A New Year's message from the Chair and Board

First of all, I want to wish all Iron fans a very Happy New Year.

The festive period can be a difficult time for many, but on behalf of myself and the Board, I truly hope you have been able to enjoy it and spend valuable time with loved ones and friends. 

New Year’s Eve definitely promises to be a special occasion at the Attis Arena, as we welcome King's Lynn for a top of the table clash.

Hopefully another good result can cap off a strong finish to the year for us, which has seen us return to the kind of consistent form that took us to the top of the table in the early part of the season, with three wins and three draws from our last six games, conceding just one goal in that time. 

Andy is the first to admit that we are not the finished article just yet, but in his first season of management he has the difficult task of moulding a team to play the progressive style of football we all want to see, whilst also delivering the results we need to get us promoted. 

We all expected there to be bumps in the road - and there will be more before the end of the season - but as a group of owners and fans it is vital that we stay united and continue to show our support for Andy, John and their team as they work tirelessly to keep improving and to deliver our ultimate goal. 

Off the pitch, we continue to take steps forward in our quest to move from survival to sustainability. In October I discussed the progress we have made so far, but like any modern football club the challenge remains huge and we are still reliant on the incredible efforts of our volunteers, fundraisers and of course our sponsors. I can only reiterate our gratitude to all of you as we continue to rebuild this great football club together into its 126th year and beyond.

As we look to the future, if we are to truly thrive again we need to find innovative ways to provide our sponsors with more value and to generate additional streams of revenue. That work is ongoing behind the scenes and I am excited about some of the new initiatives we'll be launching in 2025.

Over the last two months, an agreement with our friends at Henry’s Sports Bar to staff and run the stadium bars has enabled us to improve our offering and reduce prices. Opening up the external catering point to the left of the Systemise Fulfilment Iron Bar in the hour or so before games and reintroducing Sky Sports to the screens are two small steps in improving the fan experience on match days, with more to come in the New Year. We welcome any further input and suggestions from the fans, either through the supporters’ clubs or directly to the club.

On a final note, fans may have noticed that the pitch has been heavily sanded for the games over the Christmas period. Unfortunately, we are still trying to play catch-up with the playing surface following some complications when we reseeded in the summer. The sand was part of an attempt to address this and protect the surface that we do have during these winter months, when grass doesn’t readily grow! Although it is far from ideal at the moment, it should start to improve when the temperatures rise and allow for fresh growth, ahead of a comprehensive reseeding and treatment programme in the summer. 

Throughout the club we are working hard to meet the demands of the present, while laying the foundations for the future. It is not an easy balance to find, but with your continued support I am looking forward to seeing those green shoots continue to appear - both on the pitch and off it - in the coming months.

As this year comes to a close I want to take the opportunity to give special thanks to Laura Matic, who has done a fantastic job as Chair of the CIC to secure ongoing stadium improvements, which recently included solar panels and new windows, and Stuart and Susan Maw, who continue to work wonders in raising much needed funds for the club. 

Also, of course, our Vice Chair Roj, our fellow owners George and Ian, our new CEO Matt and all the backroom staff at the club for their continued hard work and support.

Happy New Year to everybody and up the Iron!
Michelle

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Roj Rahman: "To our Scunthorpe United family. As we welcome 2025, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Together, we've overcome many hurdles, and as we look ahead, we know there may be more challenges. But by standing together, we can achieve our goals. The sustainability of our club is paramount, and with your continued support, we can build a future filled with success. I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. UTI."

George Aitkenhead: “A Happy New Year to all Iron fans and a huge personal thank you for your support over this past year. Together we’ve been on an amazing journey so far but really the hard work has only just started as we try and get this great club back where it belongs. As a board, we are fully behind Andy and his staff as they look to bring us success on the pitch, which is central to the progress we are trying to make off it. Personally I’m excited to see what 2025 brings and look forward to hopefully finishing the year off on a high at the Attis Arena this afternoon.”

Ian Sharp: “It has been another rollercoaster of a year as an Iron fan but we head into our final game of 2024 this afternoon with a real chance to finish it in a very strong position. In recent months we have also started to build strong foundations for the future, from commercial partnerships at the stadium to key collaborations with the likes of John Leggott College and 780 Coaching, which along with the great work being done by the Iron Foundation can inspire the next generation of Iron fans and players. That dream wouldn’t be possible without your continued support, so my heartfelt personal thanks for that. I wish you all the very best for 2025. Up the Iron!"