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Archived News from October 2017

STAGS TO FIELD STRONG SIDE AT RAINWORTH
10th October 2017 11:12


Stags to field good side in Rainworth friendly
mansfieldtown.net, 2 Oct 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans says a 'decent side' will travel to Kirklington Road to face Rainworth Miners Welfare in a friendly on Tuesday evening (7.00pm kick-off).

We were due to take on the Wrens in our final pre-season friendly in August, but the manager opted to send the under 21s, with the start of the Sky Bet League Two season set to get underway four days later.

Admission prices for tomorrow's friendly are as follows:
Adults & seniors: £5
Children (17 and under): £2

And with no reserve team fixture scheduled for this week, the gaffer agreed to play the friendly on Tuesday and speaking to the local media this morning, he confirmed he will be sending a squad containing first team players to Kirklington Road.

"[It is] an opportunity for some to get game-time and an opportunity for our supporters to travel up and see some of the players who played here on Saturday," the Stags' chief said.

Read more at https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/october/evans-02-oct/

"It will be a decent side that's going up to Rainworth. We gave our word to them in the summer that we would come at an appropriate time with a strong side and I must admit, I've been up there watching reserve games last year for the Stags and I really like the people up there.

"They're Mansfield people and I gave them my word and if I gave them my word then many chairman know and many players know that my word is my bond and I never change it."

Winger Alfie Potter was forced off with a calf problem during the first half of Saturday's 3-1 win over Notts County and the manager says the severity of the injury will be revealed later today.

However, the former Leeds United boss is hopeful of welcoming the injured trio of defenders Zander Diamond and Hayden White and midfielder Joel Byrom back into the fold over the next week.

"The likes of Zander [Diamond], he's not quite there yet, Joel [Byrom's] not quite there yet, Alfie [Potter] will have a further assessment today.

"They're (Diamond and Byrom) getting nearer now because they've been out for a few weeks now. I would say that we're looking towards Colchester, if not Colchester, we're certainly looking towards Swindon.

"Aflie just felt his calf, so we'll know better later today when he comes in. He over-stretched for one ball and just felt his calf start tightening up. We've always said to our players: if you're tightening up, the next thing is a pull and a bad pull so you have to go down and indicate it.

"[Hayden White] should be back on the grass on Wednesday and the medical team tell me back in the full group and available on Thursday, but he's got Paul Anderson to replace hasn't he? I thought there was no-one better than him on the pitch on Saturday."

A crowd of 7,072 watched the Derby Day win over Notts County on Saturday; the largest EFL attendance at One Call Stadium since our meeting with the Magpies in 2004 (7,682) and the manager described the home support as 'wonderful' during the 3-1 victory.

"I've always said to the chairman and every other chairman I've worked for: what brings supporters to sit on the seats and support the team is performances and results.

"We got both on Saturday but if we'd have played like that and lost, I'd still have been proud of my players.

"Supporters go away thinking about the result and that's what they do, but on Saturday they went home with both."

Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags to listen to the manager's news conference later today.

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Strong Stags side to face Rainworth
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 02 October 2017

Mansfield Town will take a strong side to face non-League neighbours Rainworth MW in a friendly game tomorrow night (Tuesday, 7pm kick-off). The game was originally a pre-season friendly and the Wrens were left disappointed when Stags boss Steve Evans had a late change of heart and sent his U21s instead of his first team. But Evans promised he would take a full side up there when he could and he said today: “It is an opportunity for some to get game time and an opportunity for our supporters to travel up and see some of the players that played here on Saturday. “It will be a decent side that’s going up to Rainworth. We gave our word to them in the summer that we’d come at an appropriate time with a strong side. As many chairmen know and many players know my word is my bond - I never change it. “I have been up there watching reserve games and I really like the people up there - they are salt of the earth people.” Evans believes it is important League clubs help local clubs. “I am very fortunate that I work for John and Carolyn Radford who do believe in putting into grassroots and the community,” he said. “It’s not just about the team inside the One Call Stadium. It’s how we can go out and invigorate the town - how we can help people in the town. It’s essential we put things back.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/strong-stags-side-to-face-rainworth-1-8783987

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Hemmings praised after goal heartbreak
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 02 October 2017

Steve Evans had words of encouragement for striker Kane Hemmings, who might have scored his first Mansfield Town goal on Saturday On his seventh start for the club, Oxford loanee striker Hemmings saw Notts County keeper Adam Collin turn his close range header onto a post and it appeared to cross the line. However, Danny Rose made sure with his follow-up and was credited with the goal as Stags went on to win 3-1. “I think there is an argument Kane’s header was in,” admitted Evans. “I don’t know if it was when you’ve not got the goal line technology. “Danny is obviously going to say it wasn’t. It could be hitting the net and coming out and Danny would claim it! “But you look at the quality of the goal. It was fantastic play by Omari (Sterling-James). It was a fantastic cross to the far stick, picks Kane out, and it was a fantastic, brave header from Kane as the defender was coming to smash it. “Then Adam Collin, who has made many saves like that for me over the years, makes a fantastic save to get anywhere near it and turn it onto the post. “Danny Rose followed it in like all good strikers do and it ended up in the net. “I’ve always said I don’t care who scores. I don’t care if we’ve got five players on 10 goals or 15 goals as long as at the end of it we’ve scored enough goals to get in that top group.” However, Evans had nothing but praise for Hemmings’ contribution. “I thought he was wonderful on Saturday,” he said. “He led the line like a true Stag. He and Danny Rose gave the team a real focal point. I thought they really complemented each other well. “I have said before I think we have five terrific strikers. Probably Omari feels hurt and aggrieved he’s not had a further run at times and Jimmy Spencer must be wondering what he has to do to start a game. “He started against Lincoln in the Checkatrade and he was excellent. That was why he got introduced as the first substitute in the strike force on Saturday. “My first choice partnership will always be the boys in form. “Lee Angol would have started Saturday but the kid just wasn’t 100 per cent feeling right so therefore he came out.” He added: “It’s a big week ahead with training and people justifying being in the team. “It’s never the answer to say we beat Notts County the league leaders, so we’ll go with the same team. That’s the 1990s.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/hemmings-praised-after-goal-heartbreak-1-8783982

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Stags waiting on Potter injury
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 02 October 2017

Mansfield Town are hoping the injury to winger Alfie Potter on Saturday won’t prove to be a serious one. Potter had to go off on 33 minutes with a tight calf in Saturday’s 3-1 derby win against Notts County. But Stags are hoping he may be fit for the weekend trip to Colchester United when they should also have Hayden White (groin) and virus pair Rhys Bennett and Lee Angol fully fit again. “We will have a further assessment on Alfie,” said manager Steve Evans. “He just felt his calf. We will know more today. He over-stretched for a ball and just felt his calf tightening up. “We’ve always said to players if you are tightening up the next time is a pull, and a bad pull. “So you have to go down and indicate it. Alfie came off, but opened the door for Omari Sterling-James, who I thought was outstanding in the second half, having taken a while to get into the game.” Right back White should return this week, though Evans pointed out he now has the problem of dislodging emergency right back Paul Anderson, who had an excellent game on Saturday. Evans said: “Hayden should be back on the grass on Wednesday and available but he’s got Paul Anderson to replace hasn’t he? “I said before the game he played there in the Championship play-off semi-final for the Premier League. “I watched it live at Portman Road and I thought he was outstanding in spells. And I thought there was no one better than him on the pitch on Saturday.” He added: “If people are not quite right I’m not going to put them in the team. The minimum we have to have is 100 per cent effort, commitment, passion - call it what you like. They have to be 100 per cent fit to play to deliver that. “Hopefully this week will clear up some of those virus/flu symptoms in the camp and we can focus on Colchester. Midfielder Joel Byrom and Zander Diamond look likely to miss the weekend with their injuries but could be in contention by the time Swindon visit on Saturday, 14th October.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-waiting-on-potter-injury-1-8783980

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Salmon Trophy was a fitting tribute as Stags land first silverware
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 02 October 2017

As Mansfield Town put their first silverware of the season into the trophy cabinet, manager Steve Evans and chairman John Radford said the new Matt Salmon Trophy had been a fitting tribute to their late physio. Matt died of cancer aged 25 in the summer and the trophy will now be competed for every time his former clubs Stags and Notts County meet. Fans also stood and clapped in the 25th minute of Saturday’s 3-1 Mansfield win and chairman John Radford said: “It was a moving moment when we applauded Matt during the first half. “It seemed as if everyone inside the home ends rose to their feet to mark the minute with the respect and applause which Matt deserved. “Matt had enjoyed work experience at Notts County, which I know he enjoyed, followed by three-and-a-half-years with us at the Stags. “I know his bias would have been towards us on the day and the whole club was proud to win the match, for Matt, as much as anything else. SPORT: FOOTBALL: SKY BET LEAGUE TWO : Mansfield Town FC v Notts County FC : 30 Sept 2017 : One Call Stadium “It was fitting to remember Matt by competing for the Matt Salmon Trophy on Saturday and how delighted we were to win it in the way we did. “Football can be more than just a game, it is a way of life and I know it was for Matt - such was his dedication to his job and the care of the young players to whom he administered treatment.” Manager Evans added: “Credit to everyone in the stadium. I looked across and some players were clapping. “Credit to the Notts County fans, Matt was obviously there as well. “I shudder when I think about it but his family must have sat there and looked up at the sky. It was a sad moment. “It shows you the type of guy he was, even if you didn’t know him well. “I don’t profess to have known him overly well. But on the occasions I was in his company socially or professionally he was an encyclopedia of knowledge when it came to the medical world and physiotherapy world. “He was really trusted and respected in this football club - that’s why he got the type of reception he got. “Regardless of who won the game, I am sure his family went away on Saturday with the memories given to them from the Mansfield and Notts County fans, which were very special and heartfelt.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/salmon-trophy-was-a-fitting-tribute-as-stags-land-first-silverware-1-8784634

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Evans calls on Forest and other nearby football fans to back promotion bid
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town reach the quarter mark of the season this week just two points outside the play-offs with boss Steve Evans calling on the town and surrounding areas to get behind their promotion bid. After over 5,000 home fans cheered a memorable 3-1 derby win over Notts County on Saturday, Evans called on neighbouring Forest, Derby and Rotherham fans to come down and enjoy some Stags action when their teams are away. “We just hope we can produce good, entertaining football, score goals like we did on Saturday, win games, get up into that top group and be a real part of it, then the support base will only go up,” said Evans. “Forest fans, Derby fans, Rotherham fans - when your team’s a long way from home, we are half-an-hour, 40 minutes, down the road. “Come and get behind us and try to get us in League One and the Championship. “Nottingham Forest had a brilliant result at the weekend but I want their fans to come and help us - they’re not going to go and support County are they? “We are a great place to go and watch football. “Rotherham fans as well - you have a manager here that bled for your club.” Saturday’s 7,072 gate was Stags’ biggest home crowd since 7,682 turned out for the same fixture in October 2004 and Evans said: “I thought they were wonderful. “I have always said to the chairman and to every other chairman I’ve worked for that what brings supporters to sit on the seats and support the team is performances and results. “We got both on Saturday. If we’d played like and lost I’d have still gone home proud of my players but supporters would have gone away thinking about the result. That’s what they do. “But they went home with both - proud of the result and proud of the performance. “It was a Mansfield Town side that were really committed and really focused, though as I have said we are far from being ready yet to be the team that we want to be. “I watched the video twice through yesterday and we’re a long way short of where we want to be. I keep saying we will be much better in the second half of the season. “That may not be the case in fact, but it’s what I believe.” Evans continued: “Since they came back up from the Conference, the supporters of Mansfield Town have spoken about promotion but there has been no substance. “I’d like to fly an aeroplane but I haven’t got a pilot’s licence. The substance has only been about John Radford backing it. The substance is here now with the management team and the players - and you need the supporters above all. It’s all part of the same mix.” Saturday made it 10 derbies against Notts without defeat and Evans said: “Any local derby you want to give your supporters a good day and we’ve had three so-called local derbies - if you can call Grimsby that - and we’ve won all three. That can never be a bad thing. “Derby games are absolutely extra-special for supporters. They get the bragging rights for another week or two. “We delivered a good result - a positive result which was important for the chairman, the chief executive and our supporters - but most of all important for the players.” Stags head for Colchester United this Saturday and Evans said: “We have now taken 13 points from a possible 18 and we are disappointed which shows the standards we set ourselves and the standards other expect from us. “It was important we had a reaction after Tuesday’s defeat at Cheltenham. The boys gave a fantastic reaction, but they’ve done that most of the time. “Cheltenham was a disappointing performance and not like us. But you will have days like that in any competition in the world, especially Leagues One and Two more than the rest. You have to put it behind you and learn from it which we did.” Evans was sent to the stand at Cheltenham but expects to be on the bench at Colchester. “I am expecting a letter and then we’ll take the advice of our chief executive and see where that goes,” he said. “But if I’ve got 15 priorities today it’s not in the top 15. “I would think it’s unlikely to be for the weekend, maybe for the week afterwards. “That depends if I agree with it. If I disagree with it when I see what’s there then it could be weeks or months.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-calls-on-forest-and-other-nearby-football-fans-to-back-promotion-bid-1-8785683

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