Terry Eccles

Terry Eccles punishes Grimsby in 1976

 On Saturday 4th September 1976, Mansfield Town beat Grimsby Town 3-0 at Field Mill on the way to the Third Division championship, thanks to a hat-trick from Terry Eccles. 

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
No.2. Eccles stoops to head home as Jim McCaffrey looks on
No.3. Eccles picks his spot with Peter Morris looking on in approval       
Eccles (left) receives the match ball from player-manager Peter Morris
All photos from the CHAD

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