Scunthorpe 2-2 Chester: New National League North attendance record set

Glanford Park packed in 7,511 for the sixth tier promotion tussle

Scunthorpe United and Chester set a new National League North attendance record of 7,511 for Saturday's 2-2 draw at Glanford Park.

Aside from Scunthorpe's 2-0 defeat at the Deva Stadium in October, the two former Football League clubs had not played each other in almost 20 years.

But both are trying to make their way up the English football league ladder.

And the meeting of second v fourth in National League North captured the public's imagination.

The new record crowd for the division beats the previous best of 6,311 when Stockport County hosted Spennymoor on their way to promotion in 2019.

It beat the recorded gates at six EFL games in both League One and League Two.

The attendance included 1,142 visiting Chester fans who made the 260-mile round trip across the Pennines.

On the Seals' previous visit in September 2004, they won 2-1 with goals from Kevin Ellison and Phil Bolland.

The Scunthorpe-Chester game ended in a 2-2 draw

This time they led 2-1 again, only to be denied by a late long-range Jacob Butterfield equaliser for the Iron.

Having gone ahead in the first half through Ben Tollitt, much-travelled Irish striker Liam McAlinden levelled with a header, before George Glendon put Chester back in front six minutes later.

But, despite McAlinden then getting sent off a high late tackle, and a mass brawl nine minutes later which brought six yellow cards (two for Scunthorpe, four for Chester), the feisty encounter ended in a draw.

The share of the spoils did neither side any favours as it allowed leaders Tamworth to extend their advantage over second-placed Scunthorpe to 12 points, but having played a game more, while third-placed Chorley won to open up a two-point cushion over Chester and with two games in hand.

The Iron now face successive away trips this week to Darlington and Bishop's Stortford, while Chester's next two games are at home before the trip to leaders Tamworth on Saturday week (16 March).

Chester had an 1,142 away following for the 260-mile round trip to Glanford Park

How did it come to this?

Scunthorpe, who were in the Championship as recently as 2011, ended 72 years in the Football League when they were relegated in 2022, before then dropping down another level last May.

Chester City were relegated from the Football League alongside Luton Town in 2009 before going bust halfway through the following season in the National League, then reforming under their original name Chester FC and starting life back in the eighth tier in 2010.