Terry Eccles
Terry
Eccles punishes Grimsby in 1976
Eccles
has been a recent visitor to Field Mill this season, making a presentation on the pitch at
half-time against Oxford United in March, and appearing with other Stags legends earlier
in the season to launch the excellent book The Legends of Mansfield Town. So
it is appropriate that we feature him today.
Against
Grimsby back in 1976, the Stags went ahead in the 14th minute through a
penalty. Kevin Randall harassed Mariners defender Martin Young into committing a handling
offence, and Eccles slammed home the spot-kick giving keeper Harry Wainman no chance. Then
5 minutes later it was 2-0 as Randall battled for the ball on the bye-line and sent over a
superb cross which Eccles met with a fine header, under pressure from a defender.
The
final goal came on 79 minutes and it was Kevin Randall again with a great cross to leave
Eccles, completely unmarked, with a simple task of heading home again, to complete his
hat-trick.
It
was Eccles third hat-trick for the Stags. He was transferred to Huddersfield in
January 1977 for £110,000 : the first six figure fee that Mansfield had ever received.
Eccles scored 47 league goals for the Stags in 118 appearances, with another 10 goals in
FA Cup / League Cup.
Compiled by Martin Shaw
Photos below, and don't miss the return of the legends to Field Mill, Here -->:Legends
No.1. Eccles crashes home a penalty past Harry Wainman