Getting To Know You - Scunthorpe United

Tom Evans

Squad Number: 1

Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st 11lbs
Born: Doncaster
Career (145 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Sheffield United (0/0), Crystal Palace (0/0), Coventry City [loan] (0/0), Scunthorpe United (145/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27/0
Details: Born in Yorkshire, but with Northern Ireland Youth honours to his name, Evans has become the first choice shotstopper at Glanford Park over the past couple of seasons. He started his career at First Division clubs Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, even enjoying a spell on loan at Premiership Coventry in 1996/7, but did not make a League appearance until joining the Iron the next summer. Having made over 150 appearances at Scunny, Evans only missed the start of last season through injury, but has not missed a game this time around. His debut was a 5-0 defeat in the League Cup to Everton, but last season he managed to keep 15 clean sheets.

Promising young right-back Nathan Stanton

Nathan Stanton

Squad Number: 2

Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Nottingham
Career (119 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Scunthorpe United (119/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 25/0
Details: Stanton made his debut for Scunny as a 16 year-old, narrowly missing out on Mike Farrell’s record as the Iron’s youngest League footballer by only 102 days. At that time he was fresh out of the England Schoolboys set-up, where he had impressed as a centre-back. However, by last season he had been moulded into a right full-back, and it is in that position that he has cemented his place in the starting line-up over the past three-and-a-half years. With a great deal of wealth for such a young player, Stanton is quickly becoming a real leader in the side, and has the necessary pace to cause Damon Searle problems.

Andy Dawson

Squad Number: 3

Position: Defender
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 12lbs
Born: Northallerton
Career (152 League Appearances/ 6 Goals): Nottingham Forest (0/0), Scunthorpe United (152/6)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 26/2
Details: Dawson operates as a left full-back, complimenting Stanton well. Another decent young prospect, he started his career as a trainee at Nottingham Forest, but never got through the tough academy at the City Ground and, having completed a three-month loan spell at Glanford Park, he signed for £50,000 in March 1999. That year was ultimately successful for the club and Dawson as they were promoted to Division Two, and he played almost every game of the ensuing campaign’s relegation. That season saw manager Brian Laws tinker with the idea of switching Dawson to the centre of midfield, but he has reverted to his more familiar role since, and his performances in defence have earned the praise of some higher League clubs, but, like our own Darryl Flahavan, the move has not been effected, and he remains with Scunny for the mean time.

Jamie McCombe

Squad Number: 4

Position: Defender
Age: 19 Height: 6ft 5ins Weight: 12st 5lbs
Born: Pontefract
Career (17 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Scunthorpe United (17/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 18[4]/1
Details: Beanpole of a centre-back who is just a few days short of his 20^th birthday. McCombe was still a scholar during last season, but managed to appear 17 times for the Iron, and went off to Villa Park to have a trial with Premiership Aston Villa. After that highly eventful campaign, he has settled into Scunny’s plans for this year, and had been in the line-up until recently, but he was simply an unused substitute against Rushden & Diamonds on Boxing Day. In his first season as a professional, McCombe looks like a very promising defender, capable of going higher.

Matt Jackson

Squad Number: 5

Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 13lbs
Born: Leeds
Career (108 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Leeds United (19/0), Huddersfield Town [loan] (5/0), Barnsley [loan] (1/0), Scunthorpe United (83/4)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 14[1]/0
Details: Jackson was on the books of Premiership Leeds as a youngster, and under George Graham he made 19 League appearances for the Elland Road club. He was seen as a highly promising talent, and had represented England at Youth level. However, with Graham going to Spurs and assistant David O’Leary succeeding him, Jackson fell out of favour and was farmed out on loan at First Division Huddersfield and Barnsley between 1998 and 2000. He was still searching for a break as a first-team regular in March of 2000, when Brian Laws took him to Glanford Park. He immediately settled in, missing just one game last season, although this year has been tougher with the wealth of young talent in Yorkshire. He has been captain on occasions, and continues to impress when given the chance.

Matthew Sparrow

Squad Number: 7

Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 10st 6lbs
Born: London
Career (46 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Scunthorpe United (46/5)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 23/3
Details: Sparrow was raised in Scunthorpe, and came through the centre of excellence at Glanford Park to establish himself in the starting line-up at the end of last season, having signed professional terms early in 2001. With the ability to play in the centre of defence or in midfield, Sparrow is yet another Scunny talent who looks set to push for honours higher up the Football League. Hard-working, he has become a reliable partner for Alex Calvo-Garcia, and he has once again been at the forefront of matters this season.

Wayne Graves

Squad Number: 8

Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Scunthorpe
Career (73 League Appearances/ 5 Goals): Scunthorpe United (73/5)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 24[2]/0
Details: Local-born lad who has come through the youth ranks along with numerous others to force his way into Brian Law’s plans. Making his debut in the 97/98 season, he then sat out the next year, and struggled to assert himself in the team until this year. The short midfielder has become a regular this season, but not added to his five career goals as he approaches a century of Football League appearances. Broke his foot during last season, but has signed for another year, and continues to stake a claim for inclusion.

Martin Carruthers

Ex-Shrimper Martin Carruthers

Squad Number: 9

Position: Forward
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 13lbs
Born: Nottingham
Career (309 League Appearances/ 82 Goals): Aston Villa (4/0), Hull City [loan] (13/6), Stoke City (91/13), Peterborough United (67/21), York City [loan] (6/0), Darlington (17/2), Southend United (70/26), Scunthorpe United (41/14)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27/12
Details: Carruthers spent nearly two seasons at Roots Hall, signing initially on loan in September 1999, when he scored three goals in six games. That form encouraged then boss Alan Little to sign him for £50,000 from Darlington, and he had managed the striker already at York. He ended up with 29 goals in 83 games for the Shrimpers, including three in six in the LDV Vans Trophy. However, he will forever be remembered, rightly or wrongly, by Blues supporters because of his miss in the Southern Section Final at Griffin Park against Brentford when a goal may just have sent Southend to the Millenium Stadium. He moved on to Scunthorpe in March 2001 for £20,000 and he finished top scorer there last year with 16 goals in total. He has 12 already this time round, and along with Steve Torpey is a huge threat for the Iron. Carruthers started his career at Aston Villa, and Stoke signed him after a goal-every-two games loan spell at Hull. He was not prolific at the Victoria Ground, and moved on to Peterborough (21 in 67) and Darlington (2 in 17) before coming to the Hall.

Steve Torpey

Squad Number: 10

Position: Forward
Age: 32 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 13st 6lbs
Born: Islington
Career (435 League Appearances/ 104 Goals): Millwall (7/0), Bradford City (96/22), Swansea City (162/44), Bristol City (70/13), Notts County [loan] (6/1), Scunthorpe United (94/24)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 25/14
Details: Tall, muscular target man who heads the Scunny scoring charts this season with 14 before the turn of the year. At the ripe old age of 32 he has formed a formidable partnership with Carruthers in a little and large combo that produced 31 goals last year and has 26 this time around. Enjoying the best period of his career since becoming the Iron’s highest transfer when joining from Bristol City for £175,000 in February 2000. Having played more than 450 times, Torpey averages a goal every four matches, including prolonged scoring spells at Bradford and Swansea as well as with the Robins and Scunthorpe. Has started every match since serving out a suspension at the beginning of the season.

Alex Calvo-Garcia

Squad Number: 11

Position: Midfielder
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Ordizia, Spain
Career (186 League Appearances/ 27 Goals): Scunthorpe United (186/27)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 20[2]/1
Details: Creative midfielder who started his career as a striker before being converted by Brian Laws once he had signed from Eibar in Spain. Became an instant hero at Glanford Park when he scored the winner in the 1998/99 Play Off Final at Wembley. Has since continued to contribute vital goals from the centre of the park, and pledged his future to Scunthorpe by agreeing terms for a two-year contract in the summer. Having appeared over 200 times for the Iron, he is another vital member of their squad, and adds to the experience of the side.

Scott Brough

Squad Number: 16

Position: Midfielder
Age: 19 Height: 5ft 5ins Weight: 9st 11lbs
Born: Doncaster
Career (23 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Scunthorpe United (23/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 12[10]/2
Details: Born in the less exotic location of Doncaster, Brough is a tiny attacking-minded midfielder who has been nurtured through the youth ranks at Glanford Park. The vast majority of his matches have been spent sitting, and then coming off of, the bench. He was handed a professional debut as soon as he made his debut, indicating another excellent potential talent in the ranks. With both Lee Hodges and Gareth Sheldon leaving in the summer, Brough has been given more and more exposure to the team this campaign, and now finds himself starting a good deal of games. Has also managed to treble his career goals tally.

Strong target man Steve Torpey

Lee Ridley

Squad Number: 17

Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 10lbs
Born: Scunthorpe
Career (6 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Scunthorpe United (6/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 1[1]/0
Details: Young full-back who deputises for Andy Dawson whenever he is unable to play. Returning from a suspension picked up in the Reserves, Ridley is once again available to Brian Laws as he tries to force his way through the plethora of young defenders that lay ahead of him. Younger brother Steve is also with the club.

Neil Collins

Squad Number: 22

Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 18 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 2lbs
Born: Pontypridd
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Scunthorpe United (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 0/0
Details: The young understudy to Tom Evans should anything happen to the regular custodian. Now installed as the regular substitute ‘keeper, despite tough competition. Yet to make his debut for the Iron.

Lee Featherstone (on loan from Sheffield United)

Squad Number: 26

Position: Midfielder
Age: 19 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 8lbs
Born: Chesterfield
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Sheffield United (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 6[7]/0
Details: Featherstone joined Scunny on loan from Sheffield United in order to get a taste of first-team action. He made his League debut in the 2-1 defeat to Cambridge, and has flitted in and out of the side. Left-sided, he could cause Dave McSweeney or Mark Beard problems at right-back since he has immense stamina and can deliver a wicked cross. He continues to support his own side, the Blades, throughout his time at Glanford Park.

Ian Kilford

Squad Number: 28

Position: Midfiedler
Age: 29 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 6lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (222 League Appearances/ 32 Goals): Nottingham Forest (1/0), Wigan Athletic (221/32)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 6[2]/0
Details: Kilford is an experienced midfield player offered an opportunity to play in Division Three by Brian Laws after he failed to find a club during the summer. The slight and experienced man had spent nine years at Wigan, where he played alongside current Shrimpers boss Rob Newman and Graeme Jones. In fact, the season after Jones’ 32 goals sprung the Latics into Division Two, Kilford reached double figures for the season for the only time. Released by Paul Jewell, the hard-working midfielder was left club-less, and this could be one of his last chances in the game.

Clifford Byrne (on loan from Sunderland)

Squad Number: 29

Position: Defender
Age: 20 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 11lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Sunderland (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 7/0
Details: Amazingly with the depth of defensive talent at his disposal, Brian Laws offered Byrne a loan deal from Premiership Sunderland, and he has so far made seven appearances, his first in League football. He had trials at Scottish clubs Celtic and Hearts as well as Blackburn Rovers before choosing Sunderland in the 1999/2000 season. In his three years at the Stadium of Light he has not yet got onto a Premiership pitch, although he was a fixture in the Reserves. He has captained his country at every age group between Under-15 and Under-18 level.

Robert Craven

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