by Sweden Stag » Mon Oct 08, 2018 2:45 pm
After drawing 2-2 at Bury last weekend, the Stags now play in the EFL Trophy this week. The opponents this time are the U 21 of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and this will be the first fixture between the Stags and any Wolves side since the mid-1990’s, then in the FA Cup.
A few years before the election to the Football League way back in 1931, the Stags travelled to Molineux for a third round tie in the FA Cup. On January 3, 1929, the Stags became giant-killers by slaying the Wolves at their headquarters thanks to a strike from Edwin McLachlan. And one player who previously had played for the Stags, starred in the Wolves side which was kayoed. The name: Thomas Baxter.
In 1973-74 and 1979-80 respectively, Wolves won the League Cup. In the side which beat Nottingham Forest in the final featured Mel Eves, later to play for the Stags. In between the two Wolves League Cup victories, the Wolves travelled to Field Mill for a League Cup fixture. Once again, Wolves were kayoed. On November 12, 1975, a strike from McDonald was enough to dump then First Division Wolves out of the League in front of over 12,000 at Field Mill. This was also revenge for a 2-1 League Cup defeat at Wolverhampton, inflicted on September 13, 1966 with Bill Curry netting for the Stags.
Nearly 30 years later, the Stags were close to slay Wolves again, then in the FA Cup. During the 1994-95 campaign, the Stags had already dumped Leeds out of the League Cup. In the FA Cup, the Stags were close to an upset. Being 2-0 up at half-time, the Wolves eventually turned the tie into a 3-2 victory on their way to the semi-finals.
Only once have the sides faced each other in League history. This happened in the 1988-89 season after the darkest days ever in Wolves’ entire league history. Having plummeted from the highest to the lowest FL level in three seasons, Wolves eventually clinched the Division Four title in 1988 after being bypassed by the Stags two seasons earlier. This was also when Steve Bull scored left right and centre for Wolves during more than a decade. But Wolves were tamed at Field Mill on April 1, 1989, in front of over 9209 with loads of Wolves fans. Two goals from Keith Cassells and one from Kevin Kent silenced the Wolves faithful big style as the Stags eventually ran out 3-1winners, gaining revenge for a 6-2 mauling at Molineux on December 17, 1988, with Coleman and Leishman as Stags scorers. Coleman was later to play a couple of games for Wolves.
Quite a few players have appeared for both sides. Those who have been definitely traced are as follows: Thomas Baxter, Mark Blake, Nicky Clarke, Keith Curle, Simon Coleman, Craig Davies, Mel Eves, Ashley Hemmings, David Kelly, Colin Larkin, Paul McLoughlin, Richard Smith, David Thompson, Mark Todd, Stuart Watkiss.
Among those are two former Stags managers, Keith Curle and Stuart Watkiss as well as current Stag Craig Davies. If any Stagsnet readers find more players, it should be highly appreciated, and then edited into this preview.
Hopefully it will be a good game on Tuesday night. If the Stags win, they are definitely through to the knock-out stages. Come on Mansfield!
Last edited by
Sweden Stag on Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Stockholm, July 4, 2008, 15.00 GMT. Good news came, K.H. gone. March 1, 2012. Ground purchased.