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by Oladamber66 » Sat Sep 10, 2022 3:28 pm
Without doubt our best manager... i was privileged to witness and support our best ever team captained by our best ever midfielder Gordon Hodgson .... RIP Dave Smith.
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by Tippy Tappy Football » Sat Sep 10, 2022 3:28 pm
Rob wrote:I think it was more to do with a relationship he had.
Dave Smith and former players have told me that this was not true Rob.
Dave Smith was a great manager but I have been told by some of his former players that he could be a very difficult controversial character and he often fell out with them including the senior players. My own theory after talking to lots of them is that the relationship between players and manager had just broken down after a very successful 18 months-2 years. Other sources have confirmed this. It happens in all workplaces.
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by CassellsCap » Sat Sep 10, 2022 4:16 pm
Rest in peace Dave , Never forget meeting you and I have a photo of my holding up the forth division trophy... I was hooked and my passion has never wavered. You were the best. Thankyou .
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by Rob » Sat Sep 10, 2022 4:21 pm
Tippy Tappy Football wrote:Rob wrote:I think it was more to do with a relationship he had.
Dave Smith and former players have told me that this was not true Rob.
Dave Smith was a great manager but I have been told by some of his former players that he could be a very difficult controversial character and he often fell out with them including the senior players. My own theory after talking to lots of them is that the relationship between players and manager had just broken down after a very successful 18 months-2 years. Other sources have confirmed this. It happens in all workplaces.
I know, we've had this discussion before, but a few folk who were quite close to the club at the time said it definitely did. I guess we'll never know, one thing we do know is he was a fantastic manager for us, Southend and Plymouth.
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by KirkbyStag2 » Sat Sep 10, 2022 5:23 pm
Dave Smith, the 1970's, what a time to be a Stags fan.
It's always stuck in my memory, Dave Smith's programme notes on the 1st home game of the 74-75 season,
"Mansfield Town - Division 4 Champions" - We all believe we can achieve this"
What a great manager, and at the end of the season Stags actually were 4th Division Champions!!!
Started the most successful period of Stags history, naming a stand (a new Bishop Street?) would be a fitting tribute.
RIP Dave Smith.
Champions 1974-75, 1976-77, 2012-13
Freight Rover Trophy Winners 1986-87
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by kentish stag » Sat Sep 10, 2022 5:34 pm
my vote as one of our greatest managers
RIP
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by five to three » Sat Sep 10, 2022 5:51 pm
How long will the silence be before the game on Tuesday to cover two well respected people?
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by part time pete » Sat Sep 10, 2022 7:01 pm
DURHAM STAG wrote:Very sad news. He inherited a squad which had finished 17th under Danny Williams, added a couple of youth team players and a few loan signings together with two of Mansfield's best ever players - Ray Clarke and Gordon Hodgson, - to produce a superb football team. He also found a Manchester University student to play centre back in the final few games of the season - Lawrie Madden.
Remember him arriving for an Easter Monday game at Newport - 11.30 start ! - and being genuinely amazed that there were so many Stags supporters to greet him. Nice bloke, superb coach - RIP
Very sad news indeed, I also remember going to this game, I think we lost 2-1 at the old Somerton Park ground which had a big speedway track? around the pitch.
You do some daft things when you are young, but I am sure I would do same today.
Those accustomed to privilege may feel that equality is oppression.
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by Marky Mark » Sat Sep 10, 2022 7:49 pm
five to three wrote:How long will the silence be before the game on Tuesday to cover two well respected people?
If it's two people then two minutes I'd guess.
Seriously though, I hope the club do something at a different game from Tuesday for Dave Smith and Steve H - I wouldn't want the respect for them to be lumped in with that for Her Maj. They deserve it to be just for them.
"Football is a game of opinions, and very little knowledge"
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by SidneyOttewell » Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:08 pm
The greatest manager we've ever had, managing the greatest team we've ever had...thanks for the memories, Dave. RIP.
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by scotsstag » Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:32 pm
I started going to the Stags in the late 70's so missed the Smith era, but my dad talked of nothing else for years after.
RIP Mr Smith.
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by Stockportstag » Sun Sep 11, 2022 6:00 am
Simply the best.
I know Peter Morris was the manager when we won the old Division 3 title
in 1976/77.bur the team was virtually what Dave Smith put together.
RIP Dave.
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by part time pete » Sun Sep 11, 2022 6:50 am
Stockportstag wrote:Simply the best.
I know Peter Morris was the manager when we won the old Division 3 title
in 1976/77.bur the team was virtually what Dave Smith put together.
RIP Dave.
So who played in the 77 team that Dave Smith didn’t sign?
Ernie Moss, Johnny Miller, Billy McKewn, Pete Morris ????
Those accustomed to privilege may feel that equality is oppression.
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by yellowstagsfan » Sun Sep 11, 2022 7:22 am
R.I.P. Dave The greatest manager we ever had. Thank you for a wonderful period in the club’s history
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by Costastag » Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:21 am
It was a fantastic time to be a stags fan and of course after smith left us peter morris had the honour of getting us into the old second division ,i can still remember wrexham ,what a day ,the only dissapointment for me was forest sneaking promotion to the first division via the wolves v bolton result going for them or that would have been our derby game
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by Gruff » Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:54 am
Absolute legend. The team he built was amazing to watch. His team are the reason so many of us are Stags fans. Possibly even John Radford.
What a legacy he created
RIP Gaffer
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by Rob » Sun Sep 11, 2022 9:36 am
part time pete wrote:Stockportstag wrote:Simply the best.
I know Peter Morris was the manager when we won the old Division 3 title
in 1976/77.bur the team was virtually what Dave Smith put together.
RIP Dave.
So who played in the 77 team that Dave Smith didn’t sign?
Ernie Moss, Johnny Miller, Billy McKewn, Pete Morris ????
The late Dave Syrett?
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by Suttonian » Sun Sep 11, 2022 10:03 am
I think Dave Syrett was signed for the 2nd Division season
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by Rob » Sun Sep 11, 2022 10:05 am
Suttonian wrote:I think Dave Syrett was signed for the 2nd Division season
Yes he was, that was 1977 which I thought was the question, or was it who did he sign in 1976?
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by Suttonian » Sun Sep 11, 2022 11:33 am
I assumed we were talking about the 76/77 champions which Stockportstag asked about, but some of the best Dave Smith players were still here in the 2nd Division
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by Spiritater » Sun Sep 11, 2022 11:38 am
Rob wrote:part time pete wrote:Stockportstag wrote:Simply the best.
I know Peter Morris was the manager when we won the old Division 3 title
in 1976/77.bur the team was virtually what Dave Smith put together.
RIP Dave.
So who played in the 77 team that Dave Smith didn’t sign?
Ernie Moss, Johnny Miller, Billy McKewn, Pete Morris ????
The late Dave Syrett?
Amazing that Ernie, Dave, Johnny and Bill are no longer with us.
Theirs not to reason why
Theirs but to do and die
Into the valley of Death
Rode the Six Hundred
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by Sneag » Sun Sep 11, 2022 11:54 am
Spiritater wrote:Rob wrote:part time pete wrote:Stockportstag wrote:Simply the best.
I know Peter Morris was the manager when we won the old Division 3 title
in 1976/77.bur the team was virtually what Dave Smith put together.
RIP Dave.
So who played in the 77 team that Dave Smith didn’t sign?
Ernie Moss, Johnny Miller, Billy McKewn, Pete Morris ????
The late Dave Syrett?
Amazing that Ernie, Dave, Johnny and Bill are no longer with us.
It's 45 years ago mate.
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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by Tippy Tappy Football » Sun Sep 11, 2022 2:36 pm
Spiritater wrote:Amazing that Ernie, Dave, Johnny and Bill are no longer with us.
Gordon Hodgson, Ernie Moss, Kevin Randall, Ian MacKenzie, Johnny Miller and Billy McEwan are all sadly no longer with us along with Dave Smith and John Haselden.
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by Tippy Tappy Football » Sun Sep 11, 2022 7:05 pm
When you look at Dave Smith's Division 4 Champions in 1974-1975, only 3 players had been signed by Dave Smith although Ray Clarke and Gordon Hodgson were massive signings and would make most older fans' Mansfield Town All Time Best XI. 6 players were signed by the previous manager, Danny Williams and 2 by Tommy Eggleston with 5 players coming through from the youth team.
Sandy Pate (46 games), Jimmy McCaffrey (45 games), Clive Walker (40 games), Kevin Bird (26 games) and Rod Arnold (13 games) had gone very close to promotion in 1972-1973 under Danny Williams when they lost the last game of the season at Cambridge United. Youngsters Mick Laverick (12 games), Barry Foster (11 games) and Colin Foster (6 games) also played that season. Danny Williams added Terry Eccles and John Lathan the following season. Dave Smith then came along and added Ray Clarke and Gordon Hodgson and suddenly we had a brilliant side.
When you get to the Division 3 Champions in 1975-1976, only 4 had been signed by Dave Smith. 6 players were signed by Danny Williams, 3 by Peter Morris and 2 by Tommy Eggleston with 5 players coming through from the youth team.
Dave Smith's great skill was coaching the team, getting them fit and forging them into a team to play attacking football.
Division 4 Champions 1974-1975
League Appearances
Rod Arnold - 46 (Signed by Danny Williams from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1973) (Previously on loan twice)
Sandy Pate - 46 (Signed by Tommy Eggleston from Watford in 1967)
Ray Clarke - 46 (Signed by Dave Smith from Swindon Town for £8,000 in 1974)
John Lathan - 45 (Signed by Danny Williams from Sunderland in 1974) (Part of Dennis Longhorn transfer deal)
Paul Matthews - 44 (Signed by Danny Williams from Leicester City in 1972)
Gordon Hodgson - 44 (Signed by Dave Smith from Newcastle United in 1974)
Colin Foster - 42 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Barry Foster - 40 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Jimmy McCaffrey - 37 (Signed by Danny Williams from Nottingham Forest in 1972)
Terry Eccles - 32 (Signed by Danny Williams from Blackburn Rovers in 1973)
Kevin Bird - 28 (Signed by Danny Williams from Doncaster Rovers in 1972)
Doug O'Connor - 11 (Signed by Dave Smith from Barnsley in 1974)
Mick Laverick - 9 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Clive Walker - 9 (Signed by Tommy Eggleston from Northampton Town in 1969)
Dai Llewellyn - 6 (On loan from Peterborough United)
Pat Kruse - 6 (On loan from Leicester City)
Lawrie Madden - 6 (On loan from Arsenal)
Kevin Griffin - 4 (On loan from Bristol City)
John Tones - 3 (On loan from Arsenal)
Andy Shore - 1 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Dave Hailwood - 1 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Division 3 Champions 1976-1977
League Appearances
Rod Arnold - 46 (Signed by Danny Williams from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1973) (Previously on loan twice)
Gordon Hodgson - 46 (Signed by Dave Smith from Newcastle United in 1974)
Kevin Randall - 44 (Signed by Dave Smith from Notts County in 1975)
Colin Foster - 44 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Johnny Miller - 40 (Signed by Peter Morris from Norwich City for £10,000 in 1976)
Barry Foster - 39 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Ian MacKenzie - 38 (Signed by Dave Smith from Sheffield United in 1976)
Kevin Bird - 37 (Signed by Danny Williams from Doncaster Rovers in 1972)
Peter Morris - 32 (Player Manager)
Ernie Moss - 29 (Signed by Peter Morris for £18,000 from Peterborough United in 1976)
Billy McEwan - 23 (Signed by Peter Morris from Chesterfield in 1976)
Paul Matthews - 17 (Signed by Danny Williams from Leicester City in 1972)
Jimmy McCaffrey - 16 (Signed by Danny Williams from Nottingham Forest in 1972)
Ian McDonald - 15 (Signed by Dave Smith from Liverpool in 1975)
Sandy Pate - 14 (Signed by Tommy Eggleston from Watford in 1967)
Ian Wood - 13 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Terry Eccles - 10 (Signed by Danny Williams from Blackburn Rovers in 1973)
Mick Saxby - 10 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Robbie Cooke - 3 (Mansfield Town Youth Team)
Total League Appearances for 1974-1975 and 1976-1977 ("The Champions")
Rod Arnold - 92
Gordon Hodgson - 90
Colin Foster - 86
Barry Foster - 79
Kevin Bird - 65
Paul Matthews - 61
Sandy Pate - 60
Jimmy McCaffrey - 53
Ray Clarke - 46
John Lathan - 45
Kevin Randall - 44
Terry Eccles - 42
Johnny Miller - 40
Ian MacKenzie - 38
Peter Morris - 32
Ernie Moss - 29
Billy McEwan - 23
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