Football Ground Guide: Glanford Park, Scunthorpe United FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments The Grove Wharf & AMS Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Scunthorpe Telegraph Stand (photo) Where To Drink? How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Study United Stand (photo) Admission Prices Ground Layout Programme Price Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
The club left the Old Show Ground and moved to the new Glanford Park in August 1988. When opened, it was the first new league football ground to be built since the Second World War. It is somewhat box like in appearance with all four stands being an equal height. The ground is totally enclosed with all four corners having been filled (with advertising hoardings). The home end is terracing, whilst the other three sides of the ground are all seated. The main downside is the many supporting pillars to impede your view. The ground is completed with a modern looking set of four floodlights. The Club seem to have gone a bit over the top, with each stand having a named sponsor. Gone are East, West, North & South Stands. In are; Grove Wharf, Scunthorpe Telegraph, ArcelorMittal & AMS Stands! Top Of Page
Future Developments
The Club have submitted a planning application to build a new stand at the Study United end of the ground. The proposed stand will be three tiered and will raise the overall capacity of Glanford Park to 11,000. The scheme will also see the provision of conference and leisure facilities. However, this scheme is currently on hold as the Club evaluate the possibility of moving to a new stadium. Top Of Page
The Grove Wharf & AMS Stands
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are housed in the AMS Stand (aka the South Stand) at one end. This is all seated and can house 1,650 supporters. If demand requires it, then extra seats can be made available in the south corner of the West Stand. Although there are a couple of supporting pillars in this stand, the view is generally okay. A good selection of refreshments are available in the form of Cheeseburgers (Ł2), various Pies & Pasties (Ł2), Hot Dogs (Ł1.50), Bacon Butties (Ł2 - 'the best in the world!' according to Tim Porter) and Chips (Ł1). On my last visit the atmosphere was good inside the ground and no problems were encountered. James Broadbent adds; 'the ground 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. To help boost the atmosphere the club allow drums and musical instruments to be brought into the ground'. On my last visit to the ground 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.... Top Of Page
Scunthorpe Telegraph Stand
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Where To Eat & Drink?
There is one pub right at the entrance to the ground called 'The Old Farmhouse', which as Bryan Woods informs me 'This pub welcomes all fans but no colours are allowed'. There is another pub near the ground called the Berkeley, a favourite haunt for away supporters. To find this Sam Smiths pub go past the ground (or park there first) and follow the main road towards Scunthorpe and it is on the left hand corner of the first roundabout you reach. On my last visit this 1930's/40's art deco pub/hotel had a pleasant mixture of home and away supporters and served good beer in a comfortable atmosphere. The only draw back was that it seemed that you could only park in their car park if you were staying at the hotel, as there was an automated barrier across its entrance. 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. Across the road from the ground there is a Retail Park with a number of eating outlets such as a KFC & McDonalds. Top Of Page
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
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 Ł3. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
Study United Stand
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By Train
Scunthorpe station is over two miles away from the ground. 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. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
The Club operate a category system (A & B), whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category B prices are shown in brackets. Home Fans*: Scunthorpe Telegraph West Stand (Exec Area): Adults Ł28 (Ł27), Over 60's Ł21 (Ł20), Under 17's Ł16 (Ł15) Scunthorpe Telegraph West Stand: Adults Ł20 (Ł19), Over 60's/Under 21's Ł13 (Ł12), Under 16's Ł7 (Ł6) Grove Wharf East Stand: Adults Ł19 (Ł18), Over 60's/Under 21's Ł12 (Ł11), Under 16's Ł7 (Ł6) ArcelorMittal North Stand: Adults Ł16 (Ł15), Over 60's/Under 21's Ł11 (Ł10), Under 16's Ł7 (Ł6) Family Area: 1 Adult + 1 Child Ł21 (Ł20), 1 Over 60 + Child Ł16 (Ł15), Second a parent Ł16 (Ł15), Additional Child Ł5 (Ł4). Away Fans: AMS Stand (Away) Adults Ł19 (Ł18), Over 60's/Under 21's Ł12 (Ł11), Under 16's Ł7 (Ł6) Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Programme Price
Official Programme: Ł3 Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Hull City, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers. Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the Scunthorpe fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
At Glanford Park: 8,921 v Newcastle United, Championship League, October 20th 2009. At The Old Showground: 23,935 v Portsmouth, FA Cup 4th Round, January 30th, 1954. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 5,021 (League One) 2007-2008: 6,434 (Championship League) 2006-2007: 5,669 (League One) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Glanford Park
Gurjit Dulai (West Bromwich Albion) 28/12/09 Matthew Dean (Tranmere Rovers) 2/5/09 Mark Barber (Charlton Athletic) 2/2/08 David Taylor (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 19/1/08 Chris Clark (Watford) 6/10/07 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Scunthorpe page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.


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