Iron pedigree amongst Messingham Primary School side representing club at Wembley

Amongst the Messingham Primary School side representing the club at Wembley Stadium, there is some Iron in the blood, with a trio of players all having Scunthorpe United connections.

With one of the players currently in the club's academy, one a nephew of a former Iron player and one the granddaughter of a former player, the side has pulled together some United pedigree as they look to be national champions after overcoming three hurdles to get to this stage.

Having won the right to wear the United badge after coming out on top as Messingham Primary School in the local competition held by the Iron Foundation, the side then journeyed to York to take part in the north-east version of the competition. Having come through that as Champions, next up was competing for the chance to represent the whole of the north in Chesterfield. Victory once more, with all roads now leading to Wembley for a one-match, 15-minute encounter against the winning school from the south with the opportunity to be crowned overall national champions and take home the fourth trophy - the National League Kids Cup.

One of the parents and volunteers steering the side to success, Paul Lindsey, and daughter Ivy who has been a prominent asset to the team, has real Iron in the blood via Barry Lindsey - Paul's father and Ivy's grandfather.

Barry, now 79, spent a decade with the club in the first team between 1961 and 1971, and was an apprentice with the side before that. He also goes down in club history as the first player to be substituted when it was introduced in 1965. He went on to play in excess of 200 games for the club, scoring 14 league goals.

Barry's younger brother Keith also featured for the Iron in 1965-66, playing 15 times, before a long career at other Football League clubs.

Speaking to Ivy ahead of the weekend, she said: "It's really good (to have family members that have played for the club). My grandad always talks about it.

"I play for two grassroots teams that are all boys, so I’m used to it. I’ve been playing for five or six years. It was a good experience to watch the Lionesses win the Euros and it just inspires me more."

Meanwhile, Toby Fowler, who plays in central midfield has been part of the club's academy system from the start, so already knows what it's like to pull on the claret and blue jersey and represent the Iron.

Speaking about the tournament so far, he added: "It’s been a challenge, but we’ve completed the challenge and now we’ve got the prize at the end of it. It’s an amazing feeling and we’re looking forward to it."

The final of the trio of players with connections has a direct link to the here and now - and also the past - in Nathan Stanton, the Iron's Kit Manager and former player. His nephew, Olly Bates, will be looking to emulate his performances in between the sticks in the previous tournaments to assist the side to become national champions.

"It’ll be an unbelievable experience. Some professionals don’t get to play at Wembley. To be from Scunthorpe and to be playing at Wembley will be crazy. I love playing in goal. I’ve done it for a couple of years now.

"I’m alright at saving penalties. The last couple of shootouts, I’ve saved four. In the York tournament, before the Chesterfield tournament, I saved one penalty which helped us go through."

Speaking about his uncle, he added: "He always talks about his experiences playing for the club and the other clubs he’s played for and about the big stadiums he’s played in."