A look at how promoted Iron are shaping up
LAST SEASON
The 2013-14 campaign was to prove a highly successful one for the Iron as they returned to League One following a year's absence following relegation.
The arrival of Sam Winnall on a free transfer from Wolves proved to be a masterstroke by Brian Laws as Winnall finished League Two's top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions. Their campaign started off with a victory against Mansfield Town but they then failed to win any of their next five games. However, their fortunes began to turn with a victory over Southend United.
Four defeats before November signalled the end of Laws' reign and the untried Russ Wilcox took over. The Iron's league defeat to Accrington Stanley in November was to be the last time that Wilcox's troops failed to pick up a single point until the penultimate game of the season away at Exeter City.
THE MANAGER – RUSS WILCOX
The 2014-15 campaign will be Russ Wilcox's first in charge.
Wilcox finished his playing days with Scunthorpe, totalling 121 appearances for the club in six years before retiring in 2003. He was previously at Preston North End and Doncaster and going even further back spent three years at Hull City. The 50-year-old began his career with Frickley Athletic and got his big break in the Football League with Northampton Town, making over 130 appearances for the Cobblers between 1986-90.
Wilcox had a short spell as Iron caretaker manager in 2004 and since taking over from Laws in November 2013 has lost just one competitive match.
VISITING THE GROUND?
Glanford Park has been the home of Scunthorpe United since 1988. It has a capacity of just under 10,000 and their record attendance was just over 9,500 against Manchester United in 2010. Reds supporters will be housed in the AMS Stand behind one of the goals.
SUMMER BUSINESS SO FAR
Boss Russ Wilcox has already brought in a couple of new faces.
Striker Lyle Taylor has arrived from Sheffield United after a loan spell in Scotland, whilst experienced midfielder Neal Bishop dropped down a level after leaving Blackpool.
Winger Jennison Myrie-Williams has made the switch from Port Vale. Paul Hayes has been released promotion and he has moved to Wycombe Wanderers. Also departing Glanford Park were Etienne Esajas, Andy Welsh, Christian Ribeiro and Michael Collins.
THEY PLAYED FOR BOTH
Paul Hayes had three stints with Scunthorpe – two before and one after his loan spell with Crawley. Paul bagged a couple of goals after signing on loan from Brentford at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
Matt Sparrow is in his second spell with the Iron and he played for Crawley at the same time as Hayes following his release by Brighton.
Striker Karl Hawley joined Scunthorpe after failing to break into Reds’ team following his loan spell from Notts County in 2011 and he now plays for Torquay United. Others to have represented both clubs include Nicky Ajose, Jonathan Forte, Leon Clarke and current first team coach Paul Groves.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The clubs have done battle twice in League One two seasons ago. The Checkatrade.com Stadium hosted our first game at this level and Reds won 3-0. A Gary Alexander brace and a debut goal from Jonathan Forte sealed victory. At Glanford Park in February 2013, Matt Sparrow returned to haunt his old side by putting Crawley 1-0 up but the Iron battled back and won 2-1 thanks to goals from Jimmy Ryan and Niall Canavan.
WHAT THE BOOKIES THINK
Scunthorpe United are 8/1 with Sky Bet to win promotion from League One in 2014-15.