Archived News from October 2019
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OLDHAM PREVIEWS AND MENTAL HEALTH DAY
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Sights set on back-to-back wins - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 10 October 2019 Stags’ boss John Dempster says that his charges will be going ‘full throttle’ against Oldham Athletic on Saturday, with the aim to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. The weekend’s clash at One Call Stadium follows Mansfield’s dramatic 1-0 win away at Grimsby last week, in which captain Krystian Pearce stabbed home the winner deep into stoppage time. The boss says that securing back-to-back league victories would be ‘massive’ in terms of enhancing ‘confidence and belief’ in the squad. “The players came in on Monday with a real spring in their step [after win at Grimsby],” he told iFollow Stags. “The atmosphere after the game in the dressing room was brilliant. To be on the right end of a late result was fantastic. “It would be massive [to get back-to-back wins]. In this league, everybody knows that if you can put back-to-back wins together at any stage of the season, it sees you rocket up the league. “It will enhance confidence and belief. It’s a real opportunity on Saturday. We’ve missed opportunities in the past to go back-to-back - we had an unbelievable chance to do it against Leyton Orient. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/october/gaffer-pre-oldham/ “We’ve been through a lot over the last couple of months - myself included - and we’ll be doing everything on Saturday in front of the home crowd to go back-to-back and get the three points. “If we’re going to be successful, it [home form] is key. We need to get the supporters off their seat and have our players performing with confidence, freedom and courage. “We’ll be going full throttle on Saturday. Dino’s [Maamria, Oldham head coach] sides are always hard to beat and are organised, but we’ll be setting up to play on the front foot. “Oldham have some dangerous players going forward and a bit of experience at the back. They have players who can cause problems if not respected.” After an injury-plagued start to the campaign, the boss revealed that the amber and blue are edging closer to a fully fit squad for the first time this season. “Willem [Tomlinson] is okay and will train this morning,” he added. “He wasn’t feeling great but he wanted to play [against Crewe]. He struggled physically, I think you could see that. “Mells [Jacob Mellis] has tweaked his hamstring slightly. It’s not as bad as first feared, but he’ll be with the medical staff this morning who will re-evaluate him. “Neither are major issues or injuries, and we’re starting to get the squad back to full strength. Matty Preston comes back and is available for Forest Green and Jordan Graham is back training. “Davo [Craig Davies] will be the last to return. He’s coming along well and I expect him to be back with the group over the next week-and-a-half possibly. “For the first time this season, we could be at full strength in the next week or so, which is massive. “We’re a strong squad that needs to be together, at full strength, to be at our best. We’re a group of players who need to do better over the forthcoming weeks.” After 17-year-old Jimmy Knowles netted his first senior goal for the Stags in Tuesday’s 1-1 Leasing.com Trophy draw with Crewe Alexandra, the boss was full of praise for the forward, citing his ‘attitude’ and ‘work rate’ as the reason for his success at such a young age. “It was like seeing your little brother score [on Tuesday]. Jimmy is someone that I think a lot of, as a person as well as a young player. “It was only a couple of years ago when I made the phone call to his dad, after he was released from Nottingham Forest. “After a couple of trial sessions, it was evident that Jimmy was a real talent. The first training session we did with him, he was scoring goals left, right and centre. “Since he’s come into the building, his attitude towards his gym work and the way he conducts himself on a daily basis is second to none. He is somebody who has a real chance. “We’ve had a bit of informal interest in Jimmy from Premier League clubs and a Championship club so he’s creating a real stir. “When he’s not involved in the first team, he’s banging in goals left, right and centre for the under-18s. “He needs to do more of the same of what he’s already doing. His work rate is phenomenal and he’s hungry. “He trains with the first team every day. One of the reasons he hasn’t been on the bench every week is we want him to continue playing football [with the under-18s].” On World Mental Health Day, the boss issued an ‘it’s good to talk’ message, saying: “Drewe [Broughton] is here to help improve performance. But there is a difference between mental health and the players being in the right frame of mind to win a football match. “There are serious issues in the game with mental health. Quite a few of my former teammates have found themselves in rehab during or after their careers, Drewe being one of them. “When you look at the suicide rate for young males under 40, it’s alarming. It’s important for people to realise that it’s good to talk. “Just having a cup of coffee with your mate and having a chat about how you’re feeling, or if you’re struggling to deal with something, is important. “I’m fully aware of how important it is today and it’s great that there is a day that broadens awareness of the issues in today’s society. As human beings it’s important that we support each other.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the gaffer’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------------------- Mansfield Town boss John Dempster calls for first back-to-back wins of the season against Oldham chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 John Dempster knows how important it is for his Mansfield Town side to get their first back-to-back wins of the season when Oldham Athletic visit on Saturday. After a poor start to the season that left them at the wrong end of the table, Stags pulled off a sensational late win with 10 men at Grimsby last weekend that has lifted the whole club. Now boss Dempster wants to see them build on that and win two on the bounce, saying: “It would be massive. “In this league everyone knows that if you can put back-to-back wins together at any stage of the season it sees you rocket up the league. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-boss-john-dempster-calls-for-first-back-to-back-wins-of-the-season-against-oldham-1-10044447 “It will only enhance confidence and belief. “Saturday is a real opportunity to go and do that. We have missed opportunities this season to go back-to-back. “We had an unbelievable chance to do that against Leyton Orient after a brilliant away victory at Carlisle. “So we are hardened. We’ve been through a lot in the last couple of months, myself included, and will be giving everything on Saturday in front of the home crowd to go back to back and get three points on the table.” He added: “The players came in on Monday with a real spring in their step. “We have been on the wrong end of last minute results, so to be on the right end of one was fantastic. “It was one of the feelings why you are in the game and one that will live long in the memory.” Dempster believes the fans can play a huge part, saying: “If we are going to be successful, home form is key. “At times over the seven years I’ve been at the club that has been one of our strengths with the home supporters getting behind us, invigorating the team and driving them forward to attack. “But it’s a two-way street. We need to get the supporters off their seats and we need our players playing with confidence, freedom and courage to lift the supporters behind us. “We will go full throttle on Saturday.” Oldham had also been struggling but have had the tonic of a new manager in Dino Maamria last month. “Dino’s sides are always hard to beat and organised, but we will be setting about them early doors on the front foot and giving everything for each other and the supporters,” said Dempster. “They have some dangerous players going forward and a little bit of experience at the back. “They have picked up a bit since Dino took the job. “Listening to the whispers there have been some serious issues off the field. “But they have some players that can cause problems if they are not respected and we don’t go about it in the right way.” ---------------------- Jacob Mellis doubt, but Mansfield Town finally close to having a fully fit squad for first time this season chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 A late decision will be made on the fitness of Mansfield Town midfielder Jacob Mellis ahead of Saturday’s visit of Oldham Athletic. But Willem Tomlinson looks to have shaken off his illness and, with young striker Jordan Graham back in training and fellow front man Craig Davies possibly less than a fortnight away, Stags boss John Dempster is close to having a fully fit squad for the first time. Dempster had up to 10 players unavailable in a nightmare August and on Tuesday saw Tomlinson and Mellis leave the field during the Leasing.com Trophy clash with Crewe. “Willem is okay now and will train today,” said Dempster. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/jacob-mellis-doubt-but-mansfield-town-finally-close-to-having-a-fully-fit-squad-for-first-time-this-season-1-10044419 “He wasn’t feeling great on Tuesday but wanted to play. He struggled physically and I think you could see that. “Mellis has tweaked his hamstring slightly. It’s not as bad as first feared and he will be re-evaluated over the next couple of day to make sure there is recurrence of the issue. “But neither are major issues and we are starting to get the squad back to full strength.” Stags’ injury situation is certainly improving and Dempster smiled: “Jordan Graham is back training. “Davo will be the last to return, god willing there’s no other injuries. “I watched him train with the physio Tuesday afternoon before the game and he’s coming on well. “I expect him to be back with the group within the next week and a half possibly. “So for the first time this season we could be at full strength in the next week or so. “That would be massive. People talk about our squad being almost like an all-star League Two side. We’re not. “We are a strong squad that needs to be together at full strength to be at our best. We’re not an all-star team. We are a group of players that need to do better over the forthcoming weeks and starting from Oldham on Saturday. --------------- Premier League clubs monitoring Mansfield Town teen sensation Jimmy Knowles chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 Mansfield Town’s teenage sensation striker Jimmy Knowles is already been monitored by Premier League clubs. The 17-year-old notched his first senior goal for Stags in midweek - a superb, powerful finish against Crewe, and boss John Dempster smiled: “He is someone who has a real chance. “We have had quite a lot of informal interest about Jimmy - and one of our other Academy graduates as well - two Premier League clubs and one Championship club. “So Jimmy is creating a real stir because when he’s not involved with the first team he is banging goals in for the U18s. People forget that although Jimmy is a professional footballer he’s only in the second year scholar age. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-clubs-monitoring-mansfield-town-teen-sensation-jimmy-knowles-1-10044703 “So he’s got time on his side. We will keep developing him, encouraging him, and the person that deserves all the credit is Jimmy. “He just needs to do more of the same that he’s already doing - his work rate is phenomenal. He is hungry. “Sometimes players need a kick up the backside. But Jimmy needs to be reined in or dragged off the training pitch or told to stop lifting heavy weights or what have you. He can over-do it.” Dempster admitted he did not always pick Knowles for the first team bench as he needs him to keep getting games and goals at youth level. “He trains with the first team every day. But one of the reasons he has not been on the bench every week is because we want him to continue playing football,” said Dempster. “As a centre forward, Richard Cooper and the other academy coaches are continuing to develop him. At times it might be too easy for him in the U18s. But he’s getting that repetition of chances and he is getting on the ball, so he’s getting different returns from the game he plays in. “Then when he steps up and plays with the first team he will find it more physically demanding - the same for the reserves. That’s a real challenge for him but he can handle it. “I can certainly see him appearing between now and the end of the season. “We need young players like Jimmy to support the squad and, while continuing with their development, step in and bring that real enthusiasm and effort as you saw on Tuesday night.” With Dempster having been academy manager when he brought Knowles in, it makes him doubly happy to see the youngster develop so well. “Other coaches have also had a big impact on Jimmy’s journey so far as well. But for me it was like seeing your little brother score the other night and a brilliant feeling,” he said. “Jimmy is someone I think a lot of as a person as well as a young player. “It was only a couple of years ago when I made the phone call to his dad when he’d been released from Nottingham Forest. “Within a couple of trial sessions it was evident that Jimmy was a real talent. “The first training session we did with him he absolutely smashed. “He was scoring goals left, right and centre and the biggest thing that stood out was his work rate. “Since he’s come into the building that has remained and his attitude towards his gym work and the way he conducts himself on a day to day basis is second to none. His family should be very proud of him.” --------------------------------- West Ham loanee Dapo Afolayan shows his class in a Mansfield Town shirt at last chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 Mansfield Town fans finally got the chance to see a bit more of West Ham loanee Dapo Afolayan in Tuesday’s Leasing.com Trophy draw with Crewe - and will have been impressed by a sensational first half hour. “Dapo is a very good technical player - that’s why he got his move from Solihull to West Ham. We see him every day in training,” said Dempster. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-loanee-dapo-afolayan-shows-his-class-in-a-mansfield-town-shirt-at-last-1-10044711?fbclid=IwAR1xelD7vUrtcMFqwDZYgr-iyz2ZZlecSRLUNEgYVQPXUureUomYDLl1u2o “But what impressed me was the distance he covered. He was pressing all over the pitch. He ran himself into the ground. And he hasn’t played for a while so that’s probably why he faded towards the end.” He continued: “It’s been quite a tough month for Dapo as he’s not had a lot of game time. He’s got a lot of competition for a place. “He has moved up from London to make sure he can commit fully. “He is a good player who has fitted well into the squad and someone who brings something slightly different to the table as well, which is important.” ---------------------- Stop seeing red Mansfield Town boss John Dempster orders players as early card count mounts chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 Mansfield Town manager John Dempster is calling on his players to stop seeing red and think before they dive into challenges. Hayden White’s dismissal at Grimsby last weekend saw Stags end a game with 10 men for the fifth time already this season and tomorrow against Oldham White begins a three game ban while Matt Preston completes a four-game ban, following his three game ban earlier in the campaign. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stop-seeing-red-mansfield-town-boss-john-dempster-orders-players-as-early-card-count-mounts-1-10044719?fbclid=IwAR3B4tZ8G47zt8-T5zzq-2L2nQbsobplRCxRyHb_PduVv9BRaJ3DeuQTDUQ “At Grimsby at half-time we spoke about making sure that we matched them physically and competed with them as they had a very physical side,” said Dempster. “They had a lot of height in their team and I felt they were winning too many aerial duels and landing on too many second balls. “I do want players being committed and winning tackles, but at times this season we have over-stepped the mark with tackles. “We are now in the modern day and the modern game, so it’s important to stay on your feet. “You can only go to ground if it’s a last ditch tackle and at times when we’ve had players sent off this season there has been so need.” Dempster initially felt the White red card was harsh until he saw it back after the game, but admitted it did perk his side up for what was a much-needed win against the odds. “I didn’t feel we were brilliant up to the point where Hayden got sent off. The effort was there but the quality was lacking,” he said. “But when Hayden got sent of the boys reacted brilliantly and we didn’t ever feel in danger. “The tackle looked worse on video. In real time, and I had a reasonable view of it, Hayden got the ball. But, on reflection, the follow through - you can’t really do that any more. “The referee had a difficult afternoon and probably lost control of the game at ties. “But, on reflection, he probably got that one right.” ------------------- Stags must improve home form - midfielder mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 10 October 2019 Mansfield Town midfielder Alex MacDonald believes the Stags must start to make their ‘home advantage’ count ahead of hosting Oldham Athletic at One Call Stadium on Saturday. The 29-year-old was named the Stags’ man of the match in last weekend’s late 1-0 triumph over Grimsby Town as the amber and blue ended a run of four without a win. He now hopes he and his teammates can put their ‘frustrating’ start behind them as they look to earn successive victories for the first time this season with three points against Oldham on Saturday. “I think we’ve been through all the emotions you can possibly go through over a season in a short space of time,” MacDonald said. “We certainly feel we’re at the back end of that now. We’ve had some good performances and a positive result last weekend. Hopefully that can kick-start our season. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/october/macca-pre-oldham/ “The two performances prior to last weekend were better and more like us, but the dogged win against Grimsby was a real positive. “It was a game we didn’t feel as though we played as well as we could’ve done but when you’re going away to places like Grimsby in this division and you come away with all three points, albeit with a poor performance, it’s incredibly satisfying,” stated the midfielder. MacDonald went on to highlight his belief that becoming more consistent is ‘key’ to the Stags as they hope to ‘turn things around.’ “If you continue to do the right things such as perform properly, you’re, more often than not, going to get positive results consistently. “It’s been hard so far this year but if we keep concentrating on ourselves and making sure the performance and effort levels are right, I genuinely believe with the ability we’ve got in this squad we will climb the table.” The energetic midfielder also evaluated his own campaign thus far after coming to the fore in recent weeks following a tough start. He said: “It didn’t start as well as I’d have liked. It’s never nice being out the team, it’s hard to take but the manager felt it was the right thing for the team going forward and I did my best to make sure I got back in as soon as possible. “I wear my heart on my sleeve. I try my hardest in every game that I wear the Mansfield jersey. Something that I pride myself on is my effort levels and trying to lead by example in terms of working hard and trying to be infectious on the field.” MacDonald also hopes the Stags can improve their home performances, starting with victory over Oldham on Saturday, saying: “We need to start making the most of our home advantage. “We’ve not got it right so far in terms of performances and results. As a member of the playing staff I really appreciate the fans’ support - it’s about time we started rewarding them. “Oldham are a tough outfit. We went there at the back end of last season and found it difficult. Going forward they seem to have good players and they’ve got a new manager who everyone will be eager to impress. We’ll be prepared.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Alex’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------- Mansfield Town pair open up candidly on depression and issues in football on World Mental Health Day chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 10 October 2019 Mansfield Town manager John Dempster and midfielder Alex MacDonald today spoke frankly about the pressures in the game on World Mental Health Day. With society desperate to tackle the growing number of young men who take their own lives or suffer in silence with mental health issues, it is becoming very apparent football has more than its fair share, despite many of them seemingly living the dream to the wider world. “Some things are bigger than football. There are serious issues within the game with mental health,” said Dempster, who has recently appointed former striker Drewe Broughton onto his staff to help players with both physical and mental issues. “I’ve had quite a few of my former team mates find themselves in rehab during their career or at the end, Drewe being one of them. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-pair-open-up-candidly-on-depression-and-issues-in-football-on-world-mental-health-day-1-10044599 “He is someone who will speak not only from his personal experiences but also the players he has dealt with most recently, helping them get through some tough times. “When you look at the suicide rate for young males under 40 it’s alarming. It’s important for people to realise it’s good to talk. “Just having a cup of coffee with a mate and unloading on him or in the pub with a beer, having a chat about how you’re feeling. “If you’re struggling with something it’s important. “It’s great there is a day to make this aware of issues going on in today’s society. “I have personally not had any but I have been close to people who have.” Dempster said that in such a tough environment as professional football, the stigma had been there not to open up over your feelings. He said: “In football there is the old adage - get on with it. You’re paid to do something you love. You’ve got a good life, you’re paid well, man up! “But finances have got nothing to do with mental health. It’s a much bigger issue than that in football or any other walk of life. “As a human being it’s important that we support each other and, with those people that are struggling who want to be able to live their lives with dignity and enjoy their lives, it’s important we get round each other in difficult times and make sure we’re all okay.” Midfielder Alex MacDonald agreed, saying: “It’s been quite a part of me with friends and family, none more so than some friends in football who have opened up to me with it. “In football it’s been rife for years and you’ve seen a lot of people come out and spoken about it now. It used to be frowned upon and you’d be looked upon as weak at times. “But the stigma now is not about being a weak person. We all know anyone can suffer with these things.” On Broughton’s appointment to the staff to deal with these issues with his first hand experience, Dempster added: “Drewe has liased with players in groups and individually. He speaks to plays about football and also their personal lives. “He’s here to help improve performance with the rest of the staff but we need players in the right frame of mind to win a football match.” ---------------------- Drewe Broughton speaks on World Mental Health Day mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 10 October 2019 “I always felt different growing up. I was always very sensitive. I used to feel everything. From being a kid at school and then going into football quickly, there’s no time or ability to collect your feelings and think ‘How am I actually feeling?’ “Before you know it, all these feelings get buried. All these emotions get buried. It makes you sick. Some players say ‘no I don’t get it,’ but there’s a lot of players who do. Especially as men and in this industry, to start opening up is difficult.” These are the words of Mansfield Town’s performance coach Drewe Broughton who, on World Mental Health Day, spoke openly about his own experiences which saw him endure a period in which he was homeless, divorced and broke. “I wanted to escape the pain every day. After training I’d go shopping, buy a TV, clothes, or sleep around with women. You’re doing all this stuff just to escape because you can’t talk to anyone. I finished my career, and my wife, rightly so, asked me to leave. There was no money, it was all gone; I was driving a nice car but it was leased - it was all a façade.” Broughton pinpointed the moment he realised the severity of his struggles, saying: “I was 32 years of age, relegated out of the Football League with Lincoln City. I was probably the top earner there, the most experienced, a lot was expected of me, the team was expected to go up that year and got relegated. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/october/drewe-broughton-speaks-on-world-mental-health-day/ “I remember leaving the ground that day and seven or eight fans were throwing stones at my car and swearing as I was coming out the car park. I realised there was nothing left in me, no fight. “Usually if that happens to me, the hand-brake’s up and I’m having a fight in the car park, but I realised at that point, ‘I’m emotionally gone,’ because I just whimpered out of the car park and pulled into a McDonalds up the road - ordered two Big Macs, two fries, six doughnuts and two milkshakes, just trying to fill the void inside. I sat there until I was sick as a dog, drove home and my career was over. Done.” Prior to this, he had a conversation which acted as the catalyst for his mental health struggles, which affected him throughout his 17-year career. “I remember once a manager calling me in when I didn’t play so well on the Saturday after I got subbed on 60 minutes. He called me in and said ‘what was that on Saturday?’ “I responded ‘I’m sorry boss, I woke up on Saturday morning and didn’t feel great. There’s a lot of pressure on me, the girl I was seeing had just broken up with me - I was feeling a little bit down.’ The manager was looking right through me as if to say: ‘what are you talking about?’ He said ‘are you telling me you don’t want to play on Tuesday?’ I said ‘no I’m up for playing on Tuesday, you just asked how I was.’ ‘Get out, go and train,’ he replied. “That was when I was 23 years of age. I left his office and thought - ‘well I can’t ever say that again otherwise that’s me done; I won’t play.’ So another ten years or so later I was in a very bad place by the time I retired. You can’t be honest with your feelings in football. It’s a tragedy really.” The 40-year-old sees ‘talking to people’ and being ‘open about your feelings’ as vital to maintaining positive mental health. He says: “If I was able to have that conversation in my twenties, it would’ve been OK. If, like me, you don’t and that stuff builds and builds, like a volcano, it’ll erupt.” For Broughton, that volcano did indeed erupt as he was forced into rehabilitation in the shape of former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance Clinic, which offers help to sports men and women experiencing difficulties. Recalling the time at which he entered rehab, he added: “At that point there was nothing else, I was at rock bottom, left with myself in a bedroom at the clinic in the middle of the woods in Hampshire - there was only me, a piece of paper and a pen. ‘Who are you?’ I thought. ‘Money gone. Family gone. Career finished. Who am I?’ You’re in there for 30 days and that’s the process, rediscovering where you got lost.” Now, having been appointed as part of the Stags’ coaching staff, Broughton is feeling great, saying: “I’m still me - I’m feeling fiery, I’m feeling passionate, I’m feeling aggressive. All those things I had as a player that got beaten out of me, I have. “Eight years ago I was in rehab, I didn’t watch football for four years after that. I didn’t want anything to do with the industry. But now I’m back, I’ve got that buzz again. I’m enjoying it.” Having come out of mental health issues positively, he hopes many others can utilise the available solutions to do the same. “There’s some incredible free stuff out there. There’s plenty of anonymous groups where you can meet other people and get help. Go and sit in the room for an hour, you’ll hear things and come out uplifted, thinking - ‘hang on a minute. Everyone’s the same as me.’” ------------------------------------- Mansfield Town performance coach Drewe Broughton opens up about his dark days at rock bottom and how he now wants to help players suffering mental health problems chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS To mark World Mental Health Day, Mansfield Town’s Drewe Broughton this week lifted the lid off a life of torment that he has now put behind him and vowed to help others. Broughton has come through the dark days of hitting rock bottom in his life and wants everyone at the club to feel they can open up and share their feelings with him and benefit from his vast experience of life. Mansfield Town performance coach Drewe Broughton marked World Mental Health Day last week by speaking candidly about dealing with feelings and how he ended up in rehab, homeless, divorced and in heavy debt. Broughton's brief with Stags is to help players with both physical and mental issues - and he is very well placed to do so after coming through some very dark days in his past. “I wanted to escape the pain every day. After training I’d go shopping, buy a TV, clothes, or sleep around with women,” he said. “You’re doing all this stuff just to escape because you can’t talk to anyone. “I finished my career, and my wife, rightly so, asked me to leave. There was no money, it was all gone; I was driving a nice car but it was leased - it was all a façade.” Broughton said he was always a sensitive youngster growing up and believes an early conversation with a manager led to him bottling up his issues which grew into the mental health struggles that affected him throughout his 17-year career with 22 clubs. “I was always a sensitive kid and, straight from school you go into the industry and, before you know it, all these feelings get buried. It makes you sick,” he said. “Some players say ‘no I don’t get it,’ but there’s a lot of players who do. Especially as men and in what is a very macho industry, to start opening up is difficult.” “I remember once a manager calling me in when I didn’t play so well on the Saturday after I got subbed on an hour. “He said ‘what was that on Saturday? “I said ‘I’m sorry boss, I woke up on Saturday morning and didn’t feel great. There’s a lot of pressure on me, the girl I'm seeing has just broken up with me - I was feeling a little bit down.’ “The manager was looking right through me as if to say: ‘what are you talking about?’ He said ‘are you telling me you don’t want to play on Tuesday?’ I said ‘no I’m up for playing on Tuesday, you just asked how I was.’ ‘Get out, go and train,’ he replied. “That was when I was 23 years of age. I left his office and thought - ‘well I can’t ever say that again otherwise that’s me done; I won’t play.’ “So another 10 years or so later I was in a very bad place by the time I retired. You can’t be honest with your feelings in football. It’s a tragedy really.” Broughton was finally broken at 32 when he was relegated out of the Football League with Lincoln. “I was probably the top earner there, the most experienced player, a lot was expected of me, the team was expected to go up that year and got relegated,” he said. “I remember leaving the ground that day and seven or eight fans were throwing stones at my car and swearing as I was coming out the car park. I realised there was nothing left in me, no fight. “Usually if that happens to me, the hand-brake’s up and I’m having a fight in the car park. “But I realised at that point I was emotionally gone because I just whimpered out of the car park and pulled into a McDonalds up the road, ordered two Big Macs, two fries, six doughnuts and two milkshakes, just to try to fill the void inside. I sat there until I was sick as a dog, drove home and my career was over - done. It was a low point. “It was a shame I had to hit rock bottom. It's just darkness really. You're in the room but you're not in the room. “I was just struggling. My head was full of stuff, I had no one to talk to. Whether you use food or sex or alcohol or spending or gambling - they're just all addictions. They are just to fill an unhappy place." He ended up in rehab at the Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance Clinic. “At that point there was nothing else,” he explained.”I was at rock bottom, left with myself in a bedroom at the clinic in the middle of the woods in Hampshire. “There was only me, a piece of paper and a pen. ‘Who are you?’ I thought. ‘Money gone. Family gone. Career finished. Who am I?’ You’re in there for 30 days and that’s the process, rediscovering where you got lost.” He came out of there owing about £70,000 on credit cards but had already studied and decided to set a business up and his life took off, thanks to being able to talk. Within 18 months the debut was paid off thanks to his PFA pension he had forgotten he'd been paying into. Now he will speak openly about the dark days and encourages players to open up before they are damaged by their issues. “There’s some incredible free stuff out there,” he said. “There’s plenty of anonymous groups where you can meet other people and get help. I’m still me - I’m feeling fiery, I’m still passionate and aggressive. All those things I had as a player that got beaten out of me, I have. I am real. DREWE BROUGHTON “Go and sit in the room for an hour, you’ll hear things and come out uplifted, thinking - ‘hang on a minute. Everyone’s the same as me.’ “If I was able to have that conversation in my twenties, it would’ve been okay. If, like me, you don’t and that stuff builds and builds, like a volcano, it’ll erupt.” Broughton is now enjoying his new lease of life - personally and in the game. “I’m still me - I’m feeling fiery, I’m still passionate and aggressive. All those things I had as a player that got beaten out of me, I have. I am real,” he smiled. “Eight years ago I was in rehab, I didn’t watch football for four years after that. I didn’t want anything to do with the industry. BROUGHTON ON MANSFIELD TOWN “I am enjoying it. I think the performance levels have been incredible - much better. “You can only win football games with two things. You can run harder than the opposition and you can give the ball away and go and get it again - as everyone gives the ball away. If you keep doing those things with drive and passion then over a matter of time you will win games. “I nearly signed here a few times over the years. It was probably money that prevented it. “I was better off somewhere else - the tragedy of it. Footballers think like that some time. “But Mansfield has always been a good place to come and play and I enjoyed it. “Obviously the club has moved on a lot since then and the infrastructure now is really strong. “I am just being me with the players and manager here. Because I am so open I think it helps." DREWE BROUGHTON “I live near MK Dons and they have their lovely, big stadium, buy they don't have a training ground. “Everything here is strong from the academy upwards, but it is all about winning games. “Mentally this squad is strong - there are a lot of senior players here. To go to Grimsby and win in the 96th minute with 10 men - you can't do that if you've got anything less than 100 per cent strong mentality. “I am just being me with the players and manager here. Because I am so open I think it helps." ------------------------ Battle of the early under-achievers as Mansfield Town host Oldham Athletic chad.co.uk Mansfield Town will try to make it back-to-back wins in League Two when they host Oldham Athletic at the One Call Stadium tomorrow. Like Mansfield, Oldham made a surprisingly poor start to the campaign which cost Frenchman Laurent Banide his job late last month after winning only one of the first nine games which had left the Latics 21st. Dino Maamria, sacked by winless Stevenage only 11 days earlier, was then the surprise choice to steer the Latics back up the table. Former Southport and Nuneaton boss Maamria, 48, said his first priority was to stabilise and unite this club and quickly chalked up his first win a few days later - a 3-1 win over Morecambe before losing 1-0 at Carlisle United. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/battle-of-the-early-under-achievers-as-mansfield-town-host-oldham-athletic-1-10044705?fbclid=IwAR3w6qJNuPsI99Zfyg4D1p4d0jANGA6nst8IfOcpECNnAqSHCCbGHwNBC3k Last Saturday they drew 1-1 against Cheltenham. On his appointment just over three weeks ago, he said: “Sometimes it is difficult to get back in management, so I guess I am fortunate. “But the board at Oldham clearly took notice of what I’d achieved (in 18 months) at Stevenage. “Last season we won 20 league games in narrowly missing out on the play-offs. “I will be relentless in seeking wins and success at Oldham now. “This club has been underachieving for too long. It’s been in decline. “Oldham is a big club in League Two and as far as I can see we can get back up to the Championship within two or three years. “Everything is in place, the stadium, the players, the training, the training. It just ticks so many boxes. “I want to get this club connecting with the fans again. “This club has been in transition, but now’s the time to stabilise, and I want to help do that.” Stags do have a score to settle with Oldham as the 3-2 defeat at Boundary Park on 22nd April was one of the three defeats in a row at the end of last season which denied the Stags promotion, having only needed to chalk up a win in one of them to reach League One. After finishing 14th, Oldham rang the changes in the summer, bringing in 12 new faces, culminating in the deadline day loan captures of Filipe Morais (from Crawley Town) and Jonathan Smith (from Bristol City), plus the signing of ex-Ashton United wide man Dominic McHale a few days earlier. Among their key signings was former Manchester United winger Chris Eagles, the 33-year-old putting pen-to-paper on a 12-month deal with the Latics. Striker Scott Wilson arrived on a free transfer from Macclesfield Town, the 26-year-old having been the Silkmen’s top goalscorer last season. Czech defender Tomas Egert arrived at Boundary Park looking to prove his fitness after missing last season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, having been released by Burton Albion on their relegation from the Championship. Desire Segbe-Azankpo was signed on a one-year-deal after a season at Slovak club FK Senica, where he made 29 appearances and scored six goals, and he was joined by fellow striker Marvin Kokos on a two-year deal. Kokos is a product of the Marseille academy and can also operate on the wing. The 18-year-old was previously at Gazélec Ajaccio in France. The Latics have former Stags player Alex Iacovitti in their defence, the Scot having played eight games on loan from Forest in 2016/17. -------------------- Barry Owen, Oldham Athletic Director (at a Fans Forum during the week before the game): "We made an offer to Maynard who was on big money at Bury. He was not initially on big money at Bury but then went on to silly money. He chose for whatever reason to go to Mansfield but he's not pulling any plants up there is he?" -------------------- |
Latest | October 2019