Vital Statistics
Founded: 1897
Owner: John Radford
Last Season: League Two - 12th
Nickname: The Stags
Rivals: Chesterfield, Notts County
Major Honours
None
Scheduled Matches
Portsmouth vs Mansfield: Saturday, November 12th (3pm)
Mansfield vs Portsmouth: Saturday, April 29th (3pm)
Mansfield Town: A brief history
Formed as Mansfield Wesleyans, the club changed its name to Mansfield Town in 1910 despite not being the top team in the town, something that seemed to anger Mansfield Mechanics back in the day.
The Stags became the first Football League club to go unbeaten in the league at home all season in a 24 team league in 1950/51 but failed to win the division and promotion from the Third Division.
Mansfield left the Football League in 2008 after they relegated to the Conference under the ownership of Keith Haslam who was attacked by fans for his tenure. After a long battle, fan John Radford bought the club in 2010, bought Field Mill back from Haslam in 2012 and Mansfield were promoted back to League Two after winning the Conference in 2013.
The Manager: Adam Murray
A journeyman midfielder with no less than twelve clubs to his name, Murray eventually settled in Mansfield in 2011 having had two previous spells at the club.
The 33-year-old was appointed as player-manager of the Stags in December 2014 after Paul Cox was sacked. Murray then steered the club to safety from relegation and improved on that with a 12th place finish last season.
The Ground: Field Mill (Capacity: 9,100 - Away: 1,910)
Upon arriving at Field Mill (or the One Call Stadium to give it it's official name) two seasons ago Pompey fans were told that they couldn't use the bar at the ground and so all headed to The Talbot up the road instead.
It's a big pub with a good mix of fans from both teams and the atmosphere was friendly enough despite a bit of trouble from the "yoof" late on but the highlight of the afternoon being one mohican Mansfield fan in the centre of a crowd of Pompey fans trying to outsing them.
Away fans are given the North Stand which is big enough to hold a large following. Opposite is the fairly modern looking Quarry Lane End.
On the right is the Ian Greaves Stand, named after a former Stags manager. This is one of the most impressive stands in all of League Two.
In contrast, to the left is the Bishop Street Stand which has been closed for safety reasons and looking at it it's not hard to see why. There are plans to redevelop this stand in the future but for now the dugouts are the only real feature this part of the ground has to offer.
Overall, Mansfield is defeinitely one of the better away days in League Two. The Talbot is one of the best pubs you can visit in this division (if the locals let us in this season) and the ground itself is one that offers good facilities, views and an atmosphere.