The journey of Scunthorpe United F.C. in the 21st century has been a rollercoaster ride, with the Iron experiencing remarkable successes that many thought were beyond reach and an unexpected drop off. They managed to rise to England’s second tier of football, yet fast forward 18 years, and they find themselves outside the Football League, competing in the National League North!
Throughout their history, Scunthorpe United has given fans unforgettable moments, from recently earning promotion back to the National League to the exhilarating 2007/08 season when they competed in the Championship for the first time. Along the way, several loyal players have gone unnoticed and didn’t receive the recognition they truly deserved at the time.
Fans have travelled across the country to support the Iron, participating in various leagues, competing for trophies in some, and battling against relegation in others. For these fans, spending significant amounts of money to support their team week after week may drive some to explore football-related side hustles to help fund their matchdays. Those searching for a new side hustle often ask, “What is matched betting?” as they embark on a journey that could help finance their footballing passions.
This article will cover five of the most underrated players to play for the Iron.
Paul Hayes
Paul Hayes joined the club in 2002 when Scunthorpe was part of the Third Division. The striker joined from Norwich City, where he spent most of his youth career, but could unfortunately not break into the first team with the Canaries. During his time at Scunthorpe from 2002 to 2005, Hayes scored 28 goals in the 99 appearances he made. Included in these appearances was the promotion season to League One in the 2004/05 season, where he contributed 19 goals. Hayes left for Barnsley but returned after a few years. In his second stint, he rejoined the club in the Championship, although he could not steer them away from relegation. Despite the relegation, Hayes scored 33 goals upon his return to the club in 126 games. Paul Hayes is considered an underrated player for the Iron due to him sometimes being overshadowed by other prolific forwards at the time. Forwards Billy Sharp and Gary Hooper often stole the limelight, making Hayes go under the fans’ radar.
Cliff Byrne
Cliff Byrne was an Irish centre-back who could also play as a right-back and played for the club from 2002 to 2012. He joined from Sunderland after a successful loan spell with the Iron. Cliff Byrne was at the heart of Scunthorpe’s success stories, contributing to a formidable defence with his exceptional leadership skills and tough tackling. During his time at the club, Byrne made over 260 appearances, scoring nine times.
Marcus Williams
Marcus Williams was a left-back who had several spells at the Iron but is best known for his time from 2003 to 2010. The Englishman came through the academy and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2005. Williams matured as a player at the club, contributing to significant matches as a youngster, which helped Scunthorpe United secure vital points that led to their promotion to the Championship. During his first spell at the club, Williams made 166 appearances before leaving for Championship side Reading after declining a contract extension at the Iron. In January 2014, Williams returned to Scunthorpe permanently following a stint at Sheffield United.
Peter Beagrie
Peter Beagrie is a former Scunthorpe United player who played for the club early in the 21st century. He joined the Iron after playing for some English giants. Peter Beagrie began his career at local side Middlesbrough and had spells at clubs such as Everton, Sunderland, Manchester City, and others before arriving at Scunthorpe United. Beagrie was once a prominent name in England’s top flight, with over 150 appearances in the Premier League and more than 75 in the first division. Despite his impressive CV, some Scunthorpe United fans overlook how good Beagrie was for the Iron. He mostly played on the left flank for Scunthorpe and helped contribute to many of the club’s success stories with his 34 goals. As well as this, Beagrie was not just a scorer; Beagrie excelled at crossing and dribbling, which resulted in lots of chances created for his teammates each game.
Jordan Clarke
Jordan Clarke played for Scunthorpe United from 2015 to 2021. Jordan Clarke came through the ranks at his local side, Coventry City, where he left after he was deemed surplus to requirements. He signed for Scunthorpe when they were in League One and played full back or even at centre back for the Iron. Jordan Clarke was also a great leader for Scunthorpe United and put on great displays each week. Clarke excelled most in his 1v1 defending ability; not many players would beat him in a 1v1 scenario, making him a reliable tool for Scunthorpe United. During his later years at Scunthorpe, Clarke was loyal to the club and stayed hard working even when the club was struggling. Clarke parted with the club in 2021 for Oldham Athletic.