Former Championship club win promotion to National League as fans go wild after nightmare decade

SCUNTHORPE UNITED have been promoted back to the National League after a two-year absence.

The Iron saw off Chester in a pulsating North playoff at Glanford Park on Sunday.

Scunthorpe fans invaded the pitch after beating Chester 2-1 on Sunday

Daniel Whitehall and Connor Woods both found the net as the game ended 1-1 and headed into extra time.

Scunthorpe’s Carlton Ubaezuonu proved to be the hero, smashing in the winner in the 105th minute.

The goal sparked wild scenes of jubilation amongst a fanbase starved of success over the past decade.

The Iron were in the as recently as 2008 but have endured a dramatic slide down the pyramid in recent years.

They fell out of the EFL in 2022 after financial issues

Scunthorpe continued to slide and dropped to the National League North a season later.

Sunday’s promotion is their first since 2014 when they finished second in League Two.

Thousands flocked onto the Glanford Park pitch to celebrate, with the game coming a year after heartbreak on penalties against Boston United.

Local businesswoman in October 2023, with boss Andy Butler paying tribute after the win.

Butler, a former Scunthorpe player, told the BBC: “It’s brilliant. I’m excited for Michelle... for everyone who has brought the club back to life.

“For the players, the fans, the town. It was a tough, tough game.

“Chester gave everything they had. I said [Ubaezuonu] would score goals – and he’s got the winner.

“It was a team effort. We got a lot of players going through the pain barrier. We had to dig deep.

“I’m so chuffed for the whole town.”;;