Archived News from July 2005
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HASLAM INTERVIEW: THE SECRET OF SUCCESS ...
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Football Post articles:
transcribed by carole Ambition counts so much: Haslam Mansfield Town are assembling an exciting new side and it's all about blend, chairman Keith Haslam tells Mark Roach. MANSFIELD TOWN chairman Keith Haslam says manager Carlton Palmer has signed a promising blend of players ahead of the new season. “I believe the secret to success at this level is to get the correct blend,” said Haslam. “We are getting youngsters coming through that already are showing quality as footballers. All of them have already been offered contracts from their clubs. But they wanted to give it a chance in the big world and play competitive football rather than take the money and stay in a reserve squad. They know that they have to play competitive football and they have chosen to do that at Mansfield Town. “They have seen that Carlton is ambitious and the club share the same ambitions and they want to be part of that. We already have some experience in the club, so hopefully we have achieved that blend.” Haslam says automatic promotion is a realistic target this season. “With the current blend of players that we are getting in at the club at the moment, I would (like) to think that a top three finish and promotion are a real possibility. We don't really want the play-offs again. It has taken us time to get over the last time. With the quality of players brought in, like Matthew Tipton, it is a real possibility. Matthew had a lot of clubs chasing him, such as Bury, Darlington, Swansea and a few more and he chose us. They all want the same thing – they all want to achieve success. He is a respected player who was captain at Macclesfield last year and at just 24 is a good signing for us.” One of Palmer's new signings, Gus Uhlenbeek, says the opportunity to play for the former England midfielder was one of the main reasons he decided to join Mansfield Town. The experienced defender said: “I got a phone call from the manager asking if I wanted to come down to Field Mill. Wycombe offered me a deal but I told them that I wanted to go to Mansfield and try something else. It is close to home for me. I remember playing here last season and I thought that Mansfield were a decent side. The fact that Carlton Palmer is the manager here swayed my judgement. “He is a football man himself and a young, up and coming manager with a passion for the game and a desire to win. I can't wait to get started.” Fans will get their first opportunity to see their new-look side in action next Saturday in their first pre-season friendly, with Palmer expected to make his Mansfield debut. Matches between Mansfield Town and Derby County have been few and far between. The Stags and the Rams have only faced each other in five competitive meetings. They met four times between 1955 and 1957 in Division 3 North. In the first meeting between the two clubs, on august 20 1955, Derby ran out 4-0 winners at their Baseball Ground home. Mansfield secured a 1-1 draw in the return game on December 17 that year. But they lost 2-1 at Field Mill in October 1956 and Derby extended their unbeaten run against the Stags at Pride Park (Baseball Ground?) with another 4-0 win in March 1957. The two sides did not meet again in a competitive game until September 2002, when the Stags entertained Derby in the first round of the League Cup. Lee Williamson was sent of after two minutes, but Mansfield took the lead through Neil Moore in the eighth minute. Lee Morris levelled for the Rams two minutes later and goals from Malcolm Christie and Ian Evatt secured a 3-1 win for the visitors in front of 5,788 fans. The Stags' starting line - up that day included Kevin Pilkington, Neil MacKenzie, Wayne Corden, Craig Disley, Liam Lawrence and Iyseden Christie, with Danny Bacon introduced as a late substitute. Jason White was an unused sub. Mark Poom, Chris Riggott, Georgi Kinkladze and Branco Strupar featured for Derby. The two sides had met in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2002. Christie was making his second debut for the Stags, but the game was abandoned after half – time with the score at 0-0 following a flash flood. It's open house at Field Mill for fans: MANSFIELD Town host their annual open day at Field Mill on Sunday, July 24. The club's open day has proved very popular in previous years. It will be an opportunity this year for fans to get a closer look at the new-look squad of players manager Carlton Palmer has assembled – with only one player left at the club (Alex John-Baptiste) who started the opening game of last season. The even starts at 10am and will finish at about 4pm. There will be the opportunity for a tour of the ground which takes in areas of Field Mill normally only reserved for club staff and the players. A paintball range is on offer as are refreshment stalls. The new Mansfield Town kits will be available to buy for the first time and players will sign autographs. Season tickets will be available for collection. |
Latest | July 2005