1. Scunthorpe United 2005 2006 review

3. Scunthorpe’s impressive start to the season, which saw Laws rewarded with the Manager of The Month accolade, continued throughout the opening months, with just a smattering of defeats to prove they weren’t invincible A superb run of results saw United claim top spot from mid November to the end of December, going into the Christmas fixtures a staggering 7 points clear of nearest rivals Yeovil In the league the team were flying with a settled and solid back four, a tight but creative midfield and a front two firing on all cylinders. But it was not just Torpey and Hayes that contributed to the goals scored column on the table, goals were flying in from all areas most noticeably of all from impressive centre back, who went on to weigh in with 10 goals for his club in his first full season The Cups also provided United with some much needed financial incentive and despite early exits in the Carling Cup and LDV Vans Trophy, the FA Cup once again proved United’s golden carrot. Having swept aside League 1 boys Chesterfield in the First Round, a home draw with struggling Wrexham provided an eye catching prospect and was a game that brought the Sky cameras to Glanford Park and a helpful £50,000 to United’s coffers. In front of the national audience the boys excelled and recorded an impressive 2-0 victory. Nobody could then predict however the exciting reward that victory brought as fans, players, and manager alike waited anxiously for their team to be drawn in the 3rd round draw, Scunthorpe weren’t out yet and neither were some of the Premiership big boys, it was too much to dream, would this be the year that we got one of the big guns??

5. Immediately after the Stamford Bridge adventure was a somewhat more mundane occasion against Bury at home, and those fair weather fans and glory seekers were noticeable by their absence. The game itself turned out to be something of a thriller United eventually emerging 3-2 winners. But the alarm bells were already ringing, and January February and March, saw the Iron go through something of a sticky patch at just the wrong time. Hayes firepower in front of goal had dried up somewhat after his exploits at Chelsea. United lacked a cutting edge up front and were in danger of losing the top 3 place they had held since day 1. The signing of Andy Keogh who had previously enjoyed a successful loan spell earlier in the season was a timely boost upfront and the performances of Richard Hinds made up for the big loss of Andy Butler who suffered an ankle injury. February was a desperately harsh month for Scunthorpe with no fewer than 4 tough away trips. The double blow of losing twice in a week to their nearest promotion rivals Swansea and Yeovil was worsened by further defeat to Wycombe, though a point at fellow promotion chasers Southend proved useful. United’s excellent home record saw them through their sticky patch relatively unscathed still clinging to the top 3. Bizarrely the top 3 trio all suffered and it was Southend who were threatening to break the stranglehold grip of Yeovil Swansea and Scunthorpe. Scunthorpe celebrate Andy Butler’s goal against Yeovil

7. Scunthorpe couldn’t have asked for a tougher match to ‘bounce back’ into the position they so richly deserved, travel-sick United hadn't won on the road since the 3-1 success at Rushden before Christmas, so even the most optimistic Iron couldn’t really see them returning from in form and play off chasing Northampton Town. After just five minutes, United’s promotional credentials were under serious threat and scrutiny when Kirk lobbed Musslewhite to make it 1-0 and leave the United faithful fearing the worst. They needn’t have worried. Scunthorpe finally stepped up a gear and played more akin to the first half of the season when they tore teams apart. First Hayes wriggled free to poke home to make it 1-1 before some excellent play saw Richard Kell score what proved to be the winning goal. There first away triumph since Christmas and by far the most important. United had well and truly recaptured their form at exactly the right moment. The success at Northampton was followed up by a thumping home victory 4-0 against doomed to the conference Cambridge. The win was sweetened further by the welcome return of centre back Andy Butler. Scunthorpe were back in business. A win at local rivals Grimsby would see the Iron return to the top of the table. Although they didn’t quite manage that producing a somewhat dour 0-0 draw, the important thing was United’s destiny was firmly in their own hands, going into the final 2 games of the season. Sparrow scores against Cheltenham Taylor enjoys his strike in the 4-0 success against Cambridge Hayes is mobbed by delighted team mates at Northampton

8. Their final home game looked set to be something of a nail biter against Bristol Rovers. It was more than comfortable, an early brace by Steve Torpey was swiftly followed up by a lovely lob from Paul Hayes and a dipping header by Cleveland Taylor. The resounding 4-0 victory was not enough to secure promotion however but did mean a point from the final away game against Shrewsbury would be enough to ensure the Iron would be playing League 1 football next season. Incredibly going into the season’s final fixtures, any of the top 4 could still be crowned champions,let alone win promotion. It was a somewhat nail biting game against Shrewsbury that didn’t really live long in the memory. The scenes at the final whistle certainly did though. A 0-0 draw meant the Iron clinched promotion in 2nd place and the party started. The one noticeable absentee Richard Kell who had devastatingly broken his leg for the second time whilst with the Iron against Bristol Rovers the previous week, was not forgotten by players or fans and was in everybody’s thoughts having played a pivotal role in clinching promotion. Just 2,000 Scunthorpe fans were there to celebrate on the momentous day and an open top bus tour and civil ceremony were hastily arranged for Scunthorpe to come out and salute their heroes. Hayes, Sparrow and the rest of the team celebrate promotion at Shrewsbury Crosby and Butler aboard the open top bus

21. Huddersfield Demolition Richie Ryan on the attack Beagrie celebrates with Scunthorpe’s young guns Keogh is mobbed by delighted team mates after bagging the Iron’s fourth. Sparrow celebrates his strike with the rest of the team. Job well done: The teen terrors salute each other’s work