After a 3-2 defeat midweek, away to Spennymoor Town on Tuesday, after Ross Barrows and Callum Roberts’ goals weren’t enough to earn us a point on the road.
The Iron will be looking to get back to winning ways and pick up all three points against an in-form Buxton side.
After John McGrath joined Buxton in the summer they have had quite an eventful start to the season under the 44-year-old. They have had a sudden turn in form, after they won their first three games of the season, there was a dip in form which saw the Bucks suffer one win and seven losses in eight games. But after a recent turn in form our opponents are unbeaten in five, and have netted fourteen goals in their last five fixtures and have climbed themselves up to fifth place, sitting just four points behind the Iron sitting top of the league, and will be looking to build on their recent good form, with three points at the Attis Arena.
On the road Buxton have not picked up as many points as they’d have hoped for with just two wins on the road and one draw and losing four of the seven fixtures.
A key player for the visitors is central midfielder Connor Kirby. He has netted five in his last four and has scored seven goals in total these seasons and picked up three assists, and is a player United will be looking to keep out on Saturday.
Another crucial player for the Bucks is left winger Tom Elliot. The 29-year-old was amongst the goals against Needham Market just under two weeks ago, as he grabbed himself a first half hat-trick. With five goals and three assists altogether, Elliot has been a threat for Buxton and will be looking to add more goals to his account against the Iron.
Callum Roberts’ penalty goal in the midweek got him his sixth goal in his last seven matches and furthered his account this season to seven goals and three assists. After getting his first of the month, Roberts will be happy if his form in November is anything like how his form was in October, which saw him claim National League North player of the month after scoring five and assisting two.
As the Bucks pose a strong threat to the Iron, United will be looking to get a win on the board to relieve some pressure from Chorley and Kings Lynn who are hot on the tails of Scunthorpe.
In an exciting new collaboration, Scunthorpe United Football Club, John Leggott College, and 780 Coaching have launched United in Partnership, a pioneering initiative designed to bridge critical sporting and career opportunities for the young people of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire and beyond.
This unique programme creates a direct, elite football pathway for aspiring athletes and future professionals, providing young talent with opportunities to advance within the Scunthorpe United Football Club while equipping them with valuable skills and qualifications for a successful future.
Recognising the gap in local pathways for young athletes, United in Partnership addresses the need to retain and develop homegrown talent and provide it with a series of opportunities in which to succeed. The collaboration between these three prominent community-focused organisations combines expertise, resources and commitment, creating a high-quality, accessible route for young people to reach their potential both on the field and beyond. The programme is designed to develop talent, celebrate diversity, and support local youth in achieving their professional aspirations - all while strengthening the Scunthorpe community.
“We’re thrilled to work alongside John Leggott College and 780 Coaching on this initiative,” said Scunthorpe United co-owner Ian Sharp.
“Our goal is not just to develop highly skilled footballers but to build character, instil pride, offer wider professional opportunities and open doors for these young people within the very club and community they support. Our unique partnership unifies talents and resources that can have a lasting impact but also shines a spotlight on the incredible opportunities Scunthorpe has to offer.”
Meanwhile, fellow co-owner George Aitkenhead added: “This joint venture between three well-established entities will undoubtedly provide an abundance of opportunities within the Scunthorpe community, not only on the field of play, but off it as well.
We’re excited about what comes next as we grow and enhance this fast-developing partnership. There are so many up-and-coming young professionals in the town who will be looking to go into different strands of the workplace, and we want to be a key influence in their development, whether that be aspirations to be a professional footballer, to work in media, hospitality, commercial or finance. All of these aspects are fundamental to running a football club, with this partnership set to open a number of doors and strengthening our link to Scunthorpe as a town even further.”
This bespoke programme’s structure is designed as a well-rounded experience, offering participants multiple extended football training sessions each week under the guidance of professional coaches from 780 Coaching and providing young players with greater support to further develop their technical and tactical knowledge.
For post-16 participants, this practical training is seamlessly integrated with academic support and career preparation through John Leggott College, which enables students to achieve a "career dual passport." Through the college's extensive curriculum, participants can also gain exposure to different industrial roles within the club, from sports management to media and from sports nutrition to physiotherapy, laying a solid foundation for a range of career opportunities in sports and beyond.
As John Leggott College Principal Leon Riley explains: “By joining forces, we are able to offer a holistic development programme that prepares our students for professional sports or any career they choose. We’re nurturing talent, empowering ambition, and future proofing career options - while keeping that talent right here in Scunthorpe.”
780 Coaching brings to the partnership a wealth of experience in athletic development and a proven track record of advancing players into disciplined, high-performing athletes. “Our goal is to equip every participant with the skills and mindset necessary for success. Through this collaboration, we will have the opportunity to work with young people in our community to gain confidence to take on new challenges and raise their aspirations to instil the belief they can achieve great things both on and off the pitch.” said Chris Priestley, Company Director and Football Coach for 780 Coaching.
Together, Scunthorpe United Football Club, John Leggott College, and 780 Coaching are committed to an inclusive, community-centered approach that supports young people of all backgrounds, harnessing the power of sport to raise aspirations, and strengthen connections within the community. The United in Partnership initiative is more than a football programme; it is a collaborative mission to inspire and develop the future professionals and champions of Scunthorpe.
At Saturday's home game against Buxton, Scunthorpe United will pay tribute to fallen servicemen and women as part of our annual remembrance commemorations.
The club will stage a pre-match tribute, as we remember and honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in conflict.
The club are pleased to be able to welcome a number of representatives of the armed forces, veterans and volunteers of the Royal British Legion to the match this weekend.
As a mark of respect, the Iron's team captain on the day will walk out with a wreath that he will lay on the centre spot.
The two teams, plus the match officials, will line up around the centre circle as an Ode of Remembrance from the poem 'For the Fallen' is played out over the PA system. This will be succeeded by the Last Post and the Rouse with a period of silence sandwiching the two pieces of music. Proceedings will be brought to a close by the referee following a further period of reflection.
In our club shop, both in-store and online, we will have a range of Black Friday sales over the next four Fridays.
A range of merchandise will be discounted across the dates. Stay tuned on our social media and website to find out more.
The dates selected stock will be reduced is:
Friday, November 8th
Friday, November 15th
Friday, November 22nd
Friday, November 29th
You can make purchases in person between 10am and 4pm on Friday, while selected offers will be available via www.sufcshop.com.