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Archived News from July 2007

CAPACITY AT FIELD MILL RAISED TO 6500
29th July 2007 0:17


Capacity raised at Field Mill
CHAD website
By Tim Morriss

SAFETY chiefs have agreed to increase the attendance capacity at Mansfield Town Football Club after today's match against Premiership Derby County passed off without incident.
But the attendance limit has been raised only to 6,553 - from 4,684 - leaving chairman James Derry with mixed feelings.

He said after the decision was revealed following the 2-0 win over Derby: "I am pleased that the safety people accept there were no problems today and are pleased with our new regime.

"But I am disappointed that we are not yet back upto the full capacity, as they have said we did nothing wrong today."

Members of Nottinghamshire's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) had slashed the ground capacity to 4,684 –– less than the 5,000 minimum capacity required for League football –– following unsavoury scenes of heavy-handed stewarding at the Stags' last home game of the season.

Now the council chiefs will look yet again at the figure following the first home league match of the season, against Lincoln City on 18th August.

They have previously said they were 'encouraged' by the Stags reaction to the aftermath of the Barnet debacle.

The club issued an apology and sacked several stewards –– along with the club's chief safety officer John Sidney. Safety chiefs are also understood to be pleased with the club's choice of replacement –– retired Nottinghamshire Police inspector Les Norman.

Last season when the Stags played Lincoln at Field Mill in August the attendance was 4,596, so the decision to raise the current level to 6,553 should not cause problems for the local derby.

 

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