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| Image source: Damon Campion/ Scunthorpe United |
Saturday witnessed many milestones. It marked the first time I have missed the coach to an away game – so I cannot comment of the actual game itself. It saw our biggest away win since 2013, the season we won promotion to the third tier.
Most importantly, Irish striker Paddy Madden broke into the all time top goalscorers of the club, finally overtaking John Eyre who netted 59 times for the iron from 1994-1999.
Madden’s brace at Home Park made his tally up to 60 goals after 172 appearances. This gives Madden a goals : game ratio of 0.35 goals per game.
Comparatively, current Wycombe striker Paul Hayes found the net on 80 occasions in 282 matches, leaving his goals per game at 0.28. Of course, Hayes featured in the championship for United so take that with a pinch of salt.
The Irishman signed from then-championship side Yeovil Town for a reported fee of £300,000. This means each goal has amounted to £5,000, although I’m sure this sum will lessen over the coming months.
He began during the second half of the League Two season which saw us go 28 unbeaten. During this time, he largely played second fiddle to main man Sam Winnall, who ended that term with the golden boot.
His most prolific season came in 2015-16 when he tallied 23 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions. A joint-record high for his career over a single season.
You may be wondering how far Madden can climb in that list. If he is able to notch 20 more over the coming season, he would be joint fourth with the aforementioned Hayes. In the process he would pass John Gregory (69), Jack Haigh (71), Tony Daws (72), Steve Torpey (74) and 5th placed Gordon Brown (75).
No doubt Paddy will have these records in his sights this season as he continues to lead the line for the Iron and he’ll be eager to further write his name into Scunthorpe United history.
Any Old Iron 