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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Mansfield Town FC Club Records

This is a listing of the Mansfield Town FC club records

(note: records before first entering the Football League in 1931-32 are in italics). 

Records by Paul Taylor and Martin Shaw.

HONOURS

League Championships Division 4  1974-75

 

  Division 3 1976-77

 

  Conference Premier 2012-13

 

Midland Counties League 3 times

(1923-24, 1924-25, 1928-29)

Other promotions Division 4 (2nd) 1962-63

 

  Division 4 (3rd) 1985-86

 

  Division 4 (3rd) 1991-92

 

  Division 3 (=4th tier) (3rd) 2001-02

 

Play-offs Division 3 (=4th tier) (S/Final) 1994-95

 

  League 2 (=4th tier) (Final) 2003-04

 

  Conference Premier (S/Final) 2011-12

 

  League 2 (=4th tier) (S/Final) 2018-19

 

  League 2 (=4th tier) (Final) 2021-22

 

Highest ever League position Division 2 (=2nd tier) (21st) 1977-78

(just one season in the 2nd tier)

FA Cup 6th Round (Quarter-Final) 1968-69

 

  5th Round  3 times

(1950-51, 1969-70, 1974-75)

League Cup 5th Round (Quarter-Final) 1975-76

 

  4th Round  2023-24

 

Associate Members Cup Winners  1986-87

(known at Freight Rover Trophy in 1986-87; first appearance at Wembley)

FA Trophy Runners-up  2010-11

(second appearance at Wembley)

Anglo-Scottish Cup Semi-final  1975-76 and 1978-79

 

APPEARANCES

Top League Appearances Rod Arnold 440

1971, 1973-1984

  Sandy Pate 413 1967-1979
  Don Bradley 384 1949-1962
  Dennis Wright 379 1939-1957
  Kevin Bird 377 1972-1983
  George Foster 373 1983-1993
  Peter Morris 328 1960-1968, 1976-1978
  Sid Watson 292 1948-1961
  Barry Foster 287 1970-1982
  Sammy Chessell 256 1942-1954
  Tony Lowery 252 1983-1991
  Mark Kearney 250 1983-1991
Top League&Cup Appearances Rod Arnold 513 1971, 1973-1984
  Sandy Pate 479 1967-1979
  Kevin Bird 452 1972-1983
  George Foster 448 1983-1993
  Don Bradley 413 1949-1962
  Dennis Wright 399 1939-1957
  Peter Morris 365 1960-1968, 1976-1978
  Barry Foster 343 1970-1982
  Tony Lowery 316 1983-1991
  Sid Watson 307 1948-1961
  Mark Kearney 302 1983-1991

GOALSCORERS

Top League Goalscorers Harry Johnson 104 1931-1936
  Ken Wagstaff 93 1960-1964
  Chris Staniforth 88 1921-1932 (in 5 separate spells)
  Steve Wilkinson 83 1989-1995
  Ted Harston 81 1935-1937
  Matt Green 80 2011-2013, 2015-17
  Roy Chapman 78 1961-1965
  Dickie Donoven 76 1922-1925
  Dudley Roberts 66 1968-1973
  George Darwin 63 1953-1957
  Ken Reeve 62 1949-1954
  Ken Murray 60 1953-1957
  Dave Caldwell 58 1979-1985
  Kevin Bird 55 1972-1983
  Bill Curry 53 1965-1968
  Peter Morris 53 1960-1968, 1976-1978
  Keith Cassells 52 1985-1989
  Ray Clarke 52 1974-1976
  Chris Greenacre 49 1999-2002
Top League&Cup Goalscorers Chris Staniforth 118 1921-1932 (in 5 separate spells)
  Harry Johnson 114 1931-1936
  Ken Wagstaff 106 1960-1964
  Steve Wilkinson 91 1989-1995
  Dickie Donoven 89 1922-1925
  Roy Chapman 88 1961-1965
  Matt Green 86 2011-2013, 2015-17
  Ted Harston 85 1935-1937
  Dudley Roberts 74 1968-1973
  Dave Caldwell 66 1979-1985
  Keith Cassells 64 1985-1989
  George Darwin 64 1953-1957
  Kevin Bird 63 1972-1983
  Ken Reeve 62 1949-1954
  Ken Murray 61 1953-1957
  Ray Clarke 59 1974-1976
  Chris Greenacre 58 1999-2002
  Bill Curry 57 1965-1968
  Peter Morris 53 1960-1968, 1976-1978

INDIVIDUAL GOAL SCORING FEATS 

(Note: League unless stated):

Most Goals in a game 7 Ted Harston

23/01/1937 vs Hartlepool United

First hat-trick   Harry Johnson 28/03/1932 vs Luton Town
First 4 goal haul   Harry Johnson 05/09/1932 vs New Brighton
Most recent 4 goal haul (league)   Iyseden Christie  01/11/2002 vs Colchester United
Most Goals in an FA Cup game 4 Sam Clucas 

09/11/2013 vs St Albans (excluding FA Cup Qual rounds)

Most recent 4 goal haul (cup)   Sam Clucas 

09/11/2013 vs St Albans

5 Goals   Ted Harston 09/09/1936 vs Rochdale
    Ted Harston 27/03/1937 vs Port Vale
    Steve Wilkinson 03/04/1990 vs Birmingham City
Most hat-tricks 10 Ted Harston PLUS one more FA Cup hat trick
Most hat-tricks in a season 7 Ted Harston 1936/37  - PLUS one more FA Cup hat trick
Debut hat-tricks   Ted Harston 19/10/1935 vs Southport (away)
    Harry Crawshaw 28/08/1937 vs Northampton Town (at home)
    Keith Cassells 17/08/1985 vs Hereford United (at home)
Note:  Iffy Onuora scored a hat-trick against Lincoln C (at home) on 11/03/1995 and although this was his first FULL appearance he previously appeared as substitute four times.
Note: Adam Chapman scored a hat-trick on his home debut against Stockport on 09/03/2013 but he had played a game away.
Fastest hat-tricks (time from 1st to 3rd goal)   Iyseden Christie  League Cup 4 mins (12/08/1997 vs Stockport County)
    Iffy Onuora  7 mins (11/03/1995 vs Lincoln City)
    Iyseden Christie  10 mins (01/11/2002 vs Colchester United)
    Sam Clucas  FA Cup 11 mins (09/11/2013 vs St Albans)
Earliest hat-trick (time from start to 3rd goal)   Simon Brown  22 mins (03/11/2007 vs Macclesfield Town)
Fastest goal scored   Dave Caldwell  FA Cup 11 seconds (17/11/1984 vs Rotherham United)
    Ross Dyer 18 seconds (01/10/2011 vs Forest Green)
Fastest goal conceded   Sammy Moore 10 seconds (05/10/2010 vs AFC Wimbledon)
    Chris Senior 11 seconds (23/09/2008 vs Altrincham)
Most League goals in a season 55 Ted Harston 1936-37 (Note: Record for Division 3N)
Other instances of 30 League goals or more in a season 32 Harry Johnson 1931-32
  30 Harry Johnson 1932-33
  34 Ken Wagstaff 1962-63
  30 Roy Chapman 1962-63
Most penalties in a season 10 Liam Lawrence 2003-04 (PLUS 2 more in the FA Cup)
Most penalties for Mansfield 32 Peter Morris  
Consecutive games scored in 10 Harry Johnson

05/09/1932 to 05/11/1932 (and he scored 18 goals in those 10 games)

Notes:

1962-63 was the last time any Football League club had two players each score 30 league goals in one season.

Joe Readman, Walter Hoyland and George Bowater all scored hat tricks in the 9-2 thrashing of Rotherham United on 27 December 1932. It is perhaps interesting to note that the previous day the Stags had lost the away fixture 0-3.

Hartlepool United and Halifax Town have each been victims to Stags hat trick heroes on 6 occasions. Hartlepool's total includes Ted Harston's club record 7 goal haul. Darlington follow closely behind having been victim hit on 5 occasions.

Ted Harston scored hat tricks against Southport (1935-36) and Rochdale (1936-37) in both the home and away fixtures in the seasons indicated - the only Mansfield player to achieve this feat.

CLEAN SHEETS

Most League clean sheets Rod Arnold 124 in 440 appearances 1971, 1973-1984
Most League clean sheets in a season Rod Arnold 20 1974-1975 and 1976-77

MANAGERS

Best managerial record as measured by win-ratio in league games Freddie Steele 50.9%  
  Paul Cox 48.4%  
  Harry Martin 48.0%  
  Dave Smith 46.8%  
  Steve Evans 45.3%  
(full list here) Peter Morris 45.2%  

HIGH SCORING

Record Home Wins League 10-1 Castleford Town 16/01/1926
    10-1 Wombwell 17/03/1928
    9-0 Castleford Town 13/12/1924
    9-0 Newark Town 07/12/1929
    9-2 Rotherham United 27/12/1932
    9-2 Harrogate Town 13/02/2024
    8-1 QPR 15/03/1965
    8-1 Barrow 09/02/2013
  FA Cup (10-1) Highgate 14/11/1930, 4th qualifying rd
    9-2 Hounslow Town 05/11/1962
Record Away Wins League 7-0 Castleford Town 19/04/1926
    7-1 Shirebrook 26/12/1925
    8-3 Worksop 02/09/1929
    5-0 Histon 20/03/2010 (Conference)
    6-2 Lincoln City 27/03/1963
    6-2 Wigan Athletic 07/10/1995
  FA Cup 8-0 Scarborough 22/11/1952
    8-1 St Albans 09/11/2013 (the 2nd 8-1 win in 2013 in league&cup)
Record Home Defeat League 1-7 Nottingham Forest reserves 24/12/1927
    1-7 Reading 12/03/1932
    1-7 Peterborough United 26/03/1966
1-7 QPR 24/09/1966
  FA Cup 3-8 Worksop Town 13/12/1920, 5th qualifying rd replay
    2-5 Matlock Town 15/12/1976
Record Away Defeat League 2-11 Rotherham United reserves 29/10/1928
    1-8 Walsall 19/01/1932
  FA Cup 0-5 several times
Highest Scoring Game   2-11 Rotherham United reserves 29/10/1928
    5-7 York City 16/11/1935

MOST (league)

Most Wins in a season Home 21 1928-29
    17 1950-51, 1951-52,1964-65,1974-75,1976-77,2001-02,2012-13
  Away 13 2012-13
    12 2022-23 (record in the Football League)
  Overall 31 1923-24,1928-29
30 2012-13
    28 1974-75,1976-77
In 1951 the Stags were the first team to go through a 23 match home season unbeaten
Most Draws in a season Home 12 1971-72
  Away 10 1930-31,1984-85,1995-96,2011-2012
  Overall 20 1971-72,1995-96
Most Defeats in a season Home 14 2007-08
  Away 17 1932-33, 1955-56, 1959-60
  Overall 26 2002-03, 2007-08
Most Goals For Home 93 1928-29
    68 1957-58
  Away 47 1962-63
  Total 132 1928-29
    108 1962-63
Most Goals Against Home 48 1959-60
  Away 78 1932-33
  Total 112 1959-60
Most Clean Sheets in a season Total 20 1974-75, 1976-77, 1984-85
Most Points (2pts for win) Home 45 1928-29
    40 1950-51,1974-75,1976-77
  Away 28 1974-75
  Total 72 1928-29
    68 1974-75
Most Points (3pts for win) Home 54 2001-02,2012-13
  Away 41 2011-12,2012-13
  Total 95 2012-13

FEWEST (league)

Fewest Wins Home 5 1971-72,1990-91
  Away 0 1931-32,1973-74
  Overall 8 1971-72,1990-91
Fewest Draws Home 0 1923-24
    1 1936-37
  Away 1 1929-30
    2 1959-60,1976-77
  Overall 4 1929-30
    6 1959-60,1960-61,1961-62
Fewest Defeats Home 0 1924-25,1926-27, 1950-51, 1963-64, 1974-75, 1976-77
  Away 4 1923-24, 2011-12
  Overall 5 1923-24
    6 1974-75
Fewest Goals For Home 19 1971-72
  Away 11 1938-39
  Total 38 2014-15
Fewest Goals Against Home 12 1924-25
    13 1976-77
  Away 14 1923-24
    23 1984-85
  Total 31 1923-24
    38 1984-85
Fewest Points (2pts for win) Home 18 1977-78
  Away 5 1931-32,1932-33
  Total 28 1946-47
Fewest Points (3pts for win) Home 21 2007-08
  Away 13 2014-15
  Total 38 1990-91

SEQUENCES (league, unless stated)

Consecutive Wins Home 22 01/09/1923 to 06/09/1924
    11 30/10/2021 to 02/04/2022 (record in FL)
    10 19/03/1949 to 24/09/1949 and 02/02/2012 to 20/04/2013
  Away 7 14/02/1976 to 17/04/1976 and 31/08/1991 to 05/11/1991
  Total 12 25/10/1924 to 03/01/1925 and 16/02/2013 to 01/04/2013(*) 
(*) This run in 2013 is a record in the Conference, jointly held with Burton (2008-09)
    8 27/11/2021 to 29/01/2022 (record in FL)
    7 28/04/1962 to 08/09/1962 and 13/09/1991 to 26/10/1991
Matches Unbeaten Home 42 01/09/1923 to 05/09/1925
    38 03/01/1976 to 20/08/1977
  Away 15 10/04/2018 to 01/01/2019
    14 18/03/2023 to 11/11/2023
    10 20/08/2011 to 06/12/2011
  Total 20 14/02/1976 to 21/08/1976
    18 08/05/2023 to 18/11/2023
    17 22/09/2018 to 01/01/2019
Matches Unbeaten in league&cup all competitions Total 20 14/02/1976 to 21/08/1976 and 08/05/2023 to 28/10/2023
Matches Unbeaten at the start of a season Total 17 05/08/2023 to 18/11/2023
Consecutive Defeats Home 6 29/12/2007 to 23/02/2008 (was 7 including an FA Cup game)
  Away 11 05/03/1932 to 15/10/1932
  Total 7 18/01/1947 to 15/03/1947
Without a Win Home 11 06/04/1959 to 05/09/1959
  Away 37 31/08/1931 to 04/03/1933
  Total 14 25/03/2000 to 02/09/2000
Consecutive Draws Home 5 01/04/1972 to 01/05/1972 and 13/03/1985 to 06/04/1985
  Away 5 04/05/1949 to 05/09/1949 and 01/10/2011 to 06/12/2011 and 11/08/2018 to 06/10/2018
  Total 5 18/10/1986 to 22/11/1986
Consecutive Home Wins against the same opponent Home 16 vs Halifax Town, 14/04/1934 to 06/09/1958
Consecutive Away Wins against the same opponent Away 5 vs Crewe Alexandra, 26/12/1974 to 07/05/1984
Without a Goal     749 minutes (25/03/2000 to 06/05/2000)
Without a Penalty scored   92 92 league games without a penalty scored (from 10/2013 to 10/2015)
    98 98 league & cup games without a penalty scored (from 10/2013 to 9/2015)
Without a Penalty awarded   85 85 league & cup games without a penalty (from 11/2013 to 8/2015) (is also believed to be a Football League record, but see Stats note here)

The Stags record of not scoring at home from the start of a season (1971-72) of 833 minutes is also a Football League record.  The Stags' best start to a season was six straight wins in the 1962-63 season.

ATTENDANCE RECORDS

League&Cup Record Home Attendance 24,467 vs Nottingham Forest 10/01/1953 (FA Cup)
League&Cup Lowest Home Attendance 800 vs Torquay United 08/03/1939 (Football League)
  800 vs Crewe 08/10/2019 (Football League Trophy)
League Highest Home 19,500 vs Hull City 17/04/1965
19,446 vs Doncaster Rovers 15/10/1949
19,043 vs Lincoln City 15/03/1952
9,243 (since redevelopment of Field Mill) vs Northampton p/o 20/05/2004
Home Ave 12,128 1949/50
Away 37,726 vs Cardiff City 27/12/1937
36,288 vs Tottenham H. 27/12/1977
34,075 vs Hull City 28/08/1948
30,862 vs Aston Villa 31/08/1970
League Lowest Home 800 vs Torquay United 08/03/1939 (Football League)
1,253 vs Barrow 12/04/2011 (Conference)
1,293 vs Torquay United 17/12/1982 (Football League)
1,394 vs Torquay United 01/05/1982 (Football League)
Home Ave 2,123 2010/11 (Conference)
2,283 1996/97 (Football League)
Away 316 vs Hayes&Yeading 09/04/2011 (Conference)
380 vs Histon 22/03/2011 (Conference)
957 vs Chester City 09/03/1991 (lowest Football League)
League Highest away following of Mansfield fans 5227 Mansfield fans at MK Dons 04/05/2019 (since official records started in 2002)
  4283 Mansfield fans at Notts Co 16/02/2019 (since official records started in 2002)
League&Cup Highest away following of Mansfield fans 5500 Mansfield fans at Newcastle 07/01/2006 (FA Cup) (since official records started in 2002)
League Lowest away following of Mansfield fans 65 Mansfield fans at Newport 03/03/2015 (since official records started in 2002)
League&Cup Lowest away following of Mansfield fans 41 Mansfield fans at Carlisle 06/12/2016 (League Trophy) (since official records started in 2002)
League&Cup Lowest away following of fans at Field Mill 8 Grays fans 05/12/2009 and Histon fans 22/01/2011 (since official records started in 2002)
FA Cup Highs Home 24,467 vs Nottingham Forest 10/01/1953
23,500 vs Leicester City 08/03/1969
21,117 vs West Ham United 26/02/1969
20,314 vs Sheffield United 31/01/1951
18,293 vs Carlisle United 15/02/1975
Away 49,049 vs Sheffield Wednesday 18/02/1967
48,696 vs Sheffield United 27/01/1951
48,093 vs Leeds United 07/02/1970
44,925 vs Arsenal 26/01/1929
41,459 vs Newcastle 07/01/2006
League Cup Highs Home 17,380 vs Cardiff City 05/10/1961 (Note: Official switching on of floodlights by Billy Wright)
Away 31,087 vs Liverpool 22/09/1970
30,022 vs Manchester City 03/12/1975
Other Highs Highest attendance for Stags game 58,586 vs Bristol City at Wembley 24 May 1987 (Freight Rover Trophy Final)
FA Cup Lows Home 1,686 vs Slough Town 03/11/2012
Away 701 vs Workington 20/10/2012
League Cup Lows Home 1,052 vs Wrexham 22/08/2000  (Note: Although this was a 'home' fixture it was played at Meadow Lane due to incomplete bldg work at Field Mill)
    1,708 vs Burnley 20/08/1996
Away 1,412 vs Scunthorpe Utd 26/08/1975
League Trophy Lows Home 800 vs Crewe 08/10/2019 (equal lowest attendance at Field Mill for a competitive Stags game)
    824 vs Everton U21 27/08/2019 (next lowest attendance at Field Mill for a competitive Stags game)

Average attendance per season listed here.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wins over First Div/Premier Lg Sides v West Ham (h) 3-0 FA Cup Rd 5 26/02/1969
v Coventry (h) 2-0 League Cup Rd 3 08/10/1975
v Wolves (h) 1-0 League Cup Rd 4 12/11/1975
v Leicester (h) 2-0 Anglo-Scottish Cup Prelim 06/08/1975
v Leeds Utd (a) 1-0 League Cup Rd 2 21/09/1994 - 1st Leg (won 1-0 on agg)
Oldest Players Brian Jensen 41 years 150 days (in Nov 2016, for his final league game)
  Tony Ford 39 years 359 days (in May 1999)
Carlton Palmer 39 years 244 days (in August 2005)
Carl Muggleton 39 years 209 days (in April 2008)
  Keith Curle 39 years 149 days (in April 2003)
Oldest Goalscorer Tony Ford 39 years 144 days (27/11/1998 vs Halifax)
Oldest Debutant Carlton Palmer 39 years 244 days (in August 2005)
Youngest Player Cyril Poole 15 years 351 days (27/02/1937 vs New Brighton)
Youngest Goalkeeper Terence Statham 16 years 335 days (1957) (excluding games in County Cup where Chris Ogden played one game at 16 years 89 days in 1969 but he never played a league game)
Youngest Goalscorer Ian Stringfellow 17 years 145 days (30/09/1986 vs Gillingham)
Youngest Penalty scorer Jimmy Knowles 17 years 260 days (12/10/2019 vs Oldham)
Youngest Captain Peter Morris 19 years 6 months (08/05/1963 vs Crewe) (some uncertainty around this because information on captaincy was not routinely collected)
  Lee Wiliamson 19 years 7 months (19/01/2002 vs Hartlepool)
Youngest Manager Steve Parkin 30 years 328 days (in October 1996, when appointed permanent manager); (note he was 30 years 295 days when appointed caretaker. Note also that Billy Ayre was younger, but was only caretaker manager)
Most players booked in a game 10 (24/11/1962 vs Crystal Palace, FA Cup) (we believe this is a record for any game)
Record Transfer Fee Paid Lee Angol >£150,000 (2017) paid to Peterborough (club record transfer as per John Radford comments, but officially announced as "undisclosed")
  Andy Cook £150,000 (2019) paid to Walsall (note information on transfer fee was officially "undisclosed", so this information could be incorrect)
  Lee Peacock £150,000 (1997) paid to Carlisle (note information on transfer fees is often undisclosed or incorrectly disclosed, so this information could be incorrect)
Record Transfer Fee Received Colin Calderwood £655,000 (1993) (£30,00 paid by Swindon Town, plus half of the £1.25 million paid by Tottenham Hotspur to Swindon Town)
  Simon Coleman £600,000 (1989) paid by Middlesbrough
  Lee Peacock £500,000 (1999) paid by Manchester City

 

Note: "League" includes Football League and Football Conference