Archived News from September 2004
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STAGS SIGN CRAIG WOODMAN ON LOAN
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BBC.co.uk:
Mansfield have signed left-sided defender Craig Woodman on a month's loan from Bristol City. Stags boss Keith Curle moved for the 21-year-old after losing Adam Eaton and Jake Buxton to injury. Woodman has made four appearances for City this season, but has not figured in the first team since August. He has played over 50 games for the Robins since coming through the club¿s youth system, and is set to make his Stags debut at Scunthorpe on Saturday. ---------- mansfieldtown.net reports that Bristol City's Craig Woodman will be joining the Stags on an initial one month loan in readiness for Saturdays journey to Scunthorpe. The 21 year old will be taking up his natural role in a left back position to fill the void left by Adam Eaton's recurring Groin injury and the more recently injured Jake Buxton. Although a Left Back by trade Craig is capable of playing anywhere across the back line and does like to get forward and been a naturally left footed player should offer the Stags a few more options when on the front foot teaming up with Wayne Corden Colin Larkin and Derek Asamoah ------------ Woodman asks fans to give him a chance... Stags latest acquisition Craig Woodman was as surprised as anybody to find himself coming to Field Mill. He spoke to mansfieldtown.net "I was sat at home last night and got a telephone call telling me to report to Keith Curle in the morning as I was going on loan to Mansfield town for a month" he said. Not really knowing much about the town or the club his one memory is when his club Bristol City came here for the controversial game that saw the stags eventually lose after being up right to the dying embers of the match. "Unfortunately I didn't play in that game but I watched it from the Stands. I remember thinking that Mansfield are a good footballing side then but never expected I would be playing for them. I like to play a passing game and get involved in the action so I think I will fit in well with Mansfield's game plan" The drop in division doesn't bother the 21 year old left back as he doesn't think that there is a particularly big gulf between League one and Two. "I have played about fifty games for city where I have been all my playing career but I wasn't getting much first team action lately so I see this as a great opportunity to get some first team experience an Mansfield are at the top end of the league so they are doing something like. Hopefully on Saturday we will be at the very top of the table and if I can help achieve that goal then that's fantastic." Craig realises that been the new boy in a club can be a daunting time and there has to be a settling period. "I have been training today and found the lads a friendly bunch but it will take a little time to settle. I hope the fans allow me time to settle and show them what I can do. I will be doing my best and giving 100% every time I go on the pitch. I don't really know a lot about the gaffer but I do know he has been around a bit and played at the highest level so I am looking forward to working with him and I already know that he expects a good positive attitude from his players - something which I have!" he told the official website this afternoon. For more details, visit http://www.mansfieldtown.net --------------- Craig Woodman Height 5.09 Weight 10.09 Date of birth 22-12-1982 Place of birth Tiverton Position Defender Nationality England ----------- BBC.co.uk: Scunthorpe v Mansfield Scunthorpe have no new injuries or suspensions to contend with. It means striker Michael Rankine is likely to remain on the bench, despite scoring at Bury last week. Mansfield are expected to be without defenders Adam Eaton (groin) and Jake Buxton (broken rib) although Scott McNiven is back after a bout of 'flu. On-loan Preston striker Joe O'Neill is available after he was ineligible for the Stags' midweek Carling Cup game but Derek Asamoah (dead leg) is doubtful. ------------- LARKIN: LEAGUE IS THE PRIORITY Evening Post, 24 September 2004 Colin Larkin insists Mansfield will head to League Two leaders Scunthorpe full of confidence tomorrow, despite Tuesday's heavy defeat against Preston. Scunthorpe are expected to be unchanged from the side which won 1-0 at Bury last weekend. Fourth-placed Stags will leapfrog Scunthorpe - and could go top - if they win tomorrow. And Larkin, who had a frustrating night at Field Mill on Tuesday, is hopeful he can add to his impressive goal-scoring tally so far this season at Glanford Park. "I was a bit unlucky with the one that hit the post and the lads are a bit gutted, but it's the Carling Cup and we realise the league is the main thing," said the seven-goal striker. "It's good that we've got that performance out of the way ahead of the game against Scunthorpe and hopefully we can put in a good display up there. "It won't affect our confidence. It would have been nice to play Leicester in the next round and have a good cup run, but we'll be well up for the game tomorrow." Larkin admits Preston's early double strike knocked the stuffing out of Mansfield. "We had a game plan, but that got put aside with the weather conditions," he said. "To concede two goals in the first few minutes set us back. It's hard to pick yourself up after that - especially against the wind. "We couldn't really pass the ball and, as for going long, the wind was getting hold of it. It was just one of those games. "In the second half, we did a lot better and got at them a bit more and were unlucky not to score two or three goals." Stags boss Keith Curle says the game was a chance to try out young striker Danny Herron. "That was one of the pleasing points, when an opportunity arises you ask the young men to come in and stake their claim." With Chris Tate (ankle) ruled out and Derek Asamoah (calf) doubtful, Herron could be involved again tomorrow. He could be joined in the Stags squad by 36-year-old former Notts County striker David Reeves, who has been training with Mansfield this week. Scott McNiven is back in contention, but Jake Buxton (ribs) remains a doubt and Adam Eaton (groin) looks set to miss out again. Tomorrow's game is all-ticket for Stags fans. No tickets are available on the day for Mansfield supporters. Former Notts County man Ian Baraclough lines up in central midfield alongside ex-Everton and Man City star Peter Beagrie. Stags: Pilkington, McNiven, Buxton, Artell, John-Baptiste, Curtis, MacKenzie, Corden, Neil, Larkin, Asamoah, Day, Murray, O'Neill, Dimech, White, Eaton, Herron. Possible addition: Reeves. SCUNTHORPE: Musselwhite, Stanton, Crosby, Butler, Ridley, Sparrow, Kell, Baraclough, Beagrie, Keogh, Hayes, Taylor, Rankine, Byrne, Brighton, Evans. TATE WAITS ON INJURY VERDICT Evening Post, 24 September 2004 Chris Tate is not certain how serious his ankle injury is yet, but is definitely ruled out of the Scunthorpe game tomorrow. His left ankle is swollen and assessing the extent of the injury is proving difficult. But Stags physio Derek French was hoping to be able to shed some more light on how bad the problem is today. "I just went over on my ankle and I think I might have tweaked some ligaments," said Tate. "It's very swollen and I'm definitely out tomorrow. I'm not training at all this week. "If all goes well today I'm hoping I will be able to start training again next week, but I'll just have to wait to see." |
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