Scunthorpe United

In Profile: Scunthorpe United, Leicester's Opening Pre-Season Opponents

Leicester City's 2019/20 pre-season schedule begins with a trip to Glanford Park to take on Sky Bet League 2 outfit Scunthorpe United.
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Dating back to 1987, the Foxes are yet to suffer a competitive defeat by the Iron, who they most recently overcame 3-0 in the Championship under Sven-Göran Eriksson eight years ago.

As preparations continue ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, Brendan Rodgers takes his talented Leicester side to North Lincolnshire on Tuesday 16 July (7:30pm BST kick-off).

After profiling City's first five 2019/20 opponents - Wolves, Chelsea, Sheffield United, Bournemouth and Manchester United - LCFC.com nows looks at the sides they will tackle over pre-season.

The manager

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Paul Hurst
Paul Hurst

Paul Hurst's most recent managerial role was a short spell at Ipswich Town.

Ex-Rotherham United left-back Paul Hurst has been in post as Scunthorpe's manager for just under two months after the 44-year-old replaced caretaker Andy Dawson, the former Hull City defender.

During the first four years of his management career, Hurst worked closely with co-manager Rob Scott, whom he shared that role with during spells at Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby Town.

Hurst and Scott won the Northern Premier League play-offs in 2009 (Ilkeston), the Lincolnshire Senior Shield, Northern Premier League play-offs once more and the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup in 2010 (Boston), as well as lifting the Lincolnshire Senior Cup twice (Grimsby).

It was his spell with Shrewsbury Town which perhaps contributed most to him making headlines in the Football League, however, as he guided the Shrews to the Checkatrade Trophy Final in 2018.

Hurst moved to Championship side Ipswich Town in 2018. However, he was dismissed at Portman Road in October following a run of one win in 14, which included a cup defeat by fourth-tier Exeter City.

The squad

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Lee Novak
Lee Novak

Lee Novak has previously played at Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic.

Former Birmingham City striker Lee Novak topped the club's 2018/19 goalscoring charts with 13 efforts in all competitions, an admirable achievement considering the Iron were ultimately relegated.

Youngster Kyle Wootton, on the other hand, also contributed six goals to Scunthorpe's overall tally, while defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was a useful loan acquisition from Manchester United.

Another player to impress while on loan was Leicester City midfielder George Thomas, who made 37 appearances, scoring three goals, placing him joint-fifth in their seasonal scoring charts.

Without Thomas and Borthwick-Jackson, the Iron's squad is likely to undergo a transitional period this summer as the club adapts to life in a new division and with a new manager at the helm.

So far, Scunthorpe have made one addition, Andrew Butler from Doncaster Rovers, who played at Glanford Park between 2002 and 2008 before spells at Huddersfield Town, Walsall and Sheffield United.

The trophy cabinet

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Scunthorpe United win League 1
Scunthorpe United win League 1

Under the management of Steve Adkins, Scunthorpe won League 1 in 2007.

Scunthorpe's most recent trophy came in the form of the League 1 title at the end of the 2006/07 campaign, but they have secured a number of notable achievements since.

As recently as 2014, they finished as runners-up in League 2 and they were also defeated finalists in the 2009 Football League Trophy.

In all, the Iron have won two third-tier titles, while they were also promoted from that level via the play-offs in 2009. Five promotions from the fourth division have also been secured.

The stadium

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Glanford Park
Glanford Park

Scunthorpe have been based at Glanford Park for 31 years.

Glanford Park has been Scunthorpe's permanent home venue since 1988 and was the first purpose-built Football League stadium to be opened in 33 years.

It has a capacity of 9,088 seats and is based on Jack Brownsword Way, named after the club's all-time top appearance-maker (791 outings between 1947 and 1965).

Before moving to Glanford Park, Scunthorpe played at the Old Showground, the first stadium to feature a cantilever stand, between 1899 and 1988.

The record attendance at their current home, meanwhile, came just 11 short of its capacity, due to segregation, during a 5-2 League Cup loss to Manchester United in 2010.

Classic encounter

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Matt Oakley and Nigel Pearson
Matt Oakley and Nigel Pearson

Nigel Pearson guided City to the League 1 title during his first season as manager.

Following a 2-0 win at Southend United, which confirmed Leicester City's promotion to the Championship as League 1 champions, Scunthorpe United were the visitors to Filbert Way in April 2009.

In front of a 30,542-strong home crowd, Michael Morrison scored twice for the Foxes during a 2-2 draw which concluded with Nigel Pearson's men being presented with the trophy.

Morrison followed up Steve Howard's blocked header from a corner to put City 1-0 ahead after 16 minutes, but goals from Paul Hayes and Grant McCann turned the match on its head.

Although promotion and the title had already been secured, Morrison's second goal - a simple close-range finish - ensured a point, leading to memorable celebrations at full-time.

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