 Close season is often a nightmare for football fans, as the only thing they have to look forward too, is when the club announce a new signing or pre-season friendly. Sometimes you may find an exhibition game for charity, but as the majority of pitches are now in the relaying stage – games are pretty much non-existent, therefore we find ourselves glued to the transfer news. We always look out for news on ex-players moving on, sometimes with an eye on those tasty sell-on clauses and sometimes, we sit in shock as players, who lets say didn’t really shine at Stags, move onto better things. This week’s post is all about that – as over the last few weeks, we’ve asked you for your suggestion on an Exhibition XI of players who, for whatever reason, didn’t shine in the amber and blue – but went onto bigger and better things. Here’s the XI your suggestions have picked… Goalkeeper  David Grof The hardest position to pick was goalkeeper, we’ve had plenty of flops – but all of them have continued to flop and flap, meaning there’s very few keepers in recent years that have gone onto bigger and better things. Grof was by no means a flop – this XI is definitely NOT about Stags flops, we can save that for another day. The Hungarian Shot-Stopper is actually, in my eyes anyway, a club legend for his stand-out performances which got us too Wembley back in 2011, when he joined on loan from Notts County. Grof had little first team football under his belt when he arrived from Meadow Lane and sadly, transfer ruling meant he missed out on his place at Wembley as his loan ended the day before the final (It may have been a few days before, either way – Duncan Russell was unable to re-sign him for the final, meaning he missed out). Released by Notts County at the end of the season, I believe Grof may well have re-joined Stags but as Paul Cox took the reins, the club went in a different direction and Grof, following a successful trial – joined league one Walsall. A clean sheet on his saddlers debut was followed by a string of early quality performances between the sticks which made Grof a popular choice with the Walsall faithful, however as the season went on – Grof fell down the pecking order and moved abroad. Spells with German side Goslarer SC and Berliner AK followed before the now 28 year old joined Hungarian side Budapest Honvéd where his performances recently, have helped the side onto silverware, winning the OTP Bank Liga, the first time the side have won the title since 1993. Defenders Steve Cook For me the biggest surprise of a player whose gone onto bigger things, as the Steve Cook who pulled on a Mansfield Town shirt for eight times back in 2010-11 was nowhere near Premier League Standard… and yet this season he’s established himself as an ever present figure in the Bournemouth side who finished 9th in the Premier League, also bagging two goals. One of many signed by David Holdsworth, Cook started well with a solid debut at FC Halifax in the FA and had an impressive long throw, but suffered indifferent form – when he turned up he was good value, but when he didn’t it was costly – I think the search party for Steve Cook at Grimbsy (7-2 defeat on New Years Day) is still on-going. If you’d have identified him as a future premier league player that afternoon, you’d have been admitted to a mental hospital. Woeful. It doesn’t help Cook’s case that, since his rise up the leagues with Bournemouth, he’s slagged Mansfield off at every given opportunity, saying that playing for Mansfield made him want to quit football.  Maxime Chanot Come on, how many of you said “Who?” – Maxime Chanot was a floppy haired French young centre back who signed on loan from Sheffield United during our debut season in the conference. He impressed on his debut with a man of the match display at home to Woking in a 1-0 defeat, but then the following game, promptly got himself sent off in a 3-2 loss at Stevenage for two bookable offences. After serving his one game ban, he returned to the side but was sloppy and at fault for what proved to be the winning goal for Wrexham – he was then in and out of the side before returning too hs parent club. For years’ the promising, yet constantly fouling, young defender went under the raider, before with a fresh hair cut – making a name for himself in the Belgium with Kortrijk winning numerous player honours and bagging a move to the MLS, and New York City FC, managed by Patrick Vieira, captained by World Cup winner David Villa – it’s amazing what a good hair cut can do! Alex John Baptiste Again by no means a flop in the amber and blue, we always new Sutton-In-Ashfield born bap would go onto bigger things, although we perhaps expected a move to League One and a steady progression, rather than jumping straight to Championship level with Blackpool – where after getting his head down he became a regular and ended up in the Premier League. Further spells in the Championship with Bolton, Blackburn and Middlesbrough followed as the Sutton born defender flew the Mansfield flag. Amari Bell Ok so not a player whose gone onto play in the premier league or in the MLS, but Amari’i Bell, who was signed on loan at the start of the 2014-15 season by Paul Cox – hasn’t done too badly for himself as a stable left back at League One level with Fleetwood. Bell impressed in pre-season, with good performances against Notts County, Aston Villa and Leeds United – but for whatever reason, couldn’t get in the side ahead of Lee Beevers and was recalled by parent club Birmingham City and loaned elsewhere. After impressive displays Swindon and Gillingham, Bell signed for Fleetwood on a free in 2015 and close to 100 games later, is highly rated by a number of league one and championship sides  Midfielders Sam Clucas If I was an actor, I’d be in line for playing the part of Sam, in “Clucas – The rise of a ginger” as the tricky winger has risen from the conference to the premier league in the space of five seasons. Often played out of position by Paul Cox as an out and out front man to fill the void left by Matt Green, Clucas established himself as a quality goal-scorer but for whatever reason, didn’t look happy in the front man role, often drifting wide which wouldn’t have gone down well with Cox. On transfer deadline day in 2014, he did the unthinkable and signed for Chesterfield in League One before, again after impressing on the wing, was snapped up by Championship side Hull City, netting Chesterfield some money, but also giving us a cut… so we can perhaps forgive the switch now? Clucas played a key part in Hull’s promotion to the Premier League netting six goals in the Championship and didn’t look out of place in the Premier League last season and will no doubt be on the move again soon. What a story. Lee Bell Part of the side who were relegated from the football league, Bell was a key figure in the heart of midfield, who like many others jumped from the titanic-esc Mansfield once relegated, opting to join the other MTFC – Macclesfield. Whilst Bell has few trophies to his name, he’s been pretty much an ever present wherever he’s been and often won player of the season awards, with spells also at Crewe Alexandra and Burton Albion before moving into coaching. Giles Coke Giles is one of three players to ever don the back of a Stags shirt owned by me (Neil MacKenzie and ‘BEAST’ are the others!) and arrived as a cheeky youngsters back in 2005 from non-league Kingstonian. Playing 70 games over two seasons, Coke fizzed in an otherwise mediocre side and attracted the attention of clubs higher up, eventually opting for Northampton, who thanks to a tribunal owed us around £70,000. Coke after returning from injured continued to blossom and joined Motherwell, followed by spells with Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich. Nathan Thomas Recently signed by championship side Sheffield United, Thomas arrived from Motherwell after catching many a fans eye with his performances for Plymouth, famously leaving Lee Beevers on his backside against us. Thomas was highly rated and on his day, was a decent outlet for Stags – but under Adam Murray you could sense Thomas either wasn’t bothered, unhappy or possibly both – and was allowed to join Hartlepool in January 2016 after 17 games in the Amber and Blue. The occasional twitter jibe with Stags fans hasn’t helped his cause, but I guess we wish him all the best in the championship next season – despite being part of a Hartlepool side relegated to the conference last season….
You could tell Gregory was a fantastic talent who just didn’t get a look in, however he did grab a goal in his Stags career which lasted 106 minutes – a tap in at Southport on his debut. Scoring goals for fun out on loan, Gregory grabbed the attention of other clubs but had to climb the ladder the hard way, unlike to right place right time luck of Steve Cook. Gregory joined FC Halifax following a loan stint from us permanently, helping the club rise from non-league obscurity to conference national, was snapped up by then Championship side Milwall. Gregory loved a goal at Halifax, 95 in 155 games isn’t bad at all… something he’s matched at Milwall, with 51 in 136 including vital goals which have propelled the Lions back into the Championship. At 28, It wouldn’t surprise me to see a premier league side come calling for Gregory, who with a record like that, deserves it!  Allan Russell Scoring goals for fun in Scotland had attracted the Stags to Russell, who joined at the start of the 2005-06 campaign. With six goals in eighteen games Russell departed having failed to really live up to expectations, dropping into non-league with Forest Green rovers and seemingly off the radar. A return to Scotland re-captured Russell’s form and after scoring 34 in 32 games for Airdrie United, he moved to Kilmarnock and then to the MLS, winning the 2010 and 2011 NASL league Championships with the Carolina RailHawks. A move to Orange Country Blues followed, dropping into a midfield role to take the skippers armband – and then into coaching and internet fame, as the superior striker, a regular feature on Soccer AM. On The Bench
Naturally there’s a few to miss out, Rory Boulding had to live in his brothers shadow at Stags, but has since thrived in the Scottish Premier League and Championship with a number of clubs, whilst the likes of Jake Buxton and Tom Naylor both went onto play for Derby in the Championship. Special mentions on this list go to Calvin Andrew, a hero for his goal against Chesterfield, who otherwise couldn’t find his range at Stags, has found it at Rochdale – whilst Alex Neil, who had to fill the void left by Liam Lawrence, ended up going into management, masterminding Norwich City’s climb to the premier league, sacked somewhat harshly in March this year with his side in prime position for a return to the Premier League. Thanks very much for your suggestions, do let us know what content you’d like to see on here and get involved on Facebook & Twitter. Article By | Craig Priest
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 Photos (C) Dan Westwell Time flies when you’re having fun, it moves even quicker in football! Can you believe that TEN years ago today (January 7th) Mansfield Town of League Two, made the trip up North to face Premier League Newcastle United in the FA Cup Third Round. I was fourteen at the time and back then, a much skinner, far ginger and much more awkward me, regularly skipped school (I mean attended lots of dentist, hospital and optician appointments) to watch Mansfield Town FC without fail. I didn’t have a season ticket so was petrified I wouldn’t get a ticket for the game so I was naturally buzzing when I was presented with tickets. Dressed in a horrible pair of jeans with a longsalde jacket I’d got for Christmas covering my home shirt (with COKE 15 on the back), I remember the excitement of matchday and how much of an awesome experience going to Newcastle was. I remember little of the journey, other than a gang of us all congregating together as coach up on coach lined all the way down quarry lane to ferry the population of Mansfield to St James in the hope of a giant killing. We all stuck together as “the regulars” and managed to get on the same coach, I slept and listened to my Alba MP3 Player all the way – changing the pound shop batteries every two minutes whilst chatter and excitement built. The experience was epic and was unlike any pre-match build up I’d experienced before, the play-off final in Cardiff had far too much worry and expectation attached, this time we were there for the ride. I still remember the sound of excited gasps followed by admirable silence as the coaches drove past St James’ to the drop of point. Before hand a group of us crammed into Shearers Bar, constantly turning to anyone who could translate the native tone in order to have a conversation with our Premier League hosts. I have to be honest, I hated the pub before hand – I’ve always wanted to see the warm ups and study the coaching drills, so was pleased when we headed back up a slight hilly incline towards the entrance. We stopped half way and had a photo to show my dad, it was outside the St James Park welcome sign and taken on an old white phone which I’ve since lost! After going through the turnstyles, we headed up numerous flights of stairs to our stated destination – at which point my brother said to me “this isn’t high” – I walked out first, took one look and turn around, even more pale than usual and said, “wanna bet” (or words to that effect!). It was HIGH! Even higher when we reached our seats which were on the edge of the row. My day was temporary ruined when a drunk supporter tripped UP the step and spilt a bottle of Coke on my COKE shirt – oh the irony. A sulk later, it was game time. I remember little else, the players were dots, which perhaps explains why I still don’t use 3D mode on Football Manager. We played well, perhaps the best we played that entire season, but were inevitably beaten by a Historic goal from a footballing god – Alan Shearer, spinning midway through the second half to drill low beyond Pressman in the Stags goal to end a goal drought and pull level with Newcastle’s all time goal scorer, Jackie Milburn. That was a brilliant moment to witness to be fair. Giles Coke came close to levelling things late on, but with Shay Given between the sticks, one of my goalkeeping heroes, it was never on the cards. The full time whistle was one of relief for Newcastle and one of pride for us. In the ten years that passed for me, Stags stayed as the number one in my life, fell from grace and rose again. But what of the Stags side that day, I consulted the internet to attempt to find out…. Kevin Pressman – The Sheffield Wednesday legend joined Stags in the summer of 2005, linking up with his old team mate Carlton Palmer who was of course the man in charge at the beginning of the campaign. Owls Favourite ‘Big Kev’ joined after spells with Leeds and Coventry acting as cover and quickly established himself as Stags Number One with Jason White as his understudy. I recall his display at St James’ Park to be one of his best in a Stags shirt, being extremely unfortunate to be beaten by that piece of Alan Shearer magic. I remember him as a very vocal shot stopper and, having attended every game that season, only recall him ever coming out of his box once – at Shrewbury away at Gay Meadow, Mark Stallard (who of coruse later went onto play and briefly co-manage us) was put through with a long ball over the top and left the back four stranded (the norm for that season!) – Pressman came racing out and slammed the ball into touch, whilst Stallard, sensisble, darted out of the way to avoid being booted with the ball! Pressman left Stags at the end of that season and hung up his boots, although not for long as he turned out the following season for Northern Irish Side Portadown following a keeper crisis – he went onto win a player of the season award, aged 39 and his since moved into coaching, currently at Millwall working with their keepers after an ill-fated spell as Scunthorpe United assistant and a spell with Bradford. Jake Buxton – Local Lad Jake had risen through the youth team and established himself in the side, either on the right side or in the middle of the back four. As we know, Jake went onto captain Mansfield during our darkest hour of relegation, moving on at the end of that season to join Nigel Clough at Burton Albion despite being on Paul Holland’s squad list for our conference debut season, had he got the job, according to Holland’s autobiography. Buxton, despite being heavily criticised by most fans during our “season of death” went on to have a fairly successful career, winning promotion from the conference with Burton, as captain if memory serves me correct, before linking up with Clough for a second time at Championship Derby County and has since made over 130 appearances for the Rams where he still remains, albeit nursing an injury. Alex-John Baptise – Like Buxton, Baptise was another local lad who regularly attracted the attention of higher division clubs, and numerous Soccer AM segments. Baptise left Stags after handing in a transfer request following our demise to the conference (I know, it’s like rats leaving a sinking ship!) and subsequently joined then Championship side Blackpool. Baptise enjoyed life by the seaside and after breaking into the first team, established himself as a decent championship, and briefly, premier-league defender! That was weird watching a part of the worst back four ever (arguably) popped up on match of the day whilst we were roaming around the likes of Ebbsfleet! Post Blackpool, ‘Bap’ has enjoyed spells as Bolton and Blackburn before joining Middlesbrough in the summer, suffering an injury in the early stages of a pre-season friendly against York City. Rhys Day – Mansfield legend Rhys was in his first of two spells with Stags when we headed to St James Park. The much loved dominant welsh centre-back was well established in the Stags side and supporters hearts at this point, after Keith Curle had made Day’s loan switch from Manchester City permanent back in the summer of 2003. Following the Newcastle game, where he earned praise for his talents from many including Shearer, Day remained with Stags until the end of the season where then Manager Peter Shirtliff failed to offer Day a new deal allowing him to join Conference side Aldershot Town. Day did eventually return to the Stags, as one of David Holdsworths many loan signings from Oxford United during the 2010-11 season – making the switch permanent in the January window. Day shared the captains armband with now boss Adam Murray, predominately under the management of Duncan Russell. Sadly Day wouldn’t feature as much as supporters hoped, suffering numerous injury setbacks which forced him to retire with his final appearance being in his testimonial at the One Call Stadium, which brought back many of the players Day had played with throughout the years. A momentary return from retirement came for Day as he joined Hyde, as player coach, in 2013, departing in the summer of 2015 after a handful of appearances to pursue a coaching career and supporting retiring sports man. Gareth Jellyman – Curly haired Welsh left back Gareth joined in 2005 and stayed with the club until, yes you guessed it, our relegation in 2008. Highly rated by Billy Dearden during his tenure as boss, Jellyman has since become a journeyman of Non-League football and, perhaps more famously, the subject title of Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling’s book “Jellyman’s Thrown A Wobbley” which refers to the formers reporting of the left backs sending off against Oxford whilst at Stags. Gus Uhlenbeek – Able to operate at Right Back or as a winger, Dutchman Gus who has two appearances for Alax to his name – joined the Stags under Palmer at the start of the 2005-06 campaign, departing on a Free to FC Halifax at the end of the same season. Ten years on from playing 79 minutes at St James in the amber and blue, Gus is now back in Amsterdam, posting the occastional happy birthday message to ex-teams on twitter… he had a few during the years…. Stephen Dawson – Tough tackling midfielder Dawson was outstanding against Newcastle, although less said about his chance to level the game from 40 yards after Shay Given’s misplaced clearance the better! I always remember Dawson at being a constant performer for Stags in the centre of the park and since his departure in 2008, yes another one, he moved onto Bury, Leyton Orient, Barnsley and Rochdale before joining his current club Scunthorpe United. He’s been a transfer rumour for re-joining Stags, where he made his professional debut, a few times but nothing has ever come of them. Giles Coke – One of a few names I’ve had printed on the back of my Stags tops down the years (the others for reference being Neil Mackenzie and most recently Brian Jensen, well BEAST), Giles was a talented youngster ten years ago and alongside Dawson, had a decent game on the big stage. After being snapped up by Carlton Palmer from Non-League Kingstonian, the playmaking midfielder has gone onto forge a decent career for himself with spells at Northampton, Motherwell, Sheffield Wednesday and now Ipswich.
SUBS Adam Birchall and Nathan Arnold were the only two to feature from the bench, Birchall now combines a playing career turning out regularly for Maidstone (Thanks to Martin Shaw for the heads up) whilst also works as a coach within the Arsenal set-up after hanging up his playing boots whilst Nathan Arnold, practically still in nappies at the time, is at Grimsby in the conference, although he could be wearing the amber and blue again, had Paul Cox not done a U-turn on offering him a contract following a trail at the start of the 2013-14 campaign. Of those who warmed the bench as pure spectators, goalkeeper Jason White became an unwilling villain as number one during the relegation season, he’s now at AFC Mansfield. Islandic defender John Olav Hjelde put of a move back to Norway to stay with Stags until the end of the 2005-06 season, departing and retiring a year later. And as for midfielder Frazer McLachlan, he was last seen eating turkey at Carlton Palmer’s Christmas Dinner Table (this may not be entirely 100% accurate).
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