Scunthorpe

1899–1958: Early years

Scunthorpe United was formed in 1899. In 1910, they merged with local rivals North Lindsey United to become Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and joined the Midland Football League in 1912. After an unsuccessful application to join the Football League in 1921, Scunthorpe & Lindsey won the Midland League in 1926–27 and in 1938–39. Following the end of the 1939–40 season due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Scunthorpe & Lindsey finished as runners-up in an emergency competition, losing 3–2 to Peterborough United in an unofficial play-off game.

After the end of the war in 1945, Scunthorpe & Lindsey United continued to apply to join the Football League. The club finished as runners-up in the Midland League in 1947–48, and in 1950 was accepted into the Football League when the league structure was expanded, ahead of Workington and Wigan Athletic. The club's first game in Third Division North was against fellow new entrants Shrewsbury Town.

After an unremarkable few years in the Football League, including the club's first-ever third and fourth-round FA Cup ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth respectively, the "& Lindsey" was dropped from the club's name in 1958.

1958–1964: The Second Division years

In 1958, Scunthorpe United won promotion to the Second Division as champions of the Third Division North under manager Ron Suart. The Iron then began a steady rise through the Second Division over the next four years under a variety of managers, improving its league position each season until finishing fourth in the 1961–62 season, the club's highest league finish to date. This was despite the sale of its leading goalscorer Barrie Thomas to Newcastle United for a reported £40,000.

The year 1962 proved to be a turning point in the fortunes of the club, and in 1964 they finished bottom of the Second Division and were relegated to the now national Third Division. At the same time Scunthorpe United stalwart Jack Brownsword retired after 597 Football League appearances for the club, and Freddie Goodwin replaced Dick Duckworth as the club's manager.

1964–1987: Decline and stagnation

After relegation from Division Two, the Iron spent the next four years in the Third Division. Freddie Goodwin left the club during the 1967–68 season, and was replaced by Ron Ashman. The club was relegated to Division Four at the end of the season. A slight resurgence occurred in the early 1970s, including a win against First Division Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup in January 1970 promotion to the Third Division in 1972. Notably, Kevin Keegan made 124 appearances and scored 18 goals for Scunthorpe during this period, and was sold to Liverpool in 1971 for £35,000.

The Iron were unable to cement a place in the Third Division, and were relegated back to the Fourth Division in 1973. At the same time, Ashman departed for local rivals Grimsby Town, only to return in 1976. The period between his two tenures saw several management changes and the club finished bottom of the Football League in 1975. In 1980, the club signed England international cricketer Ian Botham, who played until 1984, making 14 appearances. He was also a regular in the Central League for Scunthorpe United Reserves, once scoring a hat-trick against Blackpool at the Old Show Ground. The next five years saw the club remain in the bottom half of Division Four, finishing second-bottom in 1981–82. The club was promoted to Division Three under manager John Duncan in 1983, but they were immediately relegated under his successor Allan Clarke, with United then entering a further period of stagnation in the middle of the Fourth Division table.

1987–1997: New home, new horizons

In 1988 Scunthorpe United moved to a new, purpose-built stadium, Glanford Park. While preparations for the new ground were under way, the club qualified for the Division Four play-offs under Mick Buxton in their final season at the Old Show Ground. However, the club lost 3–2 on aggregate to Torquay United in the semi-final. The second leg of this semi-final was the last game played at the Old Show Ground, with Steve Lister being the last player to score at the ground.

The club's first season at Glanford Park ended in another play-off semi-final defeat, 5–1 on aggregate to Wrexham. In 1991 the Iron lost to 3–2 on aggregate to Blackpool in another play-off semi-final under Buxton's replacement, Bill Green. In 1992, the club qualified for the Fourth Division play-off final at Wembley Stadium, but lost 4–3 to Blackpool in a penalty shootout. This was the club's first appearance at Wembley.

The following four seasons saw United sit consistently in the middle of the now Third Division table under a succession of managers, namely Richard Money and David Moore. Mick Buxton made a return to the club as manager following Moore's sacking in 1996.