The 2025–26 Scunthorpe United F.C. season was Scunthorpe United's 127th in existence, and the club's first season back in the National League after promotion from the National League North in the 2024-25 season. It was Andy Butler's second season in charge of Scunthorpe since his appointment as manager on 3 May 2024.
The club competed in the National League, the FA Cup, the FA Trophy, and the National League Cup.
On 3 May 2026, Scunthorpe were beaten by eventual play-off final winners Rochdale in the play-off semi-finals. Andy Butler's side had progressed from the qualifying round after a 1-0 win over Southend United, but fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Crown Oil Arena.
Pre-season and friendlies On 26 May 2025, the club announced that 14 players contracted for the previous season would remain at the club, with Sam Fishburn, Jason Law, and Fin Shrimpton all leaving the club. Two loan players, Mo Fadera and Oli Rose, also returned to their parent clubs after loan deals.
The club signed their first two players on 9 June 2025, 22 days after their promotion from the National League South, welcoming back former-academy products Joey Dawson from Celtic, and Declan Howe from Gainsborough Trinity. Both players joined on free transfers, with the club confirming several more signings before the end of the transfer window.
Scunthorpe United confirmed 8 pre-season friendlies against Bottesford Town, Appleby Frodingham, Cleethorpes Town, Alfreton Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Skegness Town, Spennymoor Town, and Worksop Town.
Competitions Scunthorpe United competed in the National League in the 2025–26 season, as well as in three cup competitions, joining the FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round, the FA Trophy in the third round, and the National League Cup in the group stage.
National League
Results summary
Matches – Regular season Scunthorpe United's fixtures were announced on 9 July 2025.
On 2 September 2025, Scunthorpe United's match against Eastleigh was abandoned in stoppage time after a collision between Eastleigh defender Archie Harris and Scunthorpe defender Jéan Belehouan. It was later announced by the National League that the game would be replayed in full at a later date.
Just four days later, Scunthorpe United's home fixture against Wealdstone was also abandoned after the Wealdstone players allegedly refused to resume play after an injury to forward Daniel Nkrumah. The National League announced that the three points would be awarded to Scunthorpe, but that the game would go down as a 0-0 draw.
Play-offs
Scunthorpe United entered the play-offs after finishing 5th in the National League. This meant they would face the team who finished in 6th, which was Southend United. After defeating Southend 1-0 thanks to a Callum Roberts goal, Scunthorpe traveled to face Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena.
FA Cup On 29 September 2025, Scunthorpe were drawn at home to King's Lynn Town in the FA Cup fourth round qualifying.
FA Trophy
On 17 November 2025, Scunthorpe were drawn at home against National League North side Peterborough Sports, with the game set to take place on 13 December 2025.
National League Cup
On 14 July 2025, Scunthorpe were drawn into Group D of the 2025–26 National League Cup, alongside Boston United, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead, Newcastle United U21, Leeds United U21, Sunderland U21, and Middlesbrough U21. Due to the format of the competition, Scunthorpe would play four home games in the group stage, against the under 21 sides in the group, which was the case for Boston, Halifax, and Gateshead.
Squad statistics NameLeaguePlay-offsFA CupFA TrophyNational League CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKMaison Campbell500000001060002DFOliver Rose1+41000000102+41103DFBranden Horton33+302020304044+30814DFJéan Belehouan12+11120101+112018+122305DFWill Evans25+302010100+1029+40706DFAndrew Boyce32+100+1010302038+20717FWDeclan Howe15+1690+211+10322221+1914208MFAlfie Beestin23+1770+201+10201027+207809FWDanny Whitehall34+51620100+210037+7177010MFCallum Roberts36+3172122311044+3214011MFJoe Rowley4312020201+1050+1112012GKLouis Jones130200020101800014FWPat Jones7+31200000009+312015DFZain Tahir4000000000400017MFOli Ewing37+33201+101+201042+631018MFMax Brogan0+1000000+112+102+210020MFKian Scales5+1600+201+10104011+1906021DFJoe Starbuck28+71001+102+102+1033+1012122FWJoey Dawson4+8100100+103+118+1022023FWKyle Hurst4+10000000004+100024MFHarry Shipstone0+1000000+200+200+500025MFZain Westbrooke31+32201+102+100+2036+726027DFJonathan Gjoshe000000000+200+201030GKKian Johnson0000000010100032MFConnor Smith5+90000010006+901033DFTyler Denton37+3020100+103043+408038GKRory Mahady180001010002003044DFRoss Barrows10+900+20002+101013+12011Player(s) who featured but departed the club during the season:14FWCarlton Ubaezuonu5+244000+21313+1211+2783015MFDubem Eze0+30000+100+121+301+820016FWAidan Dausch2+140000000002+1401016FWTyrell Sellars-Fleming9+550021000+2111+773019FWMark Beck1+500000002+113+610023FWBilly Chadwick3+510000003+106+610028FWAramide Oteh0000000011110030FWLeo Farrell4+34000000004+340031GKRory Watson900010001011000
Transfers In DatePos.NameFromFee1 July 2025DF Jéan Belehouan GatesheadFree1 July 2025FW Joey Dawson CelticFree1 July 2025MF Oli Ewing Leicester CityFree1 July 2025DF Branden Horton GatesheadFree1 July 2025FW Declan Howe Gainsborough TrinityFree1 August 2025DF Oliver Rose Peterborough UnitedUndisclosed6 September 2025DF Jonathan Gjoshe Corinthian-CasualsFree13 September 2025GK Kian Johnson Gainsborough TrinityFree2 December 2025FW Aramide OtehUnnattachedFree15 January 2026MF Connor Smith Hamilton AcademicalUndisclosed10 March 2026FW Pat Jones ChesterUndisclosed
Out DatePos.NameToFee26 December 2025FW Aramide Oteh Braintree TownFree10 March 2026FW Carlton Ubaezuonu King's Lynn TownUndisclosed
Loaned out Date fromDate toPos.NameTo1 October 20253 November 2025DF Jonathan Gjoshe Bottesford Town8 November 20252 January 2026FW Mark Beck Alfreton Town8 November 20257 December 2025MF Max Brogan Cleethorpes Town3 January 202631 May 2026FW Mark Beck Gateshead6 January 20263 March 2026MF Kian Scales Radcliffe14 January 202626 April 2026MF Max Brogan Leamington22 January 202631 May 2026GK Kian Johnson Grimsby Borough6 February 202631 May 2026GK Maison Campbell Bradford Park Avenue6 February 202626 March 2026FW Declan Howe Altrincham20 February 202622 March 2026FW Joey Dawson Buxton
Loaned in Date fromDate toPos.NameFrom1 July 20251 January 2026MF Dubem Eze Bolton Wanderers14 July 20251 January 2026FW Billy Chadwick York City19 July 202531 October 2025GK Rory Watson York City16 September 20258 January 2026FW Tyrell Sellars-Fleming Hull City1 October 202531 May 2026GK Rory Mahady Leeds United1 October 202531 May 2026MF Zain Westbrooke Doncaster Rovers8 January 202631 May 2026FW Kyle Hurst Doncaster Rovers7 February 202631 May 2026FW Aidan Dausch Coventry City28 February 202628 March 2026FW Leo Farrell Barnsley28 February 202631 May 2026DF Zain Tahir Sheffield United
Released / Out of contract DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin date1 July 2025MF Michael Clunan King's Lynn Town1 July 20251 July 2025FW Sam Fishburn Blyth Town1 July 20251 July 2025GK Ross Fitzsimons Northampton Town1 July 20251 July 2025DF Michael Kelly Boston United1 July 20251 July 2025DF Maxim Kouogun Hartlepool United11 July 20251 July 2025MF Jason Law Stamford9 August 20251 July 2025MF Finley Shrimpton Chester1 July 2025
References