Matt Sparrow - 7
Midfielder
Born 3/10/1983 Wembley
Midfielder
Born 3/10/1983 Wembley
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Wembley born midfielder Matt Sparrow is another player Brian Laws has youth coach Paul Wilson to thank for.
Sparrow was part of the youth team that reached the Youth final at Wembley. Unfortunately the Iron lost out on penalties to West Brom and Sparrow was one of the unlucky United players to miss from twelve yards.
He broke into the first team as a right winger towards the end of United's time in Division Two making his league debut away at Colchester United. A game the Iron won 1-0 courtesy of a Lee Hodges strike.
Sparrow went on to make 12 more appearances before the end of that season bringing himself to the attention of Brian Laws and the United faithful without really fully establishing himself.
The following season he began to really show what he could do, scoring four goals from 13 appearances and becoming a fans favourite in the process. Yet another star was beginning to emerge from Scunthorpe United's youth system and Sparrow had provided a plus of what had been a very disappointing season.
However, Matt's progress was halted when he got in trouble with the law. On the same day that United travelled to Kidderminster to kick off the 2001/02 season Sparrow was jailed for nine months.
On his return from the scrubs he continued where he had left off, making the right-wing berth his own for the Iron during the last three seasons and will be aiming to play a key part for United in League One next season.
He has now managed to make almost 200 appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals. All this at the tender age of 23.
He broke into the first team as a right winger towards the end of United's time in Division Two making his league debut away at Colchester United. A game the Iron won 1-0 courtesy of a Lee Hodges strike.
Sparrow went on to make 12 more appearances before the end of that season bringing himself to the attention of Brian Laws and the United faithful without really fully establishing himself.
The following season he began to really show what he could do, scoring four goals from 13 appearances and becoming a fans favourite in the process. Yet another star was beginning to emerge from Scunthorpe United's youth system and Sparrow had provided a plus of what had been a very disappointing season.
However, Matt's progress was halted when he got in trouble with the law. On the same day that United travelled to Kidderminster to kick off the 2001/02 season Sparrow was jailed for nine months.
On his return from the scrubs he continued where he had left off, making the right-wing berth his own for the Iron during the last three seasons and will be aiming to play a key part for United in League One next season.
He has now managed to make almost 200 appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals. All this at the tender age of 23.