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Archived News from June 2019

STAGS SIGN YOUNG KEEPER AIDAN STONE
28th June 2019 18:32


Stags snap up young goalkeeper
mansfieldtown.net, Monday 24 June 2019

Mansfield Town are pleased to announce the signing of young goalkeeper Aidan Stone.

The shot-stopper joins the Stags following a spell at Premier League outfit Burnley, and will battle Conrad Logan for the number one spot while Bobby Olejnik recovers from his ACL injury.

Stone, 20, says that his experience on trial with Mansfield last term made him want to sign for the club.

“I’m delighted to get the deal over the line,” he began.

“The way the club and the staff were with me when I came in on trial, it made me feel that I really did want to sign for this club.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/june/stags-snap-up-goalkeeper

“Certainly after that game, that’s where my heart was certainly set, and this is the place that I want to pursue my football career.

“Since coming in, I have realised how big of a club this is and how much it means to the supporters.

“The club has a good feel to it, and that persuaded me to make the step and come here.”

Manager John Dempster said: “Aidan has had an excellent schooling at a place [Burnley] which has a proven track record for producing excellent young goalkeepers.

“We are already blessed with two senior goalkeepers [Bobby Olejnik and Conrad Logan] who are established at this level, however, Aiden will provide us with cover in the absence of Bobby recovering from his injury.

“I expect Aiden to learn from, develop and push Conrad and Bobby for the number one shirt.”

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Stone played on trial in the final reserve game of 2018/2019:
https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/april/match-report-for-port-vale-reserves-vs-mansfield-town-reserves-on-30-apr-19/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e49aT7XZjM

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twitter Aidan Stone @aidanstone26

Glad to finally announce that I’ve signed for Mansfield town now time to kick on

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Trial convinced me Stags was the club for me - new goalkeeper
mansfieldtown.net

New Mansfield Town goalkeeper Aidan Stone says a trial towards the end of last season convinced him that the Stags was the club where he wanted to ply his trade.

The shot-stopper joined th club yesterday following a spell at Premier League outfit Burnley, and will battle Conrad Logan for the number one spot while Bobby Olejnik recovers from his ACL injury.

Stone, 20, said: “I’m delighted to get the deal over the line.”

“The way the club and the staff were with me when I came in on trial, it made me feel that I really did want to sign for this club.

“Certainly after that game, that’s where my heart was certainly set, and this is the place that I want to pursue my football career.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/june/trial-convinced-me-stags-was-the-club-for-me---new-goalkeeper/

“Since coming in, I have realised how big of a club this is and how much it means to the supporters.

“The club has a good feel to it, and that persuaded me to make the step and come here.”

Asked about his strengths, Stone said: “I’d say my shot-stopping ability and my distribution into wide areas. I’m able to pick a pass out, and playing with my feet is one of my main strengths.

“It’s something that I have worked on for quite a few years now. I’d say that’s definitely one of my main strengths.

“I thought it [trial match with Mansfield against Port Vale reserves last season] went quite well. I had been told I wasn’t getting a contract [at Burnley] so I was a bit nervous going into the game.

“I didn’t know many of the lads, but the way that they helped me ease into the game really made me feel welcome.

The former Burnley ‘keeper also described recent conversations with manager John Dempster and Stags’ shot-stopper Conrad Logan.

“As a boss, he [John Dempster] is a great guy. I’ve had a couple of conversations with him, and he knows what he wants.

“He has a clear plan and hopefully I want to kick on and help with that. On the whole, he is a really good guy.

“I also spoke to Conrad [Logan, pictured above] when I came into training [on trial] towards the back end of the season.

“He is a really nice guy - he encourages you and has a great work ethic. To be able to challenge with someone like that only excites me.

“Hopefully we can push each other, and in the end, the club is moving forward. It’s a great opportunity to work alongside him.

“I’m hoping that his experience rubs off on me both on and off the pitch. He knows how to act and the way he conducts himself is something that I am really looking forward to learning from.

“This environment, where I am closer to Conrad and the rest of the group, is one that will only make me a better player.”

Stone also reflected on his time at Premier League outfit Burnley, his most recent club before joining the Stags.

“I have good memories [with Burnley]. They are the club that gave me the opportunity to get into professional football, coming from non-league.
“The good memory from the back end of last season was getting into the Lancashire Senior Cup final.

“To play in that final against our local rivals, Blackburn, was something special, and a good game to be involved in.

“[At Burnley] I learned the way that you should act as a professional, from people like the senior goalkeepers at the club.

“You learn more about yourself, as you always think you’re working hard, but when you go into that environment, you know that’s the level you need to be at.

“The determination and the work rate are what you learn.”

To watch Aidan's first interview, log in to http://www.mansfieldtown.net/ifollow

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Former Burnley youngster Aidan Stone relishing battle for No.1 spot at Mansfield Town with Conrad Logan
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

New Mansfield Town goalkeeper Aidan Stone can’t wait to battle for the No.1 jersey with Conrad Logan next season.

The former Burnley youngster impressed in a trial reserve game against Port Vale last season for the Stags and is now a third goalkeeper for a department that will be without injured Bobby Olejnik for at least another three months.

“I spoke to Conrad Logan when I came into training on trial towards the back end of the season,” said Stone.

“He is a really nice guy - he encourages you and has a great work ethic. To be able to challenge with someone like that only excites me.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/former-burnley-youngster-aidan-stone-relishing-battle-for-no-1-spot-at-mansfield-town-with-conrad-logan-1-9845531

“Hopefully we can push each other, so in the end, the club is moving forward. It’s a great opportunity to work alongside him.

“I’m hoping that his experience rubs off on me both on and off the pitch. He knows how to act and the way he conducts himself is something that I am really looking forward to learning from.

“I did have the opportunity to learn from the first team keepers at Burnley. But this environment, where I am closer to Conrad and the rest of the group, is one that will only make me a better player.”

On his strengths as a keeper, he said: “I’d say my shot-stopping ability and my distribution into wide areas. I’m able to pick a pass out quite easily, and playing with my feet is one of my main strengths.

“It’s something that I have worked on for quite a few years now. I’d say that’s definitely one of my main strengths.

“I thought the trial match went quite well. I had been told I wasn’t getting a contract at Burnley so I was a bit nervous going into the game.

“I didn’t know many of the lads, but the way that they helped me ease into the game really made me feel welcome.

“I was gutted to concede in the last few minutes when I thought I’d kept a clean sheet.

“I didn’t know a whole lot about Mansfield to be honest. But since coming in it has a good feel to it.”

Stone said of manager John Dempster: “As a boss, he is a great guy. I’ve had a couple of conversations with him, and he knows what he wants.

“He has a plan and hopefully I want to kick on and help with that.

“On the whole, he is a really nice guy. People speak highly of him and I can see why.”

Looking back on his time at Turf Moor, he said: “I have good memories from Burnley. They are the club that gave me the opportunity to get into professional football, coming from non-league.

“I have fond memories from the back end of last season, getting into the Lancashire Senior Cup final, which was a big step forward for the club at U23 level.

“To play in that final against our local rivals Blackburn was something special, and a good game to be involved in.

“At Burnley I learned the way that you should act as a professional, from people like the senior goalkeepers at the club.

“You learn more about yourself. You always think you’re working hard, but when you go into that environment, you know that’s the level you need to be at.

“The determination and the work rate are what you learn and I want to kick on here now. I want to come back from Portugal and hit the ground running.”

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New boy Aidan Stone will blossom as he learns from Mansfield Town keeper duo says boss John Dempster
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 25 June 2019

John Dempster believes new Mansfield Town goalkeeper Aidan Stone will blossom as he works alongside the experienced duo of Conrad Logan and Bobby Olejnik.

Formerly on Burnley’s books, Stone, 20, arrived at the club this week to cover for the injured Olejnik, who will miss the start of the campaign with his knee injury, and offer further competition down the line.

“He is a good, young goalkeeper with good, natural attributes that have been developed at Burnley, who have an outstanding record of developing young goalkeepers,” said manager Dempster.

“It’s an area we needed to cover because of the injury to Bobby last season. So we will now have cover there for the early part of next season.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/new-boy-aidan-stone-will-blossom-as-he-learns-from-mansfield-town-keeper-duo-says-boss-john-dempster-1-9845604

“But I think it would have been a waste not to have had a young goalkeeper in and around the likes of Conrad and Bobby as they are both outstanding senior pros that a young keeper can only learn from.

“Now we have also brought Ian Pledger back into the fold as goalkeeping coach, I think Aidan will come on leaps and bounds.”

Dempster added: “Bobby is recovering well from his injury and we are looking forward to having him back from around September.

“Aidan is a young pro, but if develops at the rate we’re hoping he will he will certainly be in contention for that number one jersey.

“He’s a good physical size, he’s local, he’s actually decent with his feet as well. Burnley have developed him well in that department. So his distribution is good. And he’s a good shot-stopper.

“It helps he is the physical size he is. Her shook my hand the other day and he dwarfed my hand. So hopefully he’ll keep them out the net.”

On Olejnik’s return from a serious knee injury, Dempster said: “I think we are probably looking at September time for Bobby.

“It was a serious injury so we want to make sure it’s right.”

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earlier story:
Stone Tribute To Departing Trio
Three U23s bow out in final defeat as time at Turf Moor comes to an end
8 May 2019
https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2019/may/stone-tribute-to-departing-duo/#.XNKwjnsCM2M.twitter

Steve Stone paid tribute to the trio of young players who ended their Burnley careers in the Lancashire FA Senior Cup final.

Goalkeeper Aiden Stone, defender James Clarke (top) and forward Tinashe Chakwana have not been offered new deals and will leave Turf Moor at the end of the season.

Stone and Clarke both started the 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at the County Ground in Leyland, while Chakwana came off the bench during the second half.

And they were then given a fitting send-off by their team-mate after the game, with Stone confident they will get the chance to pursue their careers elsewhere.

“I think they’ve all been brilliant for us this season,” said the Under-23s’ boss.

“Clarkey has had a couple of injuries, which have kept him out of stuff. But I think they’ll all get clubs.

“One of the reasons I let them go is that I didn’t think they’d affect our first team, but I thought they could affect somebody’s first team in the near future at League or Conference level and it was time for them to go and play men’s football.

“We have all given them a round of applause in the changing rooms for what they have done for this football club, because Clarkey has been since he was 14 years of age.

“He has been captain of the youth team and scholar of the year.

“They have had an impact on the football club and driving this to where it is now, so they should be proud of what they’ve achieved here.”

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Latest | June 2019