Scunthorpe United 6-0 Farsley Celtic (National League North)
News has broken out today that Farsley Celtic will play their next five home league matches 70 miles away at Buxton.
It's not gone down very well at the club, apparently because of some ongoing ground improvements that have been delayed not helped by a Chairman that's often late to pay his bills, rumour is the players have been recently made to wait to get paid too, it all looks very bleak and scenarios like this often only end with one sadly predictable outcome.
Both Farsley and Scunthorpe know all about having it tough, in 2010 after a spell in the fifth tier of English football, Farsley were wound up owing debts of £750,000. Scunthorpe United fell from grace to their lowest current ebb, they ended a 72 year spell in the football league in 2022 and a year later were relegated to the National League North, were on the brink of collapse themselves last year but have since steadied the ship thanks largely to a local business woman named Michelle Harness, it feels the club is now in good hands, it looks to have that community spirit back.
Out the door for 5pm, I'm across the A46 and up the A1/M18 at Doncaster, the nights now drawing in quicker since the clocks went forward on Sunday, it's dark in the east, dusk in the west as I travel north, onto the M180 and M181 before I hit Gallagher Leisure Park KFC for a mega bucket by 6:30pm.
The Venue
I've pulled into the East car park where there's plenty of space, floodlights dim light up the ageing silver steel arena, I love it here, it's minimal maintenance over the years has given Glanford Park a real nostalgic feel, as stadiums go it's crap, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if you love football with the opinion 'it was always better back in my day'. Compare it to a pub, you've got the glitzy nightclubs and wine bars that make up Anfield and Chelsea, the Wetherspoons of this world that are the same in each town, Reading, Leicester, Southampton, Sunderland, soulless bowls that look the same.. Then you got the King Billy Boozer, an old crappy real ale house where the toilets are out of order and the pint glasses are dirty, but you love it more because it just feels better, well that's Scunthorpe.
As I walk around the back of the stadium towards the Main Stand I'm eventually through the turnstile where a man on the gate has my name on a sheet, "it's usually John from your lot" he says. "not tonight" I reply.
I'm up ten or fifteen rows to the press seats, back of the stand with post in view, old flip down tables seemingly sporadically spread, radio Humberside is here, one from Farsley, one from Scunny, otherwise that's it. Slightly comfier corporate seats around me there's a bar serving the beers through the glass window above, the left is filling up behind the goal with a good proportion of fans standing, to the right completely empty but for thirty Farsley fans in one corner and opposite, healthy numbers again for the level, where else in the world would you get over 3,000 supporters for sixth tier sport?
The Game
The decibels are up for 'Hi Ho Scun United' and the game is kicked off by Farsley in green and white Celtic hoops, Scunthorpe more sky blue, than claret, start to control proceedings at slow tempo, they have all of the ball as Pav Singh sets his opponents up in a 532 formation to get men defending in numbers and hopefully, on occasion they'll look to catch Scunny on the break.
That they do when Ross Fitzsimmons has a scare in the home team goal early on, rushing out he's beaten to the ball but is rescued by a defender. Farsley show promise but a long throw in on the far side is launched into the box and headed in from close range by Danny Whitehall which opens up the floodgates.
On 17, Cal Roberts tries his luck from range and the goalkeeper Wooster can only parry into the corner of his net for number two, then Wooster is booked for racing out of his box and chopping down an opponent on the edge of the area, the resulting free kick is saved, it was close to a penalty and a sending off.
It's all Scunny, the fans are loving it, vocal they sing in numbers non stop, a brilliant atmosphere created behind the goal, and a brilliant move caps off a good team goal on 41, Roberts winning the ball in the right back berth before sending Barrows on his way, he crosses to Denton at the back post who volleys powerfully towards goal and his effort is deflected in by Fishburn.
The Score
At half time even the most pessimistic fans around us agree that Farsley aren't up to much, they look like a team who's just been booted out their home and are probably awaiting some overdue pay. Good players, on 17 points in the middle of the table, but they have turned up tonight, expecting to get beat, not really that keen on facing the fight.
The second half feels like a procession, Scunthorpe keep the ball, Farsley sit off, the fans are singing non stop, some subs are made and finally some action, on 69 Whitehall is pushed over inside the box, he picks himself up and makes no mistake from the spot.
More subs are made and one of them, Manny Mampala, for the visitors tries his luck from distance, a shot out of nothing which crashes off the post, it's their best effort of the game for Farsley, but it only kick starts Scunthorpe into more attacking. With five minutes remaining Brogan makes it five, dancing into the area and finishing low, before Evans heads in from close range as Roberts curls in a free kick. 6-0 to Scunny, it's been a one sided evenings football and the Iron go top.
The Stars
When you read through the Scunthorpe team you see plenty of National League experience and they really are a team too good for the level, Ross Fitzsimons in goal played in the 2023 National League playoff final for Chesterfield at Wembley, centre halves Will Evans and Andrew Boyce have League Two experience, Tyler Denton is a player I've always liked at left back, composed, quick, eager to get forward.
In midfield the Iron have some workmanlike footballers but some silk on the ball, captain Michael Clunan is easy on the eye, he was substituted with a few minutes remaining and did a lap of honour taking selfies with fans as he made his way back to the dugout, milking the applause as he went, but he's largely appreciated and certainly gives plenty back. Callum Roberts their key ticket, a number ten who has struggled with injury, who had it tough last season, but who's coming to the front, by far the best footballer in the division.
Then there's Danny Whitehall, who oozes goals every game, a battling striker who has that knack, good size and stature, good workmanlike ethic, and good around the box.
Farsley in fairness weren't as bad as the result perhaps suggests, they had a couple of chances but in the end it felt like their belief was sucked out of them pre game, rather than them not having the ability from a technical level to compete. One of the best players on the park was their midfielder Danny Greenfield who shown elegant touches and passing of varied range, plenty of graft too, whilst youngsters DJ Campton-Sturridge (son of Dean) in attack and Cole Hyde (just eighteen) at right back, provided a real turn of pace.
I liked the blonde haired Robbie Fox who came off the bench and put a shift in up front whilst fellow sub Manny Mampala chose to shoot on sight which wasn't a bad option as he struck a post with a belter. In Darren Stephenson they have a good honest working centre forward, they certainly aren't mugs, if Farsley do go under they'll be plenty of takers for players.
The Verdict
My concern for Farsley, who are after all, a village team, now playing home games 70 miles away where fans (and maybe some players) simply won't be able to follow, it can only end one way, unless the situation is resolved quickly.
The club are actually seven points clear of the relegation places in the National League North, whilst last year their season started well before surviving by the skin of their teeth, things looked much better this time around, but in non league football clubs can nosedive quickly. I fear for their future down to current arrangements, a huge concern to Scunthorpe in their title quest, that this result might even get taken away.
The Teams
Scunthorpe United: Ross Fitzsimons, Brad Nicholson, Will Evans, Andrew Boyce, Michael Clunan (Kian Scales 65), Alfie Beestin (Max Brogan 61), Danny Whitehall (Max Kouogun 75), Callum Roberts, Sam Fishburn (Carlton Ubaezuonu 56), Tyler Denton (Michael Kelly 61), Ross Barrows.
Farsley Celtic: Tom Wooster, Rudy Misambo, Ryan Watson (Dylan Youmbi 46), Ben Atkinson, Darren Stephenson (Manase Mambala 73), Sam Fielding, Tom Allan, DJ Campton-Sturridge (Robbie Fox 56), Danny Greenfield, Bailey Sloane, Cole Hyde.
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 29th October 2024, Glanford Park, Scunthorpe (att 3,329).
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