s r a e y
FA Cup Special
The fairytale runs, the last-gasp winners, the agonising penalty shoot-outs and the giant-killers all make the FA Cup a magical, unpredictable and exciting competition. League Two is home to three winners and feature in this FA Cup special, along with my preview of Grimsby Town, who Scunthorpe faced in the first round. Portsmouth lifted the cup in 2008 and is probably the first team that comes to mind. The other two cup winning sides are Bury and AFC Wimbledon. Bury won the cup twice over a century ago and still hold the record for the biggest victory in the final when they defeated Derby County 6-0. AFC Wimbledon formed out of the flames of the original Crazy Gang, who famously caused what is considered the biggest cup upsets of all time, when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in 1988 to claim the prize.
WORDS: Richard Jones (@rijones88)
Follow @OfficialGTFC to read about our next home opposi�on.
Next at Glanford Park...
GRIMSBY TOWN
WE’RE BACK HERE ON TUESDAY NIGHT FOR OUR FA CUP FIRST ROUND REPLAY AGAINST NEAR NEIGHBOURS GRIMSBY TOWN. Here is our look ahead to the match against the Mariners, who are currently managed by exRotherham defender Paul Hurst.
TELL ME MORE... Grimsby Town have suffered three relega�ons in seven years between 2003 and most recently in 2010, when the Mariners finished 23rd in the fourth �er to drop out the Football League for the first �me in nearly 100 years. Fans have been le� to rue what could have been from the depths of the Conference, a�er Grimsby reached the League Two play-off final in 2006 under then-manager Russell Slade. The game ended in defeat, with a single goal from Cheltenham Town enough to se�le the �e at the Millennium Stadium. Despite a cup run and a visit to Wembley Stadium for the Football League Trophy final, the cracks started to show in the league for Grimsby. The Mariners narrowly escaped relega�on in the 2008/09 season, surviving only because Luton Town had points docked, and a slow start to the following season saw their good fortune run out, with a 25-game winless streak making ma�ers worse. The climax of the season saw Grimsby make a lastditch push for survival, with four wins and a draw, but a 3-0 defeat to Burton Albion on the final day 86 | THE IRON MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
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Here is our look ahead to the match against the Mariners, who are currently managed by exRotherham defender Paul Hurst.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 7.45pm kick-off @ Glanford Park
<> Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst.
of the season confirmed their exit from League Two. Conference life has been tough, with two miserable consecu�ve 11th place finishes making up the first two seasons in the fi�h �er. The club improved last season, finishing fourth to reach the playoffs, only to lose out to Newport County, so the FA Cup �e will be seen as a welcome distrac�on from the league.
STAR MAN... Grimsby’s star striker Ross Hannah a�racted a�en�on a�er winning the Golden Boot two years running; scoring 52 goals in a season and 102 overall for nonleague Matlock Town. Bradford City signed the striker in 2011, but Hannah failed to emulate such frui�ul form and was shipped out on loan. The striker had successful spells at Halifax and Grimsby where he scored nine and ten goals respec�vely, before he signed permanently in January.
TRANSFER BUSINESS... In a bid to brush off
disappointment of the play-off semi-final defeat to Newport County last season, Hurst has brought in no fewer than nine new faces at Blundell Park to have another stab at promo�on. Among the arrivals include a trio of York City players, namely midfielders Patrick McLaughlin, Sco� Kerr and experienced defender Chris Doig, who signed as player-coach. The signatures of Clayton McDonald and Paul Bignot from Port Vale and Blackpool respec�vely have added some steel at the back, while winger Sco� Nielson penned a one-year deal a�er being released by
Conference rivals Luton.
LAST TIME OUT... Before the FA Cup clash ten days ago, the Iron dumped Grimsby Town out the Football League Trophy 2008/09, winning 2-1 to maintain our fi�een-year unbeaten record against The Mariners.
HOW TO GET TICKETS... Full details of how to purchase �ckets for this game can be found on page 85 of THE IRON or by visi�ng Scunthorpe-United.co.uk and clicking the ‘Online Ticke�ng’ tab.
Visit www.twi�er.com/sufcofficial for detailed coverage and fans’ views 24/7
WORDS: Richard Jones (@rijones88)
Follow @AFCWimbledon to read about our next home opposi�on.
Next at Glanford Park...
AFC WIMBLEDON THE IRON ARE BACK IN ACTION HERE A FORTNIGHT ON SATURDAY WHEN THEY ENTERTAIN AFC WIMBLEDON. Here is our look ahead to the match against the Dons, who beat Scunthorpe 3-2 at Kingsmeadow in August.
TELL ME MORE... In 2001, Wimbledon FC announced plans to move the club to Milton Keynes and took the league posi�on of the old ou�it with them, which was later rebranded MK Dons in 2004 - a somewhat cau�ous nod of acknowledgement to what it essen�ally replaced. Aggrieved fans formed AFC Wimbledon in 2001, by those eager to keep the heritage and community of the club alive in South London. The determined Dons won five promo�ons in their first nine seasons and despite forming li�le over a decade ago, the club already have plenty to talk about. AFC Wimbledon holds the longest unbeaten record in English senior football (78 games), which spanned from February 2003 to December 2004. Another feat came in 2007, when MK Dons chairman, Pete Winkelman handed back the collec�on of trophies Wimbledon had won to the London borough of Merton, the original home of the club. The Dons became the Football League’s first fan-owned club, when they won a drama�c penalty 86 | THE IRON MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
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<> Michael Smith celebrates a goal for AFC Wimbledon.
Sam Winnall and Chris Iwelumo’s first half efforts were countered by a determined AFC Wimbledon display. shoot-out against Luton Town in the 2011 Conference play-off final. History was also made in the first game of its kind, when the two halves of the original Wimbledon FC met for the FA Cup in December 2012. MK Dons stole the show at the death, but for a while fans allowed themselves to dream, when Jack Midson’s leveller sent the AFC con�ngent into frenzied celebra�ons. His penalty on the final day of last season against Fleetwood Town also ensured victory and the league status of the club.
STAR MAN... Harry Pell has scored some important goals this season, including his 18-yard leveller against Scunthorpe in the Don’s drama�c 3-2 win from two goals down. The midfielder was released by Charlton Athle�c a�er 11 years, having joined aged seven, but got back on track with Bristol Rovers, where he was awarded Young Player of the Year. Subsequent appearances for Hereford and
Saturday, January 18, 2013 3.00pm kick-off @ Glanford Park
Cambridge United a�racted AFC Wimbledon, who signed him.
ANY OLD IRON’S... Callum Kennedy le� Glanford Park by mutual consent in the summer and joined AFC Wimbledon a�er a poten�al deal with Oxford United fell through. The le�-back began his career at Swindon Town and completed loan spells at Gillingham and Rotherham United during his five seasons at the County Ground. Despite making 23 appearances in the Robins’ 2011/12 League Two-winning season and featuring in the team’s memorable FA Cup third round victory over Wigan Athle�c, Kennedy was released by
the club in May 2012. The 24-yearold joined Scunthorpe a month later and made 18 appearances for the Iron last season.
LAST TIME OUT... Sam Winnall and Chris Iwelumo’s first half efforts were countered by a determined AFC Wimbledon display, as the hosts came from two goals down a�er the break to win 3-2.
HOW TO GET TICKETS... Full details of how to purchase �ckets for this game can be found on page 85 of THE IRON or by visi�ng Scunthorpe-United.co.uk and clicking the ‘Online Ticke�ng’ tab.
Visit www.twi�er.com/sufcofficial for detailed coverage and fans’ views 24/7
WORDS: Richard Jones (@rijones88)
Follow @wwfcofficial to read about our next home opposi�on.
Next at Glanford Park...
BURY FOOTBALL CLUB
OUR NEXT HOME GAME COMES A FORTNIGHT TODAY WHEN BURY MAKE THE TRIP FROM LANCASHIRE TO FACE US AT GLANFORD PARK. Here is our look ahead to the match against David Flitcro�’s side, who play at Gigg Lane.
TELL ME MORE... Opera�on rebuild is firmly underway at Gigg Lane and the first task for recently-appointed manager David Flitcro� is to ensure that the Shakers don’t succumb to a second successive relega�on. Last season was nightmarish for Shakers fans, as the club teetered on the very brink of existence and faced financial meltdown, a transfer embargo, 16 released players and relega�on from League One. In fact, the club was just hours from being closed down and needed £1million to survive. Salva�on came in the form of property developer Stewart Day, who became chairman and invested funds to steady the ship. Since the takeover was announced in May 2013, the debts have been paid off and the transfer embargo li�ed, complete with a busload of new squad arrivals. All of which have proved vital to the func�onality of the club, not least the new signings, because Bury could not even muster up enough players for a team in May, with just eight squad members. As a result, the summer transfer market proved busy, as they filled 86 | THE IRON MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
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Although things are starting to look up for the Shakers, the chairman has told fans to expect a steady, structured revival. This season the focus is to retain Football League status and the team gelling. the gaps le� by the exodus. A total of 25 trialists from numerous countries including Spain, Italy, and Brazil descended upon Gigg Lane, while 17 permanent signings and four loan deals were completed. Although things are star�ng to look up for the Shakers, the chairman has told fans to expect a steady, structured revival. This season the focus is to retain Football League status and the team gelling, while next term will simply be to build on it.
STAR MAN... In recent years, Daniel Nardiello has become an increasingly prolific goalscorer. The striker found the net 19 �mes while playing for Exeter to make him a fans’ favourite and earned a move to Rotherham United in 2012, where he was top scorer and helped the Millers to promo�on. Despite this, the striker found himself down the pecking order and joined Bury in
Saturday, April 12, 2014 3.07pm kick-off @ Glanford Park
<> Bury manager David Flitcro�.
November, where he has since been lethal in front of goal for the Shakers.
ANY OLD IRON’S... Richard Hinds joined Scunthorpe permanently following a loan spell from Hull in 2005 and featured for two seasons at Glanford Park; one of which was the 2006.07 League One-winning campaign. The defender, who has also played for Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Lincoln City joined Bury last summer from Yeovil Town. Fellow defender Jimmy McNulty has had two Iron loan spells; his first was to reignite his career a�er rupturing a kidney and his second was cut short when he
suffered an ankle injury. Chris Sedgwick has also featured briefly for Scunthorpe, when he made a handful of appearances last season.
LAST TIME OUT... Despite a two-goal lead courtesy of Sam Winnall, Bury bounced back with late strikes from Chris Sedgwick and Daniel Nardiello to grab a point at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
HOW TO GET TICKETS... Full details of how to purchase �ckets for this game can be found on page 85 of THE IRON or by visi�ng Scunthorpe-United.co.uk and clicking the ‘Online Ticke�ng’ tab.
Visit www.twi�er.com/sufcofficial for detailed coverage and fans’ views 24/7
WORDS: Richard Jones (@rijones88)
Follow @officialpompey to read about our next home opposi�on.
Next at Glanford Park...
PORTSMOUTH
WE’RE BACK HERE A FORTNIGHT TODAY WHEN PORTSMOUTH MAKE THE TRIP TO FACE US AT GLANFORD PARK. Here is our look ahead to the match against Pompey, who are now managed by ex-Iron youth coach Richie Barker.
TELL ME MORE... Perennial strugglers Portsmouth have endured three relega�ons and two administra�ons which almost wiped out the club completely, but now - almost at rock bo�om - it seems the only way is up. That is owing to the never-say-die a�tude of Pompey and its fans. Of the thousands of supporters who followed their team to FA Cup victory in 2008, many have remained fiercely loyal and dug deep to save the club. A total of 14 months was spent in con�nuous administra�on and at points the club had just a 50/50 chance of survival, as a mass exodus of players and staff ensued. Three consecu�ve months passed in 2010 where players and staff went unpaid, while points were deducted as Pompey slid down the league tables with no real escape plan un�l the blue half of Hampshire and beyond took ma�ers into their own hands and formed the Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust. The Trust won a High Court ruling to become the largest community-owned club just weeks before their poten�al expulsion from the Football League as thousands bought 86 | THE IRON MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
Saturday, February 22, 2014 3.00pm kick-off @ Glanford Park
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<> Portsmouth manager Richie Barker has begun rebuilding his squad.
Of the thousands of supporters who followed their team to FA Cup victory in 2008, many have remained fiercely loyal and dug deep to save the club. shares cos�ng £1,000 each. With the true interests of the club and the fans now at the heart of every decision, the long process of rebuilding and recruitment has begun. The squad that was le� depleted by large-scale departures has been filled with the promo�on of several academy players, who the club will hope can emulate the success of ace Jed Wallace, while arrivals such as defender Nicky Shorey and striker Patrick Agyemang bring some muchneeded experience to the ranks.
STAR MAN... Jed Wallace’s solo effort against York City was voted by Portsmouth fans as their goal of 2013 and is one of many performances demonstra�ng why he is one to watch. He picked the ball up inside his own half and weaved through a series of players, then fired home to showcase his ability. Wallace has become a key part of Pompey’s
first team and he has also represented England U19s.
ANY OLD IRON’S... Andy Barcham began his football career at To�enham and, in four years at White Hart Lane, made a solitary Spurs appearance in the League Cup fourth round against Port Vale in November 2006. The midfielder completed loan spells at Leyton Orient and then Gillingham, to whom he made a permanent switch. Three seasons later, Barcham signed for Scunthorpe and made 84 appearances over two campaigns for the Iron and was top scorer in the 2011/12 season. The South Coast was his next stop when he
signed a three-year deal with Pompey a�er par�ng company with Scunthorpe in the summer.
LAST TIME OUT... Dave Syers levelled just minutes a�er Tom Craddock’s first-half opener to kill Pompey’s celebra�ons and piled further misery on the Fra�on faithful when he made it 2-1.
HOW TO GET TICKETS... Full details of how to purchase �ckets for this game can be found on page 85 of THE IRON or by visi�ng Scunthorpe-United.co.uk and clicking the ‘Online Ticke�ng’ tab.
Visit www.twi�er.com/sufcofficial for detailed coverage and fans’ views 24/7
richardliamjones@live.com @rijones88