The highlight of Scunthorpe United's short history as a Football League club came not long after they were admitted in 1950.

The Iron FC, formed in 1899 after two other teams joined forces, spent the first eight years of their League existence in the Third Division North, but then in 1957-58 Scunthorpe United marched to the title and proceeded to enjoy a six-year stay in the Second Division.

Scunthorpe United achieved their highest League placing in 1961-62 when they came fourth, but two years later they dropped out of the second tier and did not return until 2007, spending the intervening years alternating between the third and fourth levels.

The Iron FC hit their worst patch in 1982 when they finished second bottom of the League and had to seek re-election.

It was not all doom and gloom, though. In the late 1960s the Iron FC included the likes of future Liverpool and England players Ray Clemence and Kevin Keegan, while in the 1980s England cricketing maestro Ian Botham turned out for them.

Then in 1998 the Old Show Ground was demolished and Scunthorpe United moved to a brand new stadium on the outskirts of the town called Glanford Park.

A year earlier Brian Laws had been appointed manager and it was this move that heralded The Iron FC next impressive run.

After narrowly avoiding relegation in 2004, Laws steered Scunthorpe united FC into second place a year later and promotion to League One.

Club physio Nigel Adkins took over from Laws in November 2006 and made an immediate impact, guiding the Iron FC into the Championship.

With Billy Sharp netting 30 League goals, Scunthorpe united FC broke a host of records for the number of games unbeaten, away games unbeaten and consecutive victories in chalking up 91 points.

The Iron FC got off to a good start in 2007-8, with the side spending the first third of the campaign in the top half of the division, but they slid down the table and relegation was sealed three weeks before the end of the season.