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Archived News from January 2015

STAGS SIGN RICKY RAVENHILL
9th January 2015 16:05


Experienced midfielder pens Stags switch
mansfieldtown.net, 7th January 2015

Ricky Ravenhill joins club following spell at Northampton Town, the club are pleased to confirm.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/experienced-midfielder-pens-stags-switch-2188145.aspx#8Tig90Af5OeyZ6jM.99

Manager Adam Murray has made his second signing of the transfer window by capturing the signature of experienced midfielder Ricky Ravenhill, subject to Football League/Football Association clearance.

The 33-year-old has penned a deal until the end of the season.

A combative and creative player, Ravenhill started out in the academy ranks at Barnsley before moving to hometown club Doncaster Rovers, where he made 159 appearances - helping the club achieve back-to-back promotions and beat Manchester City and Aston Villa en route to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

After a short spell on loan at Chester City, he joined Grimsby Town in September 2006 and spent four months at Blundell Park prior to moving to Darlington in a loan switch which later became permanent.

The midfielder featured 99 times for Darlington in all competitions and eventually joined Notts County, where he missed just six games as the Magpies cruised to the League Two title in 2009/10.

Having helped County cement their status at a higher level, the Yorkshireman spent two years at Bradford City and was part of their squad that reached the Capital One Cup Final in 2012/13, before returning to Wembley Stadium just a few months later to beat Northampton Town and win promotion.

Ironically, Ravenhill joined Northampton last season in a loan deal which soon became a permanent arrangement and helped the Cobblers to defy the odds and retain their status in the Football League.

In total, the experienced midfielder has made 488 career appearances, scoring 23 goals and gaining four promotions.

Manager Adam Murray said: "Ricky is somebody who will add a wealth of experience and knowledge to our squad.

"He is someone who has achieved success in League Two previously and is a leader and organiser; specific qualities which I think we needed.

"In Ricky, we have an excellent all-round professional, who will raise the standards."

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video interview:
http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/article/4404846/date/20150107152300/page/0/name/video--expect-full-hearted-displays-some-me--vows-ravenhill

Ricky Ravenhill audio interview with David Jackson
https://audioboom.com/boos/2783996-ravenhill-i-m-not-here-to-replace-murray

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Ravenhill keen to succeed at Stags
mansfieldtown.net

Midfielder determined to do all he can forward to push us up the table.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/ravenhill-keen-to-succeed-at-stags-2188741.aspx#3ZoJTMPJoZO6TR2E.99

New signing Ricky Ravenhill is determined to help our team climb the table in the coming weeks and repay the faith that has been shown in him by manager Adam Murray.

The 33-year-old, who was previously with Northampton Town, is a tenacious midfielder who boasts plenty of key ingredients to be successful, having achieved no fewer than four promotions during his career.

Discussing his move to One Call Stadium, he said: “I’d say [I’ve known] for a few weeks now which is when I first touched base with the manager here.

“It’s something that’s always appealed to me. It’s a great club and one that I’ve always admired and thought that it would be good to play at.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing here. I’ve seen what the support is like and I know what the potential is like.

“When the opportunity sort of came to light, there was no hesitation from me. Obviously with the gaffer, I’ve spoken to him and he fills me full of confidence with what he wants to do and I’m looking forward to playing for him.”

He continued: “Without going fully into detail, he’s basically told me the way that he wants to run things, the way he wants us to play and what he wants to implement into the team.

“It’s all things that I agree with and how I see the club going forward as well, so it was all positive.”

Describing his playing style, the combative midfielder added: “I’d like to think that I can use my experience and guide other people on the pitch. You’ll get full-hearted displays from me as I’ll give everything that I’ve got.”

“I like a tackle, I like to win the ball and on the other side I’d like to think that I can play a little bit as well, but I’ll push people around and organise things on the pitch.”

Ravenhill has racked up almost 500 career appearances and played for a string of lower league clubs.

He was a back-to-back promotion winner with hometown club Doncaster Rovers, then helped Notts County to the League Two title in 2009/10, before enjoying further success with Bradford City in 2012/13, where he was also a League Cup finalist.

Asked what it takes to be successful, the Yorkshireman said: “I think first and foremost you’ve got to have the right people on board. You need a good team and a squad all together and pulling in the same direction, which I know the gaffer is doing at the moment.

“Obviously, other than that, you need consistency. The lower leagues are all about consistency, because we know that on their day anybody can beat anybody, but it’s the ones that really go the extra mile, put back-to-back wins together and go on little runs - that’s when you see the difference.”

Our side currently languish in the lower reaches of Sky Bet League Two heading into Saturday’s trip to local rivals Burton Albion, but Ravenhill believes that our fortunes will improve.

“[Gaining consistency] is all about what happens on and off the pitch and when we’re on the training pitch, so we all know that we’re on the same page and pulling in the same direction,” said the midfielder.

“The gaffer knows exactly what he wants and he’ll get that across to the players. It’s then just a matter of us working hard and putting that out onto the pitch and putting in the performances that he wants.”

On his personal targets and ambitions, Ravenhill added: “I’ve got targets. I want to do as well as I possibly can and get this club as high up the league as fast as I can.

“Who knows where it will take us. Can we still make the play-offs? There’s still half-a-season to play, but first and foremost, we need wins under our belts to get into the top half of the table.”

You can hear Ricky Ravenhill’s first interview as a Mansfield Town player on Stags Player. To subscribe, click here.

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Ravenhill aiming to turn round Mansfield’s season
chad.co.uk

Midfield ace Ricky Ravenhill was instrumental last season in helping a Northampton side adrift at the bottom pull off the great escape from relegation.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/ravenhill-aiming-to-turn-round-mansfield-s-season-1-7040728

So, with Stags struggling at the midway point of this season, Mansfield Town’s experienced new signing is hopeful of not only helping make the club safe, but pushing on from there.

“It is another part of my career and this is a good club,” said Ravenhill. “I am really looking forward to getting started and playing and I hope I can help move us up the league.

“I was initially contacted a couple of weeks ago but there were a few things to sort out.

“I am glad we got everything over the line and I am now here as a Mansfield Town player.

“I have played at Mansfield a number of times and I have always enjoyed playing here. The fans are great and there is good potential.

“With everything the gaffer has said to me, I can see the club moving forward pretty quickly. Now I just want to get on with my job on the pitch.”

Can Stags still retain outside hopes of a play-off push?

“Never say never,” said Ravenhill. “There is still half a season to play. Let’s get into the top half of the table first, get points on the board, then we can reassess it. We must make sure we are looking up and not down.

“I have a hunger for it still. I still want to play and win games. I have six months here and I have to do my job and prove myself to the gaffer.

“I have played against him a lot of times and I have a lot of respect for him as a player. Now he is moving into management and, by the way he says he wants to do things, I am sure he will have a good career as a manager.”

He added: “I have very briefly met the other players and said hello. But it will be my first training session with them this morning (Thursday).

“At a new club you feel all sorts of emotions, mostly excitement. I can’t wait to get going. Starting out with new people is enjoyable and something to look forward to.

“At some point we have probably all kicked each other and said a few things to each other. We all know how it works. Now we are here as a team together and we will be doing the same to other people.

“There are some really good young players here and I hope, with my experience, I can help get them to the next level.”

The former Notts County star, now at his ninth club, said his favourite season was with Bradford City in 2012/13.

“I’ll never forget my year at Bradford,” he said. “We reached the Coca Cola Cup final, playing teams like Arsenal and Villa along the way, then went back to Wembley a few weeks later and got promoted.”

Ravenhill, who has tasted promotion four times in his career, has lost none of his ambition and enjoyed helping Northampton to safety last season.

“At Northampton we were in Hartlepool’s situation - a long way adrift - but we managed to turn it round and it felt like a promotion come the end of the season,” he said.

“I thought I’d done well at Northampton. But things didn’t materialise for me this season and I was in and out. I wanted to be playing regularly and the Northampton gaffer did help get this deal done for me.

“I’ve seen it many times. One minute you are in favour, then someone comes in and things change round. You just have to get your head down, do your best, and if you have to move on then you have to.

“I am still Doncaster-based so this is great geographically for me. It doesn’t take long to get here which is ideal for my family as well.”

Ravenhill is likely to make a debut in tomorrow’s tough trip to second-placed Burton Albion.

“It is going to be a very tricky game,” he said. “They are a really good team and that’s why they are where they are in the league. They have really kicked on since the new manager was put in place.

“But there is no reason we can’t go there and get something out of it.”

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twitter
John Radford @JRadfordMTFC
Another two quality additions to the squad today in Junior Brown on a permanent deal and midfielder Ricky Ravenhill #stags #mansfield

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Northampton Town: Chris Wilder has no room for sentiment after three depart Sixfields
HeraldandPost, January 07, 2015, By Ciaran Thomas

Chris Wilder had no room for sentiment after he continued his busy start to the January transfer window by overseeing the exits of Kelvin Langmead, Ricky Ravenhill and Alex Nicholls.

Read more: http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Northampton-Town-Chris-Wilder-room-sentiment/story-25818106-detail/story.html?#ixzz3OB3A9FyM

Both defender Langmead and midfielder Ravenhill have departed following the early termination of their contracts while striker Nicholls has signed permanently with Exeter City after his short term deal was not renewed.

The departures follow Cobblers boss Wilder’s triple loan swoop for Cheltenham Town midfielder Jason Taylor, Portsmouth winger Ricky Holmes and Yeovil Town full-back Brendan Moloney, giving the squad a new-look feel after the side’s slump to 20th place in League Two, just three points away from the relegation places.

“The club moves on and I’ve got to take the emotion out of it, and do what’s best for the football club,” said Wilder.

“I have to back the judgement of myself and the coaching staff. With the chairman we work very closely together and have got a clear view about where we want to go with this football club.

“I always thank the players for the contributions they made, whether they were before me or have been with me, but we have to focus on the players that are going to take us to the next level.”


Ravenhill signed an 18 month contract a year ago, but after playing an integral part in helping the Cobblers secure League Two safety last season he has fallen down the pecking order and has not featured since November 29.

“He did a great job for us last year,” Wilder said. “The market in January last year was a very small one and we needed that type of player in the middle of the park and Ricky did fantastically well.

“He struggled to get into the side this year and he wants to play games.

“He’s a footballer and that’s what they want to do. He’s a great pro to work with and I’m sure he’ll do very well at his next club.”

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Latest | January 2015