I used to like the Old Show Ground, home as it was to the league’s first cantilever stand, and another effort that looked like it had been designed in a Blue Peter stand making competition, components being four pipe-cleaners and an upturned shoe-box.

Typically with new grounds eccentricity bowed to bland functionality, and Glanford Park was erected miles out of town, in a comparative pub-less wilderness.

The good news for drivers is that it’s handy for the motorway, and there are a couple of outlets right at the ground. The “Iron Bar” is attached to the stadium (like the Bescot Bar pre new stand), but I have to confess I’ve never been in, and The Old Farmhouse pub-eatery is right on the doorstep.

There the good news ends, as the latter is owned by Spirit Group, and is as unlike an Old Farmhouse as you could possibly get.

Spirit Group is the chain who unleashed the Wacky Warehouse brand on humanity. If for some reason you are staying the weekend and have a toddler at your disposal they do entertainment with Button the Clown every Friday morning at 9.30 AM. Why? Because this is Scunthorpe 21st century style.

There is also a miserable bouncer to contend with on matchdays, probably the same bloke who dresses up as Button on Fridays.

A better option is to walk down Doncaster Road towards the distant town where the cavernous Berkeley will rise majestically into view within four minutes. It’s a bit like the Leaking Boot at Grimsby only twice as big. This pub is also quite cheap, after a few seconds marvelling at the architecture you can get a pint from about £1.40, must be a North Lincolnshire thing.

Train travellers have more choice as the station is in the town centre, and in the area where one would enjoy a bevy before a game at the old ground. Exit left and then take a right into Oswald Road. There you will find a real gem in The Honest Lawyer.

From the outside it looks like an old fashioned sweet shop, inside reveals a fine selection of real ales from the local area, big screen, and decent grub. There is a separate restaurant upstairs, but the gaffer also does lighter bar meals. Pity the ground is now two miles away instead of five minutes around the corner.

Upon leaving head up Oswald Rd. to the garish blue painted Wetherspoons (Blue Bell). Don’t forget to allow time for the slowness/absence of bar staff and the possible “toilet on another floor” conundrum as you are still a good bus ride from the stadium. However it’s an above average Wetherspoons and is not far from the required bus stop.

To reach said stop continue up Oswald Road to Doncaster Road and turn left and it’s near the corner of Deyne Avenue (next street), number 341. The supermarket on the right is where the old ground used to stand for those that want to pay their respects as the bus flashes past.