 As the metaphorical fat lady warms up her vocal cords, it’s time to dish out some end of season accolades. This season we’re handing the final say over to you as we launch the Mansfield Matters Awards. Of course our awards will include the usual ‘Player of the season’ – ‘Save of the season’ and ‘Goal of the season’ gong, of which voting will begin on Monday, however today see’s the voting begin for some more light hearted awards and awards suggested by your good selves on twitter last night. The results will be read out by the team on Saturday as Craig Priest along with pundits Scott Rogers and Wayne Briggs head for Woking as the Stags face Hayes & Yeading. There’s still time to suggest an award and register a secret vote for any of the awards named below – simply email mtfcmatters@gmail.com with the complete voting slip downloadable below – You can also vote by text - text MM VOTE followed the category and the name of your nominee to 07982 865 624 (Text costs your standard network rate) Voting will CLOSE at MIDNIGHT tomorrow. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE VOTING FORM - PLEASE READ WHAT THE AWARDS ARE FOR ETC FIRST! The awards, what they’re for and who’s nominated!  Numb Bum of the year The award for the player to spend more time on the bench or in the stands than on the pitch Shane Redmond – The Irish gloves man has failed to debut for the Stags since signing in the summer from the enemy, unable to keep out crowd favourite Marriott, the Stags deputy keeper has been limited to outings in friendlies. Lee Stevenson – Paul Cox’s first summer signing along with Lindon Miekle has failed to get a real run in the side and along with a loan spell to neighbours Alfreton early the season, has made just five starts and one appearance from the bench, failing to take the pitch 12 times when being named on the team sheet. Jon Worthington – well travelled and highly rated, former Huddersfield skipper Jon has not featured as much as supporters would have thought when he put pen to paper. With only seven starts and nine substitute appearances, Jon’s name being printed on the team sheet handed to the press is rather like a magic trick.... now you see it, then you don’t. Although, in fitness, when he has played – I’ve been impressed.  Chant of the season The award for best chant from the fans – the Ken Barlow thing doesn’t count as it’s not about football, love the randomness tho. The Exodus Theme – More commonly known as the noise made by our wonderful fans when Exodus Geohaghon picks up the ball to launch in a long throw, frightening yet beautiful! Rheady Rhead Boing Boing – In homage of January signing Matt Rhead, you know the one! Yellows – traditional, original and yet never boring.  Invisibility cloak Named because I’m watching Harry Potter (Don’t ask) and in celebration and appreciation of the players who work their socks off in games but often don’t get as much recognition as they should Anthony Howell – Undoubtedly the player to bring many annoyed groans when he resigned from Alfreton in the summer, judged wrongly (by me included) by his time under David Holdsworth. Howell has been outstanding this season, winning over the fans during his 27 starts this season, had it not been for that red card at Forest Green, it may well have been more. Chipping it with outstanding tackles, well weighted passes and three goals, including THAT effort at Alfreton – Anthony could possibly be a contender for player of the season. Ross Dyer – Unbelievable presence in the air winning flick on after flick on after flick on, the former Forest Green and Hednesford man is often criticized for his lack of goals. However Ross has is a wonderful weapon to have and not only is he used as a target man, he can be really affective when he gets the ball to feet. Ritchie Sutton – The young Stags defender is often praised for his work rate and so perhaps shouldn’t be nominated, however with players like Murray, Green and Marriott most likely to pip him to the top gong for player of the season, the former Port Vale man deserves some recognition. Feature heavily with 40 starts, Sutton has played in every position across the back four, making the unfamiliar left back slot his own over recent weeks.  Chopper Harris challenge of the season We have goal of the season and save of the season, so why not one for the challenge of the season – named in honour of former Chelsea defender Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris famed for being one of the toughest defenders of his era. Paul Edwards (Darlington HOME) – Also nominated for pointless loan signing of the season, the Fleetwood full back, now on loan at Barrow, gets his hat thrown into the mix for his well timed goal line challenge to prevent Tamworth from scoring back in February. Luke O’Neill (Kettering AWAY) – So many tackles from the former Leicester man it’s quite difficult to pick just one, however his challenge on former team mate Marcus Kelly at now relegated Kettering last Saturday kept Mansfield in a 1-0 lead and saw him cover ground at pace, sliding in to clear at the very last second as Kelly was about to pull the trigger. Alan Marriott (Various) – The Stags shot stopper hasn’t made a crunch challenge of such, unless you count the one he made on Monday against Stockport which led to a booking. Marriott gets in for his constant commitment, putting his body on line with sever risking collections of the ball, both out of the air and sliding to the edge of his box.  Celebration of the season – sponsored by Roger Milla Who? I hear you say – the guy who did that frankly wonderful dance back at a world cup many moons ago – if the picture above doesn’t jog you’re memory THIS VIDEO will – anyway, this award is self explanatory. Exodus Geohaghon (Alfreton AWAY) – Netting to put day light between Alfreton and Stags in their recent evening meeting, Geohaghon revealed a t-shirt showing support for friend and Bolton defender Fabrice Muamba after he collapsed on the pitch a few days earlier. Lindon Meikle (Bath City AWAY) – the strangest goal I’ve ever witnessed from the tightest angle possible, the former Eastwood wingers cross somehow drifted in at Twirton Park against now relegated Bath back in November. Meikle’s celebration a simple shrug of the shoulders complete with a bemused look! Andy Todd (Alfreton HOME) – Barley used this season, the player coach would have been nominated for Numb bum of the season had it not been for his role on the coaching team. Winning the game in the last minute against rivals Alfreton back at Field Mill in October, the former Nottingham Forest man sprinted off in an aeroplane style in front of the Quarry Lane End, before getting high fives galore in the corner. The fact Todd is nominated becomes apparent when watching the highlights.... assistant kit man and ground maintained man Andy Johnson goes for the high five but gets rejected, a classic moment with Andy ‘Oh’ laughs about all the time – a top lad. The goals also nominated because we have a fairly awesome clip of myself and Scott Rogers laughing and dancing – don’t ask.  Cameo of the season, sponsored by David Holdsworths 60+ signings... The award for the most pointless loan signing / the loan signing who just failed to deliver... Paul Edwards – Told you his name would crop up again! Making just two starts and one sub appearance during his months loan from Champions elect Fleetwood, the full back may well have started more had a few postponements due to adverse weather not stepped in. That said, Edwards failed to impress in his time which included the 5-0 reserve team friendly drubbing at AFC Telford United – more so he has seemingly failed to impress with new club Barrow, being subbed after half an hour when we smashed seven past Barrow on there recent trip to Field mill. Nialle Rodney – brought in to add fire to the front line from Bradford City, the young striker made two substitute appearances and was an unused sub three times, being left out entirely for the trip to Southport and Christmas double header with York City following a rant on Twitter – we’ll come to that on Saturday! Louis Moult – In his second spell at Field Mill after impressing last year under Duncan Russell, the Stoke City front man feature twice as a substitute and made one start at Fleetwood in the FA Cup as leading goal scorer Matt Green was ill an unable to travel. Louis four game spell ended with a Sub Not Used mark in the goalless draw at AFC Telford United in November.  The Liam Lawrence late goal award Named in memory of Liam Lawrence’s 90th minute winner at the enemy back on January 18th 2003, this award explains itself, recognising those who’ve netted dramatically late on! Exodus Geohaghon (Fleetwood HOME) – put down as a loss by many, the Stags really fought that night in a past paced, high octane fixture. The league leaders thought they’d won it by the awesome atmosphere at Field Mill propelled Stags on, Big Ex sent those watching into pandemonium when he nodded home Luke O’Neill’s 90th minute corner to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat! Paul Connor (Wrexham AWAY) – Although we held a 2-1 lead back at the racecourse back in September, both sides we’re down to ten and Wrexham we’re throwing everything forward in search of a point. Paul Connor broke free and sealed the game in the 5th minute of stoppage time, calming the nerves to give Mansfield their first win at then league leaders Wrexham since 1986 Ben Hutchinson (Hayes and Yeading HOME) – A ‘wildcard’ contender, Hutchinson stepped up to convert a 90th minute penalty against the side who we face again Saturday back in January after the Stags twice threw away the lead.  The Joey Barton Social Media Award
Footballers and social media is often an interesting mix – Joey Barton is often the subject of much controversy for his tweets, and as such gets an award named after him. We want you to nominate the Stags player whose most social network friendly rather than social media controversial, we’ve already got that covered! Alan Marriott, Adam Murray and Martin Riley are the three front runners for constant interaction, however as with all our awards – you can nominate someone else. Don’t forget you can vote via the polls above or via email mtfcmatters@gmail.com and suggest your own category and winner. But for now, in the style of the ‘Big Brother’ voice over man “Who Wins: You decide!”....
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