With the Iron set to host Bristol Rovers at Glanford Park for the opening day of the season, we take a look back at some memorable opening day encounters.
THE LAST THREE...
2015/16
| 2-1 | ||
| Stuart Beavon, 55 | Charlie Goode, 90+2 | |
| Lucas Akins (pen), 72 |
The Iron suffered defeat on the opening day of last season to the Brewers who were new to League One after promotion from League Two.
Burton would go onto finish second in the division and continue their momentum forward into the Championship and after a goalless first half, Stuart Beavon put the hosts ahead ten minutes after the interval. The lead was doubled soon after from the spot after Luke Daniels was dismissed for violent conduct - Lucas Akins dispatching the resultant penalty.
Charlie Goode halved the deficit in stoppage time with a debut goal after he replaced the injured Niall Canavan, with Scunthorpe also losing Luke Williams to injury.
2014/15
| 3-1 | ||
| Massimo Luongo, 3 | Paddy Madden, 20 | |
| Michael Smith, 12, 45 |
A return to League One for the Iron paired them with their last opponents in the division prior to relegation. The scoreline emulated that of the fixture from May 2013 at Glanford Park, only it was the Robins who emerged victorious on this occasion in a 3-1 scoreline.
David Syers suffered a season-ending injury just minutes into the game as Swindon stormed into a two-goal lead - Massimo Luongo netting after three minutes, while Michael Smith netted on twelve minutes.
Paddy Madden halved the deficit soon after but Smith completed his brace before the interval, with Marcus Williams dismissed in the second half for violent conduct.
2013/14
| 2-0 | ||
| Matthew Sparrow, 31 | ||
| Sam Winnall, 41 |
After relegation to League Two, the Iron faced league returnees Mansfield Town at Glanford Park and didn't disappoint.
Matt Sparrow volleyed home on his return to the club after good work from Terry Hawkridge, while Sam Winnall burst clear ten minutes later to double the advantage after another assist from Hawkridge.
Eddie Nolan would be dismissed for a second booking with minutes remaining, with the Stags skying the resultant penalty.
DEBUT GOAL: Sam Winnall celebrates after doubling the Iron's lead, netting his first competitive goal for the club.
A MEMORABLE TRIO...
2010/11
| 1-2 | ||
| Gylfi Sigurdsson, 26 | Garry Thompson, 9 | |
| Rob Jones, 60 |
After surviving in the Championship in 2009/10, United began a second successive season in the second division with a victory over former Premier League side Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
The season started in the best possible way, with Garry Thompson putting Scunthorpe ahead before Gylfi Sigurdsson restored parity. The six-foot, seven-inch mountain of Rob Jones towered above the Royals' defence to turn home the winner on the hour to seal three points for the Iron.
OPENING DAY CELEBRATIONS: Rob Jones celebrates what proved to be the winner at the Madejski Stadium in 2010.
2007/08
| 1-1 | ||
| Marcus Bent, 62 | Izzy Iriekpen, 69 |
A first campaign in the Championship for over four decades paired the Iron with Charlton Athletic, a side just relegated from the Premier League.
Not a victory, but Scunthorpe showed they weren't going to roll over in the second division and the defence held firm for just over an hour until Marcus Bent fired home the opener.
Izzy Iriekpen bulleted home a header just seven minutes later for United to send the travelling supporters into delirium. The Iron had their first point on the board.
2004/05
| 3-1 | ||
| Cleveland Taylor, 68 | Leo Bertos (pen), 45 | |
| Paul Hayes, 75 | ||
| Matthew Sparrow, 90 |
The Iron had to come from behind to emerge victorious at Glanford Park in the 2004/05 season.
After nearly dropping out of the Football League on the final day of the previous season, three summer signings in Paul Musselwhite, Andy Crosby and Ian Baraclough bolstered the team and would set them on a run which would eventually see them promoted to League One.
Leo Bertos converted a penalty on the stroke of half time after one of the debutants, Crosby, was adjudged to have fouled.
Cleveland Taylor fired home the leveller before Paul Hayes put the hosts ahead after hooking home a corner. Matt Sparrow would fire in to seal the three points with moments remaining in the game.
THE FIRST OPENING DAY VICTORY...
1951/52
Iron |
1-0 | Bradford City |
| Horace Cumner |
Scunthorpe won their first opening fixture at the second attempt after their goalless draw with Shrewsbury Town 12 months prior.
Horace Cumner got the only goal of the game in front of just over ten-thousand supporters at the Old Show Ground, but just one more win would follow in their next ten fixtures in the campaign.
THE OPENING DAY RECORD
The Iron have accumulated 73 points from their opening 66 league fixtures since their admission into the league in 1950. The most common scoreline is a 1-1 draw, while Scunthorpe have won seventeen of their opening games.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | + / - | Pts |
| 66 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 76 | 93 | -17 | 73 |