Archived News from February 2017
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AN EVENING WITH STEVE EVANS
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Monday 20 February 2017
Evening with Steve Evans a huge hit with the fans CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS The colourful character that is Steve Evans kept a packed room entertained with stories from his career and a question and answers session last night. The Mansfield Town boss was the star attraction for ‘An Evening With Steve Evans’ in the club’s 1861 Suite at the One Call Stadium. Looking very relaxed, Evans was first interviewed by the club’s head of media Mark Stevenson before taking a selection of questions from the floor. Time ran out on hopes of fitting all the questions in, but fans whose contributions weren’t answered were promised they would be replied to via the club web site by the end of the week. Chad were there with Chad Stags Facebook Live bursts and a post-meeting summary from Chad Sports Editor John Lomas with the whole night available to view to Stags PlayerHD subscribers this afternoon. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/video-evening-with-steve-evans-a-huge-hit-with-the-fans-1-8401016 Evans began by taking about his own playing career, curtailed by a knee injury. He was signed by ex-Stags boss Ian Greaves at Bolton but, failing to make it there, returned home to play for several Scottish League sides. His managerial successes at Crawley Town and Rotherham United followed with fans particularly enjoying the tale of Crawley’s famous FA Cup trip to Manchester United where Evans inadvertently bought Sir Alex Ferguson a particularly expensive bottle of red wine. The interval gave the manager no respite as Evans smiled for photographs and gave autographs to a queue of fans. On Mansfield Town and the current season, he admitted there was no room for a bad spell and said League Two was the hardest division to get out of as sides were very even, but he admitted he was a ‘promotion expert’ and had ambitions of taking Stags into the Championship. He also admitted the one thing he had learned as a manager was that you needed to be lucky. He believed his team were ‘born’ on January 1st and, although now playing catch-up on points which he described as ‘pushing water uphill’, he felt the side would get better as his new signings regained the match sharpness lost with the other clubs. And Evans told fans that, if they do get into the play-offs this season, he is confident they can win them. He said if they failed, fans should definitely get to the bookies next season, and assured everyone that when he and Paul Raynor eventually leave Mansfield Town, they will leave it with a better team and bigger attendances than when they arrived. Stags fans were delighted to hear that Evans was already a big fan of midfield tiger Jamie McGuire and his infectious enthusiasm and assured everyone that once his playing career was over, McGuire would be considered for a place on the backroom team. Evans also said it was ‘absolutely massive’ that Stags produce their own players to give them identity and affinity with the club. His number one dream team to manage would be Celtic, though he’d be very happy to manage Rangers and sign bad players to get them relegated! He also said he would love to manage Scotland one day. Ronaldo would be his dream signing while the best players he had worked with were Paul Gascoigne, in the twilight of his career at Boston United, and Leeds youngster Ronaldo Vieira, who he took there from non-League. During the evening, members of the Stags Supporters Association also handed over their latest donation to the club, a cheque for £10,000. --------------------- Generous Mansfield Town pays for season ticket for young Stags fan caring for sick mum chad.co.uk A kind-hearted Mansfield Town supporter has paid for a season ticket for a young fan helping to care for his mum who is fighting cancer. Nine-year-old Brendan Whitehead and his dad, Paul, who also received a ticket, were surprised with the gift at an event at the club this week. Manager Steve Evans handed over the tickets as he took part in a question-and-answer evening with supporters. Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/generous-mansfield-town-pays-for-season-ticket-for-young-stags-fan-caring-for-sick-mum-1-8407124 The story of how Brendan helps care for his mum, along with her two daughters and Paul, was first highlighted at Christmas when the Stags manager surprised the youngsters by visiting his home and presenting him with a ball and Stags scarf. A video of that visit - and one about the club’s work with its family section - led to the generous supporter, who wishes to remain anonymous but is known as Wilfred on fans’ website Stagsnet, deciding to pay for a season ticket for the youngster and his father, for the rest of this season and next season. It was also revealed at the presentation at the Evening With Steve Evans event that Wilfred will buy a youngster and their parent a season ticket for each season while he is “still on the Earth.” Writing on social media, Paul said: “What an amazing night. I would like to say the biggest thank you possible to the gentleman who goes by the user name Wilfred, from myself and my family for the amazing gift. “As a lifelong fan of this club for over 40 years, I’ve seen and had some fantastic times with many fans and friends, but what you have done for me and my son, Brendan, has beat everything. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Speaking at the presentation of the tickets, Paul said: “I am so proud of this lad for what he does for his mum. She has got cancer and is really poorly, but he is a godsend - not just for what he does at home, but for how he behaves in public.” After receiving the tickets Brendan said: “I am really happy.” Manager Evans added: “It’s incredible what Brendan does. I drove away in tears (after our visit at Christmas). What an incredible gesture this is. “I hope we can give Brendan and his dad enough performances that make them go home smiling because in adversity sometimes we can smile.” --------------------- Full video: Part 1 http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/9d255aee-2cb0-40d5-b62f-4dcbd3bddf95 at 31:10 Steve Evans: "I got a call from John Radford saying he had just relieved Adam of his duties and would I meet him and Carolyn?" Part 2 http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/dd6d435a-1166-47db-9eee-6558e8c8fc8b Steve Evans on Pat Hoban: "It's not just about the goals. They have to contribute a little bit more. But Paddy knows our thoughts on that. He'll get his chance again before the end of the season." ------------------- |
Latest | February 2017