This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the
No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
Deadly duo: Paul Hayes formed a prolific partnership with Gary Hooper. Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger Ross Gibson, of anyoldiron1.blogspot.co.uk,
selects Scunthorpe's five best No9s… and one to forget!
5. Paul Hayes (2002-05 &
2007-10)
Despite his nickname happily rhyming with lazy, giving potential
detractors plenty of ammunition, the brilliant playmaker was an
instrumental part in some of the best forward lines Scunthorpe
United have seen during the past 50 years. He scored 60 goals for
us across his spells and was integral to Gary Hooper's blossoming
career. Never have I known a modern Bosman transfer so needless as
his departure from us back in 2010.
4. Jack Haigh
(1952-60)
A brilliantly talented inside-forward for us, back in the
successful first decade of our Football League status, when
anything seemed possible. Having signed him from Liverpool, the
expectations of the affable Yorkshireman, born John but
affectionately known as Jack, were enormous, and he certainly
delivered over a fantastic eight-year spell. Indeed, 329 games and
66 goals tell only half the story!
3. Steve Cammack (1979-81 &
1982-87)
Rather like Hayesy (5th), Steve was an idol at Scunthorpe across
two prolific spells, but sadly couldn't replicate this elsewhere in
his career. He was, and remains, incredibly popular with the fans
and sits atop our record of all-time Scunthorpe top scorers. In
fact, he is the only striker to have reached more than 100 goals
for us. His 110 goals in 245 games were a thing of beauty in an
otherwise very barren spell historically for Scunthorpe United. A
true Iron legend.
2. Kevin Keegan
(1968-71)
Now, we all know who he is. After Keegan was turned down by
Coventry City for being too small, Scunthorpe were the very
grateful recipients of all the style, power and finesse that King
Kev - even as a wiry youngster standing just 5ft 8in - brought to
us. Later representing England more than 60 times and twice winning
the European Player of the Year, Keegan was the ultimate attacking
linkman and lynchpin before the position became popular.
1. Barrie Thomas (1959-62 &
1964-66)
The one, the only. A standby option for England's 1962 World Cup
squad, Barrie fired us to the top of the old Second Division back
in 1962 prior to his departure, and was famously described by Jack
Charlton as one of only two opposing strikers he'd found literally
unplayable. Another mercurial wizard over two spells with us
scoring 93 goals - people have still never forgiven the Wharton
family for selling Thomas when promotion to the top flight for the
first time in our history seemed assured. Instead, he was flogged
to Newcastle and our season fell apart. Oh Barrie, what might you
have lead us to?
And the worst…
Tommy Johnson
(2005-06)
As any football fan ever knows, there's always plenty of talent
out there in the footballing world, but picking the right player at
the right time is easier said than done. We definitely didn't do
that when it came to Tommy Johnson. Having arrived back in the
summer of 2005, the idea was that he was going to replace the
wonderful Paul Hayes and thrust us to safety in the third tier for
the first time in more 35 years. Fat chance of that happening, it
seemed. All those years of playing for Celtic, Everton, Derby
County, Aston Villa and so on were long past him when he came to us
aged 34, balding and miles overweight, although he did give hope to
all middle-aged men in thinking that a football career might not
just be past them yet! Johnson played 14 games, and scored one
goal. It's a good job we managed to find Billy Sharp and Andy Keogh
that season.
Follow Ross on Twitter @anyoldironblog