Sands Venue Stadium – Scunthorpe United

Glanford Park was opened in 1988. At this time it was the first new league football ground to be built in England since the Second World War. With the Club’s intention to build a new stadium nearby, then it may not be around for much longer. From the outside Glanford Park is somewhat uninspiring, mostly a grey drab affair. In fact, it if were not for the tops of the floodlights being visible, you would probably not know it was there as it is obscured by the adjacent retail park and trees.

Inside it is a simple affair with all four stands being of equal height and similar in appearance. The ground is totally enclosed, although the corners are not used for spectators. The home end is terracing, whilst the other three sides of the ground are all seated. The main downside is the many supporting pillars running along the front of the stands that may impede your view. There is a small electric scoreboard suspended below the roof of the South Stand. The stadium is completed with a modern looking set of four floodlight pylons.

In July 2019 Glanford Park was renamed the Sands Venue Stadium in a corporate sponsorship deal with a Blackpool Hotel.

The Club have received planning permission to redevelop Glanford Park with a new 11,000 capacity ground. The ground will be rebuilt one stand at a time, which will be cantilevered. This means that the Club can continue to play there whilst the works are undertaken. It is intended that the first stand to be demolished and rebuilt will be the East (Main Stand). The plans also include corporate facilities and commercial space, as well as some residential apartments on the Glanford Park site. The Club are now awaiting om planning consent for 145 homes that will also be built as part of the redevelopment of the site, which will help fund the rebuilding of the ground.

Scunthorpe’s stadium, Glanford Park, was quite the big deal when it opened back in 1987/88. It had been over three decades since England saw such a vast development. Since then development has been limited. Of course, Scunthorpe existed for a century before this stadium was known as home. The first ground Scunny played at was ‘The Old Show Ground’; it’s the only placed they’d known as home prior to the 1988 move out. There was little to be done to avoid a change though. The old Scunthorpe ground was in need of modernisation and improvement throughout and with tightening regulations coming into force, it proved beyond reasonable costs. A relocation was the only viable option.

Away fans are housed in the AMS South Stand at one end. This is all seated and can house 1,678 supporters. If demand requires it, then extra 500 seats can be made available in the south corner of the Clugston (East) Stand.

Normally away fans can really make some noise from this end and the stewarding is normally tolerant and relaxed. Although there is a concourse area located near the stand entrance, there is, in fact, another small food kiosk located on the other side of the stand, which is accessed from within the stand itself. Although there are a couple of supporting pillars in this stand, the view is generally okay.  James Broadbent adds; ‘Glanford Park is very easy to find on the edge of town. Scunthorpe is generally a friendly place to visit, where you can have decent banter and a good day out.’  At half time fans who want to smoke are allowed to exit the ground to do so.

Inside the ground, a range of Pukka Pies are on offer at £2.80 each, including Chicken Balti, All Steak, Cheese and Onion, plus traditional pasties. For an extra 40p you can even enjoy your pie with mushy peas! Otherwise just outside the main entrance to Glanford Park, there are a number of fast food outlets and eating places such as McDonalds, KFC and a Frankie & Benny’s.

On my last visit the atmosphere was good inside the ground and no problems were encountered. It was on this visit that I witnessed an amusing incident, when in the League Cup tie against Birmingham City, the stewards tried to insist that away fans sat down rather than standing up. Of course, this met with chants of; ‘Stand up, if you love the Blues!’ to which the stewards looked somewhat dismayed at, with many Birmingham fans continuing to stand up. One poor steward was dispatched to sort this ‘problem’ out. I have to say he used a unique and an effective approach, during a lull moment in the away fans singing, a voice from the back of the stand, was heard singing; ‘Sit down and watch the game! Sit down and watch the game!’. You guessed it, it was the lonely steward singing! Still it had the desired effect! Well for a while anyhow…

At Glanford Park itself is the Iron Bar which admits visiting supporters. Near to the ground there is ‘The Old Farmhouse’ pub, which also allows in away fans providing though that they are not wearing team colours.

Steve Tucker adds; ‘Found a great little pub called the Ironstone Wharf which is about a mile and a quarter away from the ground. It’s on the A18 going away from Scunthorpe towards Gunness. After going around the left hand bend, the pub is located down on the right.’

If coming by train, then the Honest Lawyer on Oswald Road is well worth a visit. Although a modern pub inside, it has been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has a number of beers on offer. Also on Oswald Road is the Blue Bell which is a Wetherspoons outlet. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the stadium.

The ground is on the outskirts of Scunthorpe, making it easy to find from the motorway. Leave the M180 at Junction 3 and take the M181 for Scunthorpe. At the end of this motorway, you will see the ground on your right. Turn right at the first roundabout onto the A18 and right again into the large car park at the ground, which costs £3. The car park holds 600 cars and is for both home and away fans.

Post Code for SAT NAV: DN15 8TD

Scunthorpe Railway Station is over two miles away from Glanford Park. Neil Hallam a visiting Burnley supporter informs me; ‘On our last visit we found that the Police were laying on a free bus service from right outside the railway station to Glanford Park. Once in the vicinity of the ground, the fans are not compelled to go straight in but are allowed to head for the heavily policed and liberally bouncered pubs and bars on the adjacent retail park. The return service operates about ten minutes after the final whistle. With Burnley this service worked well, however it remains to be seen how it gets on with other clubs who may have a larger visiting contingent.’

Otherwise a taxi is probably the easiest way to reach the stadium. However, if you have time on your hands and are feeling fit….. Turn left out of the station and head towards the crossroads (facing a church) and turn right into Oswald Road, going past a set of traffic lights and the Honest Lawyer and Blue Bell pubs. At the next traffic lights turn left into Doncaster Road (where there a number of fast food outlets). Then just go straight down this road and you will eventually reach Glanford Park on your left. Otherwise as you pass the Blue Bell pub on your left, turn left onto Doncaster Road where you can catch Bus Number 909 (every 20 minutes to the hour, does not run on Sundays) down to the ground.

Christopher Redfearn a visiting Grimsby Town fan advises me; ‘I found that the distance from the ground to Althorpe railway station is about the same as it is to Scunthorpe railway station. It takes about 25-30 mins to walk from the station to the ground. There are also a couple of okay pubs on the route from Althorpe station to the ground. Turn right from the station head over the bridge and keep going until you get to the Jolly Sailor then turn right and keep walking along that road and you will get to the stadium.’ However please note that not all trains to and from Doncaster stop at this station, so plan your journey accordingly.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

The Club operates a category system (A & B), whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category B prices are shown in brackets. Home supporters who become Club Members can gain a small discount on these prices.

Home Fans*
SPB West Stand (Executive Area):
Adults £31 (£30), Over 60’s £24 (£23), Under 21’s £19 (£18), Under 16’s £14 (£13)
SPB West Stand:
Adults £23 (£22), Over 60’s/Under 21’s £16 (£15), Under 18’s £12 (£11). Under 16’s £7 (£6), Under 12’s Free
Clugston Stand:
Adults £23 (£22), Over 60’s/Under 21’s £16 (£15), Under 18’s £12 (£11). Under 16’s £7 (£6), Under 12’s Free
Britcon Stand:
Adults £19 (£18), Over 60’s/Under 21’s £14 (£13), Under 18’s £10 (£9), Under 16’s £7 (£6), Under 12’s Free
Family Area:
1 Adult + 2 Children £21 (£20), 1 Over 60 + Child £15 (£14), Second parent £21 (£20), Additional Child £5 (£4)

Away Fans*
South Stand:
Adults £23 (£22), Over 60’s/Under 21’s £16 (£15), Under 18’s £12 (£11). Under 16’s £7 (£6), Under 12’s Free

* These prices are for tickets bought in advance of the game. Tickets bought on matchday can cost up to £3 more per Adult ticket and £2 per concession.

Official Programme: £3

Scunthorpe vs Grimsby rivalry: This fixture is part of a three-way Humber derby series and is, probably, the most fiercely competed of the three with just 30 minutes between the two towns. Add into that the fact neither have enjoyed much recent success and the derby games are all they’ve got.

Scunthorpe vs Hull City rivalry: Hull is the other of the three teams situated close to the river Humber. The Tigers sit the other side of the river though; this puts slightly more miles between the two fanbases although – as the crow travels – they are closer. The real thing that softens the bitterness though is that Hull have moved beyond the other two sides.

Scunthorpe vs Doncaster rivalry: This game doesn’t come with quite the same animosity of the prior two listed but with just half an hour between the two, there are bragging rights aplenty at stake.

Scunthorpe vs Lincoln rivalry: Lincoln are the last side located in and around Scunthorpe at around a 40 minute drive. It’s more than a normal game Scunny welcome them to Glanford Park, but it’s the tamest of the four.

Scunthorpe United FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website)

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the  Level Playing Field website.

Record Attendance

At Glanford Park:
9,077 v Manchester United
League Cup 3rd Round, 22nd September 2010.

At The Old Showground:
23,935 v Portsmouth
FA Cup 4th Round, 30th January 1954.

Average Attendance
2019-2020: 3,546 (League Two)
2018-2019: 4,227 (League One)
2017-2018: 7,195 (League One)

Official Web Site:  Scunthorpe-United.co.uk

Unofficial Web Site:  Iron-Bru Net

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.