An Historic day

Last updated : 06 May 2007 By Luke Thornhill
A sell-out crowd at Glanford Park will see captain Andy Crosby lift the trophy to conclude a season which saw them start as relegation favourites and end as champions.

The match will be preceded by a minute's silence for Corporal Ben Leaning, an Iron fan who was recently killed while serving with the Queen's Royal Lancers in Iraq.

Adkins has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from, and has stressed that the players who will have to be left out of the matchday squad have still played a big part this season.

"I've got a full squad of players and four of them won't even be in the squad and I'm gutted about that," he said.

"I wanted all the players to have their kit on and play some part because the whole squad has contributed this season, it's not just been about 11 players.

"But we're all very much looking forward to it, as much for the fans as anyone else. They have been magnificent for us. They have been part of the team, our 12th man.

"It's a great opportunity for them. They're the life-blood of the club and I want them to thoroughly enjoy singing 'we are the champions' on a historic day."

Although the current campaign is not quite over, thoughts are understandably turning to next season - when Scunthorpe will play in the second tier of English football for the first time since 1963.

"We will analyse where we can improve, and why we have been successful, and try to raise the bar," added Adkins.

"We will prepare for a very demanding season. This year we had just four midweek games, but next season we have 10.

"There will be some teams who will think of Scunthorpe as three points there for the taking. It is up to me to maintain the morale, and for us not to get disappointed if we don't always get the three points we have become used to this season."