth Argyle
League One
Tuesday 1st May 2018, 7.45pm
David King (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Scunthorpe United v Shrewsbury Town
League One
Saturday 17th March 2018, 3pm
Mark Ball (Shrewsbury Town fan)
Scunthorpe United v Rotherham United
League One
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Charlie Robinson (Rotherham United fan)
Scunthorpe United v Gillingham
League One
Saturday 20th January 2018, 3pm
Joe (Gillingham fan)
Scunthorpe United v Blackburn Rovers
Football League One
Tuesday 12th September 2017, 7.45pm
Christian Lyth (Blackburn Rovers fan)
Scunthorpe United v Oxford United
Football League One
Saturday 19th August 2017, 3pm
Tyler Roberts (Oxford United fan)
Scunthorpe United v Oxford United
Football League One
Saturday 19th August 2017, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Scunthorpe United v Coventry City
Football League 1
Sunday 30th April 2017, 12 noon
Frank Alsop (Coventry City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Glanford Park?
I wasn't really looking forward to the game due to our recent away day history. But I was looking forward to ticking another ground off the list.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a very easy journey straight off the motorway and Glanford Park was easy to find. Parking at the ground was available and relatively cheap at £3.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to a local hostelry named The Old Farmhouse. There was a mixture of home and away fans inside this pub, with no bother at all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Glanford Park?
Glanford Park is a nice stadium although the view is compromised in the away end by some supporting pillars.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was as expected – we lost! The home crowd were very quiet so atmosphere was only created by our fans. Stewards were very friendly, even when our supporters made it evident that a pitch invasion was going to happen.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Coming out of the ground there was some trouble between opposing fans which was soon sorted by the local Police. It took about 15 minutes to get out of the car park and then no issues.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Glanford Park is a nice ground to visit – although we won't be going next year. Bring on Accrington Stanley!
Scunthorpe United v Fleetwood Town
Football League One
Saturday 4th March 2017, 3pm
Christopher (Fleetwood Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Glanford Park?
This was a crucial game at the top of League, between the second and third placed teams. Fleetwood Town were third but level on points with Scunthorpe Plus Glanford Park was a new ground for me to visit from the 92 and a lot of Fleetwood fans were making the effort to go; well a lot in comparison with what we usually take to away games.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We set off from Fleetwood at precisely 9:34am on one of the 8 supporters coaches. We arrived at Glanford Park at around 12:15pm. Considering we had to negotiate eight motorways to get there, I`d say that wasn`t too bad. Apart from a few minutes of congestion getting onto the M62, it was a trouble free journey. The ground itself is located next to a retail park directly off the M181 so it wasn`t difficult to find at all. There was a decent sized car park at the ground for any drivers reading this though you do have to wait 15 minutes or so at the end of the match to exit.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After a quick toilet stop in Marks & Spencers of all places, on the retail park. Me and three others then made for the nearby McDonalds for lunch. In terms of grabbing a bite to eat, there are several places to choose from on the retail park. After McDonalds, we went looking for a pub to kill some more time and mingle with more people. In the end we ended up at a Hungry Horse pub but there are other pubs within the area, probably with a better atmosphere. We didn`t speak to many home fans, but the ones we did have a brief chat with all seemed very nice.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Glanford Park?
The outside of Glanford Park doesn`t all that great in all honesty. Looking from the motorway, I first mistook it for an office building. The images of Scunthorpe United's success plastered on one of the walls made the decor a little more attractive but I've seen better stadiums on the outside. However the inside was a lot better. It's a nice, cosy stadium that still holds up well despite being built almost 30 years ago. One thing to note is that we weren`t situated in the away stand but rather the corner of the East Stand (called the Clugston Stand). If this happens to your away fans, you are probably going to be disappointed as the views are somewhat restricted if the fans like to stand up. The away end certainly offers a better view, despite the pillar in the middle of the stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc ..
The game itself was fantastic from a Fleetwood Town point of view. A 2-0 win for us which saw us go second and leapfrog our opponents. We didn't create much but were clinical with the finishing. We defended manfully throughout the second half but admittedly benefited from some decisions, namely the overhead kick one of their players scored, that was wrongfully ruled out for offside. Atmosphere-wise, we were fantastic. Sang throughout the whole 90 minutes plus about 35 minutes before the game. All 500 or so Fleetwood fans were making a noise at some point. As for the Scunthorpe fans, oh dear. I was incredibly disappointed with the lack of noise from the home ends, particularly in the second half when their team could have done with some encouragement. I had heard negative reports on the home atmosphere at Glanford Park but I didn`t think that would be the case in an important game like this. Nevertheless they were silent 95% of the game. The stewards were friendly enough considering that we aren't the easiest bunch to manage. I had feared they might start to evict some fans but were tolerant and accepting. I didn't get a half time pie or pop to the loo so I can't comment on what they were like. I only have my grandad' quote on the toilets "They were just football ground toilets". Make of that what you will.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Things took a rather ugly turn at this point unfortunately. A bunch of Scunthorpe fans took issue to our fans celebrating outside the ground. Words and gestures were used and while some of our fans weren't completely blameless, it's nothing that hadn't been seen at grounds up and down the country before. There were no fights but two of our coaches (Including my own ) had Windows damaged by stones thrown at them. Thankfully the windows were double glazed so only the second layers of glazing were damaged. Nobody was hurt and we were fine to take the coach home. After about half an hour of waiting we set off back home and got into Fleetwood just after half seven.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Barring the unsavoury scenes getting on to the coaches, the day at Glanford Park on the whole, was very enjoyable. I would certainly recommend going to an away game at Scunthorpe as its a good ground to generate an atmosphere from. There is also a lot of options to keep oneself occupied before the game and it's easy to get to. And it's important to note that the majority of Scunthorpe fans appear to be nice people and many have come out in disgust over what happened and have apologised on behalf of those who did it. I would definitely go again to Glanford Park on an away day.
Scunthorpe United v Bristol City
Football League Cup
Tuesday 23rd August 2016, 7:45pm
Adam Chard (Bristol City fan)
After negotiating the first round of the ludicrously rebranded “EFL” cup, we were forced to wait another 24 hours to see whether we would be heading to Stamford Bridge for a glamour tie with Chelsea, or visiting the slightly less glamorous environs of Scunthorpe.
With our cross city rivals beating Cardiff and claiming the glamour tie for themselves, there was a silver lining, as it gave me the opportunity for me to clock off yet another league ground. As I only work in Hull, the 30 minute drive to Scunthorpe’s Glanford Park would prove to be one of my easiest away trips of all time.
After Lee Johnson did a great job of guiding us away from the relegation spots the previous season, things were starting to look rosy for the Robins. The redeveloped stadium was now completed, and we had actually made good inroads into the transfer market, with the likes of Icelandic international Hordur Magnusson recruited, a club record signing in the form of midfielder Lee Tomlin, plus an exciting loanee in Tammy Abraham, to mention just a few. So we were confident going into a match versus League 1 opposition. Scunthorpe meanwhile had started their season just as brightly, and had scored five in their previous fixture, so it certainly wouldn’t be a walkover.
Glanford Park is possibly one of the easiest league grounds to get to, with its out of town location just off the M181. I was advised to park up in the car park of the local pub, The Old Farmhouse, by a helpful Scunthorpe fan. There were plenty of spaces when I arrived and, despite looking, I could see no signs saying I couldn’t park there for the duration of the match. As the ground is located right next to an out of town retail and leisure development, you can take your pick of fast food outlets and restaurants, with a McDonalds, KFC, Costa Coffee and a Frankie & Benny's all right next to the stadium.
As expected from the early rounds of the league cup, it was a balmy August evening. My first impressions of Glanford Park were that it was quite a tidy, modern looking place, with all stands a uniform size. Although having opened back in 1988, when it was truly ahead of its time, it was now showing its age a bit. After purchasing a slimmed down version of the matchday programme for £2, I headed into the away end. The entrance fee was a very reasonable £12, for which Scunny must be applauded.
Main Stand
From my experiences at other stadiums, I was expecting a concourse beneath the stand, but as it is quite small, there are actually 2 bar areas that are located back to back. Both bars sell drinks and food, with plenty of standing and areas to rest your pint. Down at the far end of the stand, tucked into a corner, there was another refreshments kiosk, and down a very narrow, unlit gangway, I happened across the toilets. I bought a pint of John Smiths (as with many Northern grounds, there was no decent cider available) and a sausage roll (well, I was in Lincolnshire, the home of sausages!) and felt they were reasonably priced.
With an attendance of just 2,397, and just over 100 City fans making the long trip up from the West Country, there was plenty of room to spread out. With the stands not being exceptionally high, the away following had split into 2 camps, either side of the goal, which actually obstructed the view a little, although even with the odd supporting pillar, it wasn’t bad. The more vociferous Iron support congregated on the terrace at the far end, giving the ground a more traditional feel, with both a home and away end.
View From The Away End
City started with a slightly changed team. Wilbraham started on his own up front and Frankie Fielding, absent for a long period with injury, returned between the sticks. Derrick Williams, in defence, turned out for what was to be his last game for the club before being transferred to Blackburn. City had a fantastic first half and started to dominate their League 1 opponents from the off. It was only due to wasteful finishing that they didn’t end the half further in front, after Bobby Reid scored the opener.
Scunthorpe got right back into the game after the break and, despite not managing an attempt on goal in the first half, managed to bag an equaliser, after City conceded a stonewall penalty. Lee Tomlin and Tammy Abraham were subbed on and the effect was immediate.
Scunthorpe looked dead on their feet, exhausted with having to deal with the trickery of City’s fresh legs. The game went to extra time, but up popped Abraham to hammer the ball into the roof of the net. Scunthorpe could’ve and should’ve grabbed yet another equaliser, but City held on to progress through to the third round, in what feels like decades!
It took about ten minutes to get out of the car park and back onto the road, which really wasn’t bad at all.
All in all, this was a great away day for me. Very reasonably priced, easy to get to, plenty of room, decent facilities and a win! Glanford Park is a good stadium, but times and fan expectations change quickly, so I can certainly see why Scunthorpe want to build another new stadium.
Scunthorpe United v Gillingham
Football League One
Saturday 20th August 2016, 3pm
Matt Boughton (Gillingham fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Glanford Park?
This was my first time visiting Glanford Park, and with Gillingham unbeaten beforehand and Scunthorpe also doing well I was looking forward to a competitive game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Having agreed to collect a fellow fan from Scunthorpe Railway Station en route then I left Kent at 8am allowing 4 hours for the drive, and an hour in case of any delays. Good job I did, as the A14 had 45 minute delays in Cambridgeshire which held me up, but I still arrived in Scunthorpe via the A1, A46 and A15 for 12.30pm. Having collected my friend from the station, we made the ten minute drive to Glanford Park. We opted against paying £3 to park at the ground, instead leaving the car on a nearby street roughly five minutes walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We made our way to the main bar with a few other away fans. Despite having our Gillingham scarfs on, the home fans were friendly and the pints reasonably priced. There was no trouble whatsoever and they regulars were very accommodating towards away fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Glanford Park?
Glanford Park was much smaller than I anticipated, though you can still get a good atmosphere going from the stands. All four stands are of equal height and there remains terracing in the home end. However, there is a supporting pillar right behind the goal at the away end which impedes your view quite significantly. One thing that was missing were any signs to the toilets or refreshments, and we had to rely on a friendly steward to direct us to the corner of the ground. Though the toilets were clearly designed on ablutions last seen in the 19th century!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The less said about the game, the better, Gillingham lost 5-0 after a comedy of errors. Two goalkeeping howlers, a soft penalty, a free header from a corner and Hakeem Adelakun dribbling round practically the whole team contributed to the goals conceded on a disappointing day. Scunthorpe even had a penalty saved in the last minute so it could have been even worse. The highlight for many Gillingham fans though were the pies. At £2.80 they are reasonably priced (for a Southerner) though I would very much recommend paying £3.20 to get mushy peas with the pie as well. Indeed, colleagues who didn't go for the mushy pea option certainly missed out.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The away end is situated at the far end of Glanford Park, so it is home fans who leave the ground first if walking out of the stadium complex. It started to rain heavily at full time so we made the five minute 'run' to the car and set off. As we parked off site, we were not held up by stewards like those who parked in the ground so I would certainly recommend this option for future visitors.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well, a 5-0 defeat and 13 hour door to door trip indicates that it wasn't one of the most successful away days, though I would probably visit Glanford Park again. Despite being built in the 1980's the ground has atmosphere, even if the home fans were a little quiet, and it is very easily accessible by car – though quite far from the nearest station. The stewards were relaxed and home fans friendly enough.
Scunthorpe United v MK Dons
League One
Tuesday 27th January 2015, 7.45pm
Daniel Palmer (MK Dons fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Glanford Park was a new ground for me, and with the new stadium looking more and more likely to happen and the chance to go top of the league, I decided to make the long trip up from Milton Keynes.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As the game was to be played on a Tuesday night and I’d only decided to go the night before, I had no other choice but to get the official club coach up to Scunthorpe. The journey was okay, about 3 and a half hours in total with a services stop. The stewards parked us right outside the away end.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Myself and a couple of others decided to go to the Berkeley pub pre-match, and it was very good. The lager I had was only £2.08, so we decided to stay for a couple. The home fans were fairly amicable, not bothering us while we sat in the pub but not actively seeking out a chat.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
My first impressions of the ground were quite simple, ‘I bet they can’t wait to leave’. It has the impression of a very old stadium when in reality it’s only about 20-30 years young. The away end was fairly simple, old claret seats in a simple stand, and there was a small corridor underneath the seats where the bar was. All in all it was obvious why there is a need to go to a new stadium so soon after this one was built.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was frustrating, Scunthorpe were cancelling us out at every attempt to get forward, and as it went on it seemed like one of those typical MK days where we would mess up the chance to go top. This was made clear when Scunthorpe took the lead. Luckily Kyle McFadzean was on hand to head us level, but a 1-1 full time score was disappointing.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Personally getting away was fine, just making my way to the coach as soon as I could, Although outside the ground there were reports later on our forum afterwards of a few problems, we were fine on the coach. It was slightly humorous as we travelled 15 minutes one way to get home, only for us to have to turn back and go the other way as a road was closed. We were home by 1am though which was to be expected.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I’m glad I have done the stadium, and when we inevitably have to come back here in the play offs I doubt I will make the trip up unless it is severely discounted.
Scunthorpe United v Sheffield Wednesday
League One
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012, 7.45pm
Chris Morris (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?
Having not been to Glanford Park before, so it was another ground to 'tick off' as you might say. It's also not one of the 'modern lego stadiums' you are seeing popping up everywhere. As you can tell I am more of a fan who prefers to see grounds with some character although compared to some football teams the ground could be classed as new as it was only constructed in the 1980's.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was fairly straight forward and easy. I got a lift from a friend in his car. I can't remember the exact route, but coming from Sheffield it's not far at all. It took around 45 minutes to get there. The ground is just off the motorway near a retail park so it was fairly easy to find. There was an estate around a five minute walk from this retail park, where a nice gentleman let us park on his drive, after we wasn't sure if we could park near the ground due to signposts giving warnings about parking.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Feeling peckish we all went to the Mcdonalds for a pre game bite to eat, the food was fantastic there, well cooked and fresh, impressed with the service there too, quick as well, which you don't see in some other Mcdonalds. We didn't really socialise much with the home fans, although they all seemed well behaved and happy in general, no trouble makers or anything about, after our food we went into the ground where we found the away supporters bar.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground itself, has to be one of the smallest grounds I have seen to. With all the stands are fairly equal in height, it made it a neat little stadium. Although for the shorter supporter like myself if you are unfortunate enough to be behind someone tall, you'll struggle to see!. Luckily I was stood behind a shorter person so I could see the playing action easily. You will have to keep track of the scores and times if you are an away supporter as the scoreboard is located above the away end, which makes it impossible to see.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was good. Wednesday ran out deserved and convincing 3-1 winners, with the odd shakey spell, but overall I thought the result was fair. Scunthorpe had goal scoring opportunities, but blazed their chances over the bar, or out of the ground on one instance!. So a word of warning, don't park too near the ground or you may come to find the car with a football through the window!.
The stewards were very friendly, and helpful, as they guided us to the club bar and welcomed us to the ground. The club bar itself was particularly spacious and the alcoholic drinks on offer were sparse, with Fosters, Strongbow and another beverage on tap. £3.20 for a pint is on the steep side although if you really like a drink, and drink quick a two pint glass is £6.20. Although I may add the pint of Fosters I had that day was very nice, well chilled as well.
The atmosphere was mainly generated by the Wednesday support, which was of no real surprise considering that we took the entire away end, and part of one of the side stands. A good following for a Tuesday night game, even if it was just 40 miles up the road. The Scunthrope fans made odd pockets of noise, but only really cheered when Jordan Robertson netted for them. Fantastic support from Sheffield Wednesday as per usual on away games. You could generate a decent amount of noise in the away end too I felt, which made the atmosphere feel better.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was fairly easy, as it is located right next to the motorway, apart from the usual match traffic. We were back in Sheffield for 10.30pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
One of the more enjoyable away days out for me as we had won. I sometimes feel that I am bad luck away, so the win at Glanford Park (which was out first ever win there) was a welcome surprise. After a small blip of form against Charlton and Hartlepool, it was important to seal a win, using our game in hand to go equal on 53pts with Sheffield United and Huddersfield. The squad lived up to the challenge and came home worthy winners.
Scunthorpe United v Stevenage
League One
Saturday, January 21st, 2012, 3pm
Matt Farley (Stevenage fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Like many Stevenage fans, I was looking forward to going because it was a new stadium in League One to experience. When the fixtures came out, at the start of the season I remember saying that I would definitely go to Scunthorpe as it would be a really good day out. It would also be really good to see Boro play a team which had been relegated from the Championship last season. It still wasn't that long ago, when we were playing the likes of Grays Athletic in the Conference.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey to Scunthorpe was very simple really. We drove all the way up the A1 which took about three hours from where we live. There was little traffic which also made the journey much pleasant. To be honest finding the ground was really easy! As you approach the Retail Park you can see the floodlights from down the bottom of the dual carriageway. The parking was also very easy as there were so many parking spaces in the Retail Park which to be honest is really just like take your pick! On the other hand we opted to park on the road outside the Leisure Park where there was a long row of parking spaces.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before every game that we go to with Boro, we like to take a walk around the stadium and get a feel for it. The home fans were very friendly, they seem like a very nice bunch of people who love their team and have a lot of passion for their football. There we a few Scunthorpe fans that we had a good conversation with before the game and they were very welcoming. I remember one of them even offering to buy us a pint!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I was actually quite surprised really! From the outside the stadium looks like a League Two or Conference stadium at first glance. The away stand is a nice stand which I think holds just over 1,600. The view is really good and you have a bit of leg room, even if you are over 6 foot tall like me. There is only one bit of advice that I would offer for fans attending a game at Scunthorpe in the winter and that is to take your coats, scarfs, gloves and hats. The wind blows right through the stand, making an already cold day a freezing one! So wrap up well.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Other than the really windy conditions that wrecked some of the play, the game was a good match. After just losing our manager to Preston we were just happy to settle with a point. The first half was a bit of a dull, other than Luke Freeman missing a sitter for us just before half time.
The second half was much better though. Scunthorpe scored literally at the start of the second half which was disappointing, but we salvaged a point at the death when Darius Charles equalised, with a really good turn and shot.
The facilities were average, the only bad thing about it is that it's really hard to find the toilets! The concourse underneath stand is good with televisions showing a live game if there is one on. The atmosphere from their fans was not the best. They didn't really sing so our fans had to up it by singing load and hard. The food inside the stadium is really good though! The pies which are priced at just below two pounds are delicious. I would have to say that they are the best for pies maybe in the whole Football League.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the stadium after the game was very easy. Really it's just a walk out of the entrance and then it is just all about finding your car! Probably the easiest stadium to get away from after the game by a long shot. Everything is set out to perfection really around the ground.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well Scunthorpe away was an amazing day out! Fantastic supporters, parking and view inside the stadium. For me it was a brilliant due to the fact that we had picked up a point, even after losing our Manager. If I get the chance to go to Scunthorpe again, then I would have no hesitation in doing so.
Scunthorpe United v Swansea City
Championship League
Saturday, March 5th, 2011, 3pm
Paul O'Shea (Doing the 92)
I travelled by train from Lytham St Annes changing at Preston and Manchester to arrive into Scunny just after 12 and made my way straight to the Honest Lawyer for refreshment, a decent selection of real ales on albeit pricey at £2.90 a pint. Nice pub though with both sets of fans in watching the early match on Sky. From there it's a short walk to the Blue Bell a Wetherspoons which also had some decent beer on. Had some lunch in the spoons then went round the corner onto Doncaster road and caught the No. 35 bus to Tescos which is located across from the ground on a retail park. Just takes a few minutes and is only £1.70
I had already bought a ticket online for the Rainham Steel home stand, for £20, which is still a proper terrace. Even arriving with only 15 minutes to kick off I was able to get a great spot right behind the goal and with a barrier to lean on. The ground though does look a bit worn down generally, but there was a good atmosphere. The attendance though of 4,608 meant there were plenty of empty seats in the three other fairly small stands.
It is not that often you hear Lonnie Donnegan being belted out on the P.A. at grounds these days, but very appropriate song 'Any Old Iron' was echoing around the ground just before kick off.
The first half was mostly Swansea pressing Scunthorpe and how it stayed goalless, was a mystery to me. Needing to take a leak I headed for the loo at half time where there seemed to a problem with the plumbing as the floor was under an inch of water, but needs must as fans were reduced to wading though. Pukka pies were available at £2.50 at the nearby snack bar.
The second half had Scunthorpe attacking the home end and they played much better as the home support got right behind their team and they went in front through a penalty. Swansea tried to grab an equaliser but to the dismay of their support of about 300 failed and Scunthorpe grabbed three vital points in their fight to stay up.
Got the bus back from outside Tesco at five past five and was back in the Wetherspoons ten minutes later. The town centre was very quiet and with hardly any evidence that a match had taken place. Caught my train at 1820 and was back home for half nine.