WE ARE GOING UP!
That is all.
The Iron enter the Promotion Final against Chester having made one enforced change from the semi-final victory over Chorley.
Callum Roberts misses out through injury, with Carlton Ubaezuonu taking his place, as he did as a substitute last time out. Jason Law is the player to come onto the substitute's bench as a result.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin, Whitehall, Rowley, Ubaezuonu, Starbuck, Denton.
IRON SUBS: Campbell, Boyce, Fishburn, Brogan, Scales, Law, Fadera.
Words: James Whitbread
The Iron came out victorious last time out, in a six goal thriller against Chorley in the play off semi-final in front of an impressive crowd at the Attis Arena.
Danny Whitehall got an early opener capitalising from an error at the back, before the visitors got level through before Kole Hall got an immediate equaliser to get the Magpies back in the game. Around 15 minutes later, United scored two in three minutes. Whitehall bagged his second in the 22nd minute, before Cal Roberts put Scunthorpe two goals to the good going into halftime. In the second half Carlton Ubaezuonu made it 4-1 to all but confirm the Iron’s place in the play off final, before a late consolation goal from Kole Hall. Scunthorpe now face a Chester side searching for revenge after the most recent fixture between the two on Community Day, in front of what is set to be another grand attendance at the Attis Arena.
Opponents Chester got to the final after an away trip at Kidderminster Harriers they came out victorious winning 2-1. Kyle Morrison put the hosts into the lead before Dylan Mottley-Henry levelled the scoring before the half time interval. Declan Weeks got the winner in the 82nd minute for the Seals to fire them into the final.
The Iron have shared some exciting clashes with Chester since joining the National League North. In March 2024, both sides broke the record for the highest attendance in the sixth tier of English Football, with a crowd of 7,511 supporters watching the two battle out a 2-2 draw. Liam McAlinden and Jacob Butterfield netted for the Iron on the day, as Ben Tollitt and George Glendon were on the scoresheet for the visitors.
After a 0-0 draw at the Deva Stadium, both sides chasing promotion got ready for another Community Day attendance at the Attis Arena on the 22nd March. The Iron were emphatic winners in a 3-1 result, Cal Roberts opened the scoring nine minutes before half time. Michael Kelly got the second goal of the game in the 57th minute, and 20 minutes later Mo Fadera wrapped up the game before the visitors netted a 91st minute consolation goal scored by Kurt Willoughby. This game also broke the attendance record set by each side just 12 months before this clash, with an attendance of 8,274 fans in the ground for the meeting.
The Iron look set to be without key attacker Cal Roberts in the final after his injury in the first half of the semi-final forced Scunthorpe into an early substitution. The winger has been fundamental for the club this season with an impressive 33 goal involvements this season, netting 21 and assisting 12. If Roberts is to be out of the clash, United will be more than happy with the audition from Carlton Ubaezuonu after replacing Roberts against Chorley and getting his name on the scoresheet.
A couple of Chester players that United need to be aware of are Declan Weeks and Tom Peers. Weeks is a central midfielder currently in his fifth successive season at the Seals sincejoining before the 2020-21 season from Kidderminster Harriers. After bagging a goal last time out in the semi-final against his old side, Weeks will be hoping for more of the same against Scunthorpe to end the season on a positive note. The 29-year-old has scored just four goals this season but has been a great playmaker for his side with 19 assists this season, he is set to be a threat.
Peers joined Chester from Macclesfield in October 2023, and has been an important member of the squad this season putting up some impressive numbers. The 29-year-old has scored 19 goals this season from 45 appearances, and has set up three goals this season. The number seven will be looking to have an impact on this all or nothing promotion final.
With a sell out crowd, there is set to be an intense, nervy atmosphere as both sides face off at the Attis Arena knowing only one side can progress and get promoted into the National League. Andy Butler’s side will be keen to wrap up an action-packed season in style, after missing out on promotion last year, losing on penalties in the play-off semi final, the Iron are just one game away from redemption.
As we head towards tomorrow’s Promotion Final showdown with Chester, Chair Michelle Harness delivers her end of season message to supporters following a long campaign…
As our 125th anniversary season draws to a close, we have one final match of our milestone year, and a chance to sign off on a high, and create new history.
The play-offs have been something that this club has been through before, and it has come with varying results in the past. From our first ever defeat, which yielded the fantastic goal from Tony Daws against Blackpool in 1992, to the Alex Calvo-Garcia winner in 1999 at the old Wembley against Leyton Orient, along with new Wembley win over Millwall in 2009, we’ve taken in our fair share of highs, but also lows, none more so than last season’s semi-final defeat here on penalties.
The opportunity for the players to walk out and play in front of a sold out Attis Arena is one they will be looking forward to, and a memory they will carry forever. For Andy Butler, it’s his first chance to experience a promotion as a manager, but something he’s experienced here before as a player. Andy, John Schofield, Paul Musselwhite and all of the backroom staff have worked incredibly hard. From the moment we gave Andy the job last summer, he has worked meticulously, delivered an intense, but beneficial pre-season, and gave the lads the best standing to be successful this season. A group has been created that is as together as any group I’ve seen while being associated with this football club, and we’re one step away from reaching our target.
As with every season in football, they are long, gruelling and pose their challenges, and this one has been no different, but the way everyone within has stuck together as a unit behind the scenes has enabled the footballing staff and the team to continue their efforts on the pitch, while the rest of our team deal with the everyday running of the club. Right through the season, through the highs and lows it delivers, we’ve remained completely supportive of the direction we wanted to go in. The goal always has been promotion, and we haven’t hidden that from day one. Only a very strong, well-drilled and hard-working Chester stand in our way - but it certainly won’t be easy, and they will want to respond to our Community Day win against them back in March.
Challenges come in many forms, and this has included external factors, including the threat of the future of the steel works in recent months. As a football club, it was not only our desire, but our duty to support the people affected in this town, to assist with the threats posed to the steelworks and our town’s very history and heritage. When we’ve need to stand up and be counted, we have, and so have you, and the power that we’ve generated as a community, united as one, is a force to be reckoned with. We only have to look at our attendances for that. We’re averaging more home supporters than last season, more home supporters than we did playing in League One and League Two, and tomorrow the Attis Arena is completely sold out, and the attendance will go head-to-head with our ground record of 9,077 set against Manchester United. When you put all of that into context, it truly shows how magnificent you’ve been, and just how much you’ve got behind me, the Board and the team. The power of football, and the voice the game holds, is a significant one and not one to be taken for granted or exploited, but we must choose the times to utilise it, and we were delighted to assist in heightening the exposure across the UK and beyond.
I’d just like to reflect quickly on the preparation for tomorrow’s match. It certainly doesn’t just happen. We have a small hardworking team behind the scenes, and many of you will all know who they are, and I’ve mentioned many of them in my previous statements. These events do not just happen, they require hours of meticulous planning, a lot of meetings with stakeholders and partners, and then it all needs to come together on the day - and that’s before a ball is kicked! I would like to thank each and every member of our team for their superb work in preparation for this Promotion Final - from our brilliant ticketing team, to our senior management team, the team working on the pitch to make it look fantastic, and everyone involved, your hard work does not go unnoticed by me, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the work that you do. That also extends to Henry's and their team, and also Gaz and Adele from Beckwood, who have been brilliant for us, and have put in their equal graft for this final, and also since coming into the club this season.
It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say there’s been a lack of sleep, some long hours and a lot of graft that has gone into the preparations for this match, but all of it is done with the club front and centre. There are so many people who deserve success, and I hope the players and staff are able to achieve this as tribute to everything that has been put into the last 18 months since we came into the club.
It’s not just for this game that our incredible team has been working hard for. We truly have a magnificent small group of people behind the scenes who run the club on a day-to-day basis. They go above and beyond to put everything in place, and have been right behind me and the rest of the Board since we came in. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and they all do so much more than is expected, both for us, and for the love of the club. As fans, all you really desire is a group of people to be operating your club who love it as much as you do, and we truly have that with a number of the staff that we have working for us. I’d like to reserve a special thank you to our Club Secretary Phil Hough, and also to James Moody for their daily support, guidance and for remaining professional and keeping the club’s best interests at heart. The club would be nowhere without you two, and many others at this club.
And as always, I simply cannot do this on my own. To Roj Rahman, my Vice Chair, and Ian Sharp and George Aitkenhead, you three continue to help keep this football club running, keeping the smiles on so many people’s faces in the community, and for that, the club, the supporters, and I, thank you immensely. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, we will continue to move this club forward, aim for sustainability and continue to work hard behind the scenes as a Board to deliver what you and the community require. I would also like to thank the representatives from all the various supporters groups we have - their support has also been invaluable during our time at the helm. To my husband Mike, children Laura, Emma and Matt, and everyone else in my family who I continue to neglect, but all of them remaining behind me for this journey, a big thank you for your support - and also to Dave Harness and Nichola Threadgold for the mentoring you have given me.
The close season, regardless of how our Promotion Final goes, will see us move to the next period in our history, as we move away from our 125th anniversary year, and into the club’s 126th season of existence. With it will come a change of kit supplier, which will be announced in early June, and the commencement of a couple of other projects, which will be revealed in due course. Because of the Promotion Final, and a pre-season that edges ever earlier, the close season will be a short one, but one in which we will look to make more improvements. We have a fantastic network of volunteers, a number of who continue to come week-in, week-out, and there will be jet washers, paint brushes and more at the ready to get the stadium looking clean and tidy again for the new campaign. I’d like to single out my particular thanks to everyone who has given some time to help us in that respect, you are the true heroes. That doesn’t just extend to manual labour volunteers, it’s those who come in and assist on ticketing, those who give their expertise to help us in various other departments. They are all Scunthorpe United through and through, and want to help in their own way, and it has been very much appreciated.
With changing kit suppliers, I would like to extend our thanks to Kelme for their support over the last two years, firstly for sticking with us through the rough stages of last season as we took custodianship of the club, and secondly for their hard work in delivering some exceptional kits and products for the season which is coming to an end. They’re a fantastic brand, and I know a number of local teams have been in talks with them for next season, so we look forward to seeing their products locally still.
Next weekend, we end the season officially with what will hopefully be a celebration with our Stadium Weekender. I’m really hoping that as many people as possible will come down to support this - it is an event for the community, and all proceeds come back into the football club and the community, so it’ll truly benefit how we move forward. There are fantastic line-ups over the three days, and we will have a real family focus to the Friday. We’re hoping for a positive outcome tomorrow, which will turn Friday into even more of a celebration. Dirty Sterling close the night next Friday, and it would be great to see as many Iron fans there to support them, and to hopefully celebrate the end of our 125th anniversary season on a high.
Now it’s over to Andy and the team. We all believe in you, and know you’re up for this game. A long season of hard work comes down to this. Just like the season, this one match could be filled with highs and lows, and it’s our job to remain fully behind the team until that final whistle. I’m looking forward to seeing the Attis Arena totally full for the first time in 15 years, for that atmosphere to be off the scale, and for everyone to be enjoying their day. I must remind supporters that any misconduct does have a detrimental effect on us moving forward, so please behave responsibly. The use of pyrotechnics, and the throwing of objects is not only dangerous, but will land us in severe trouble with the Football Association. I must also remind you that any pitch incursions are an offence, and the National League will not commence any presentations after the game should there be supporters on the pitch.
Let’s make the day one to remember for all the right reasons! Safe travels to everyone come from near, far and wide to get behind us - make sure you’re there early!
Up the Iron!
Michelle Harness
