13 minute read
Today’s Opposition: Mansfield Town
TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION MANSFIELD TOWN
THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and became Mansfield Wesley in 1906, before changing to Mansfield Town in 1910. Playing in local leagues up until World War I, the club moved into Field Mill, currently known as the One Call Stadium, just after the war. It has been used as a football ground since 1861 making it the oldest football ground in the world that hosts professional football. In 1921, the club was admitted into the Midland Counties League. Having applied to join the Football League every year since 1923, the club were finally accepted into the league in 1931, joining Division Three (South) at the expense of Newport County. Due to their central location, Mansfield often found themselves moving between the two regional divisions when it was necessary to even up numbers. In 1961 they were relegated to the Fourth Division but regained their place in Division Three in 1963. The 1970s started badly with relegation to the Fourth Division but championships in 1975 and 1977 took them all the way up to the Second Division but their stay only lasted one season and the Stags were back in the Fourth Division in 1980. In 1986 Mansfield were promoted again and stayed in the third Division for five seasons before being relegated, promoted and relegated again in successive seasons 1991 to 1993. The Stags managed promotion again in 2002 only to suffer the same fate of immediate relegation. At the end of the 2007–08 season, the Stags lost their Football League place and were relegated to the National Conference ending a 77-year stay. After five seasons in the Conference, Mansfield won the Conference title and returned to the Football League in 2013. Since then Mansfield have remained in League Two with mostly mid-table finishes apart from the 2018-19 season where after a fourth place finish, they lost to Newport County on penalties in the play-off semi-final. After a 21st place finish last season, this campaign didn’t start too well for the Stags with just two wins in their first 19 games, but a unbeaten run since just before Christmas including an impressive five game winning streak has seen Nigel Clough’s side turn it round, and they now sit comfortably in mid table just below Town.
FOUNDED 1897
NICKNAME The Stag’s
THE ONE CALL STADIUM Capacity 9,186
RECORD SCORER Harry Johnson - 114 (1931-36)
RECORD APPEARANCES Rod Arnold - 513 (1970-71, 1972-84)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID £160k Otis Khan To Yeovil Town 2018 (officially “undisclosed” so information may be incorrect)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED £655K Colin Calderwood By Swindon Town/ Tottenham Hotspur in 1993
THE STAG’s PLAYING SQUAD
BETWEEN THE STICKS
1. Marek Štěch
Signing in July 2020 after his release from Luton Town, the Czech began his career in the youth system of Sparta Prague before signing for West Ham United in 2006 at the age of 16. Štěch had loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth in 2009 and at Yeovil Town and Leyton Orient in 2011–12, and after just three League Cup appearances in total for the Hammers joined Yeovil Town in July 2012. In Summer 2014, he moved back to Sparta Prague for three years before signing for Luton Town in June 2017. Štěch has one full cap for the Czech Republic.
31. Aidan Stone
Joining the Stags in June 2019 from Burnley where he spent his youth career, the 21-year-old ended the 2019-20 campaign as Mansfield’s first choice ‘keeper, making three league appearances before the premature end to the season. This season, he has had to be patient again but has started the last six league games.
AT THE BACK
2. Corey O’Keeffe
Signing in August 2020 from Birmingham City, the 22-yearold joined the Blues Academy in 2008 and came up through the ranks before making his senior debut in 2016 in the Championship. Whilst at St Andrews, he spent time on loan at Solihull Moors in 2018 and at Macclesfield Town last season before being released by Birmingham and joining the Stags. He has 19 caps for Ireland at under 17, 18 and 19 levels.
Aidan Stone
3. Mal Benning
Originally signing in July 2015, the 27-year-old is in his sixth season at Mansfield and racked up 175 total appearances for the club. Having graduated through the academy ranks at Walsall, he signed his first pro contract in 2011, and after a loan spell at Evesham United, went on to feature on more than 50 occasions for the Saddlers. Prior to joining Mansfield, he spent time on loan at York City in 2014-15 and made nine appearances in the Minstermen’s successful battle to stave off relegation.
5. Ryan Sweeney
Signing permanently for the Stags in January 2019 following a successful loan spell during the 2018-19 season, the 23-yearold began his career with AFC Wimbledon, joining their youth academy at the age of eight in 2005 and signing his first pro contract in 2015. In August 2016 he was signed by then top flight side Stoke City, and joined League One Bristol Rovers for the first since of two loan spells in January 2017 before re-joining the Pirates again for the 2017-18 campaign, making a total 39 league appearances for the Gas. Sweeney joined Mansfield Town initially on loan for the 2018–19 season before making the move permanent in the January. He has represented Ireland at U19 and U21 level.
6. Farrend Rawson
Joining Mansfield in July 2020 from Forest Green Rovers, the 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Derby County before signing pro terms with the Rams in June 2014. Whilst there he had loan spells at Rotherham United, Accrington Stanley and Coventry City before joining Forest Green in January 2018 where he was a mainstay in their defence over two seasons, making 97 appearances for the Green Army.
12. Kellan Gordon
Signing for Mansfield in July 2019 from Derby County, the 23-year-old spent his early youth career at Stoke City before joining the Rams in 2014 and signing his first pro contract with them in October 2015. He went on to feature in all but one of Derby’s 2016-17 Premier League 2 Division 1 fixtures. He spent the following season on loan at League Two
Farrend Rawson
Swindon Town, making 32 appearances for the Robins and spent a portion of the 2018-19 season on loan at Lincoln City, before joining the Stags.
15. Aaron O’Driscoll
Signing for the Stags in August 2020 from Southampton, the 21-year-old enjoyed four years at Saint Mary’s, appearing nine times for the Saints under-21 side in the EFL Trophy before being released and hooking up with Mansfield in the Summer.
18. Joe Riley
Signing in January 2020, the 29-year-old began his pro career with then Premier League Bolton Wanderers in 2011 after coming through the club’s academy. A succession of injuries limited him to just three league starts in two seasons and a half-season loan spell at Oxford United followed in 2014, before joining Bury in January 2015, helping the Shakers earn promotion to League One that season. He made the switch to Shrewsbury Town in July 2016, making 42 league appearances before making the move to Plymouth Argyle in June 2018. He is currently recovering from an ACL injury suffered in preseason training.
21. James Clarke
Joining the Stags from Burnley prior to the 2019-20 campaign, the 20-year-old came through the Clarets Academy before turning professional at Turf Moor in April 2018, however, after struggling with injuries in the 2018–19 season was allowed to leave the club and join the Stags where he made 16 outings last term.
29. Jason Law
Signing for Mansfield from local side Carlton Town in December 2015, the former Academy 21-year-old has had numerous loan spells at Sutton Coldfield Town, Gresley, Hednesford Town, Leek Town and most recently Kettering Town.
Nigel Clough
Appointed: November 2020 Age: 54
As a player Nigel Clough played predominantly as a striker, and it was under father Brian’s tutelage that Nigel began his league playing career at Nottingham Forest in 1984. He made 403 appearances in two spells with the club, becoming the second highest scorer in Forest’s history with 131 goals. After three years with Liverpool, he wound up at Manchester City from where he returned to Forest on loan. He also collected 14 England caps. In late 1998, he moved into management as player-manager of Burton Albion in the Southern Football League and spent the next 10 seasons with the Brewers, making over 225 appearances and leading them to the Conference. In 2009 he was lured to Derby County, but after four seasons parted company with the Rams and soon took charge of Sheffield United in October 2013. He returned to Burton as manager in late 2015 and guided the club to the Championship for the first time in 2015-16 but stepped down in May 2020 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the club. He returned to football in November 2020, joining Mansfield as manager.
THE DUGOUT
player at both Burton Albion and Derby County became a regular in the Stags youth team as they retained their EFL Youth Alliance titles in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Whilst at Mansfield, the
Harry Charsley
THE ENGINE ROOM
7. Harry Charsley
Signing for the Stags in January 2020 after his departure from Everton, the 24-year old was a regular in the Toffees’ under-23 team that won the Premier League 2 title in 2018/19. Having joined Everton at the age of nine, and made one senior appearance in the Europa League, Charsley enjoyed a short loan spell with Bolton Wanderers in 2018 and has also represented Ireland at U17, U19 and U21 level.
George Maris
8. Ollie Clarke
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Signing in July 2020, the 28-year-old is a product of Bristol Rovers’ academy, making his Rovers’ first team debut in the final game of the 2010-11 season and going on to make over 270 appearances for the Pirates in 10 seasons at the Memorial Stadium. The midfielder won back-to-back promotions with his hometown club as well as two Player of the Year accolades in his time there before signing for Mansfield in the Summer and being named captain for this campaign.
10. George Maris
Joining the Stags in July 2020 from Cambridge United, the 24-year-old began his career in Barnsley’s youth system, and whilst there, had loan spells at Nuneaton Town, Guiseley and Lincoln City before signing for Cambridge in June 2016. He became a significant component in the U’s midfield, making 150 total appearances and scoring 22 goals in four seasons at the Abbey Stadium.
14. James Perch
Signing for Mansfield in August 2020 from Scunthorpe United, the 35-year-old has a wealth experience having amassed over 500 career appearances. He started his career at Nottingham Forest, where he made over 200 appearances before signing for Newcastle United in July 2010. After making 80 appearances for the Toon, Perch made the switch to Wigan Athletic in July 2013 where he made close to another 100 appearances and was awarded the Players’ Player of the Year accolade in two successive seasons before moving to QPR. After three seasons and 80 appearances in the Championship at Loftus Road, he signed for Scunthorpe United in 2018 where he played another 80 games.
16. Stephen Quinn
Joining the Stags on loan from Burton Albion in January for the rest of the season, the experienced Republic of Ireland international began his career with St. Patrick’s Athletic, before signing for Sheffield United in 2005, where he spent seven years and made over 200 league appearances. He signed for Hull City in 2012, and appeared regularly as the Tigers were promoted to the Premier League and then in their following two campaigns in the top flight. A spell with Reading followed – with whom he spent three years – before signing for Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion in 2018.Quinn has also represented the Republic of Ireland 18 times.
George Lapslie Stephen Quinn
20. Stephen McLaughlin
Signing for the Stags in September 2020, the 30-yearold began his senior career in Ireland with Finn Harps, before moving to Derry City in 2011. After two years with Derry, he made the switch to English football, moving to Championship side Nottingham Forest. Loan spells at Bristol City, Notts County and Southend United saw him gain valuable experience, before a permanent move to the Shrimpers in 2015 where he made over 150 outings for Southend, most of which came in League One.
27. Tyrese Sinclair
A product of Mansfield’s Academy having joined them in 2017 from Blackburn Rovers, the 20-year-old was the Stags 2018–19 Youth Player of the Year, and turned pro in July 2019 making his league debut earlier this season.
32. George Lapslie
Signing on a permanent basis last month following a loan spell from Charlton Athletic, the 23-year-old joined the Addicks in 2009 and quickly progressed through their youth ranks. After signing pro, the midfielder made over 50 appearances for the Addicks between 2017-20 in the Championship and League
One and won Charlton’s Young Player of the Year award in the 2018-19 campaign.
UP TOP
9. Jordan Bowery
Signing for the Stags in June 2020 from MK Dons, the muchtravelled 29-year-old came through the youth system of local rivals Chesterfield and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Spireites before securing a transfer to Premier League Aston Villa in 2012. Following a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers, the striker joined Rotherham in June 2014 before joining Oxford United in January 2016, scoring seven goals in 16 appearances, before switching to Leyton Orient in July 2016. After a loan spell at Crew Alexandra, he made the move permanent in May 2017 and following a fruitful 22 goals in 99 total appearances in two years, earned a deal at League One MK Dons.
Jordan Bowery 17. Oliver Šarkić
Signing on loan from Blackpool on transfer deadline day at the end of last month, the Under-21 Montenegrin international was born in Grimsby but moved over to Belgium and then Portugal as a youngster to join both Anderlecht and Benfica’s academies, respectively. The 23-year-old signed for Leeds United in 2018, before a move to Burton Albion the following summer and after a successful season at the Pirelli Stadium joined Blackpool in July 2020.
19 Jamie Reid
Signing for Mansfield in June 2020, the 26-year-old is a product of Exeter City’s Academy, turning pro with the Grecians in April 2012. Loans at Dorchester Town and Truro
Jamie Reid
City preceded three successful loan spells at Torquay United before the move was made permanent in October 2017. In total, whilst at Plainmoor, he scored an impressive 78 goals in 144 games for Torquay United in the National League South and National League including three in the 4-2 win and 2-1 loss against Town last season.
RECENT LINE-UP
v Cambridge United (H) L0-3
Saturday, 20 February 2021
