2011–12 Mansfield Town F.C. season


The 2011-2012 Season of Mansfield Town F.C. was its fourth in the Conference National, following their relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2007–08 season. The club also competed in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy. The Stags played their home games at Field Mill, after agreeing a new one-year lease with landlord Keith Haslam. Chairman John Radford announced that he had purchased the stadium from Haslam on 1 March 2013, which would have allowed the club to participate in the Football League the following season, had they gained promotion.
It was manager Paul Cox's first season in charge, after replacing previous incumbent Duncan Russell, whose contract was not renewed after the previous season. The Stags' youth team reformed for the 2011–12 season, and took part in the Football Conference Youth Alliance under-19 league and cup, along with the Midland Youth Cup.

Transfers

Free transfer unless otherwise stated.

In

Date AnnouncedPlayerPrevious ClubContract End
24 May 2011Lee Stevenson
Lindon Meikle		Eastwood TownJune 2013
June 2012
1 June 2011Paul BollandMacclesfield TownJune 2013
9 June 2011Matt Bell
Antony Howell		Port Vale
Alfreton Town		June 2012
June 2012
10 June 2011Ross Dyer †Forest Green RoversJune 2012
20 June 2011Jon WorthingtonBradford CityJune 2012
28 June 2011Andy Todd
Ritchie Sutton		Free Agent
Port Vale		June 2012
June 2012
30 June 2011Luke O'NeillLeicester CityJune 2012
1 July 2011Shane RedmondChesterfieldJune 2012
14 July 2011Martin RileyCheltenham TownJune 2012
18 July 2011John ThompsonNotts CountyJune 2013
22 July 2011Joe Kendrick
Matt Green		Bray Wanderers
Oxford United		June 2012
31 December 2011
11 August 2011Nick WoodTranmere Rovers11 September 2011
19 August 2011Ben FutcherBury19 November 2011
28 October 2011Louis MoultStoke City28 November 2011
4 November 2011Nick Hegarty
Kieron Freeman		St Mirren
Nottingham Forest		26 December 2011
2 January 2011
22 November 2011John DempsterCrawley Town22 February 2012
24 November 2011Nialle RodneyBradford City24 December 2012
24 November 2011Marcus Kelly
Aman Verma		Kettering Town2 January 2012
1 January 2012Gary RobertsPort ValeJune 2013
1 January 2012Matt Green ‡Oxford UnitedJune 2013
2 January 2012Ben HutchinsonKilmarnockJune 2012
26 January 2012Paul EdwardsFleetwood Town26 February 2012
31 January 2012Sam Craven
Matt Rhead		F.C. New York
Corby Town		June 2012
24 February 2012Exodus GeohaghonDarlingtonJune 2012
9 March 2012Danny AndrewCheltenhamJune 2012

† £6,000 fee
‡ £20,000 fee

Out

Date AnnouncedPlayerDestination
12 May 2011Paul Stonehouse
Mark Preece
Niall O'Rafferty
Tyrone Thompson
Kyle Nix		All released on a free transfer.
31 May 2011Steve Foster
Kevin Sandwith
Dan Spence
Ben Turner
Ashley Cain
Steven Istead
Luke Medley		All released on a free transfer.
7 June 2011Gary Silk
Paul Hall		Grimsby Town
Left player/assistant manager role.
11 July 2011Conor HigginsonSheffield
27 July 2011Neil CollettNuneaton Borough
Danny MitchleyNuneaton Borough
7 October 2011Adam SmithAldershot Town
7 October 2011Joel Holland
Adam Somes
Rainworth Miners Welfare
11 October 2011Lee StevensonAlfreton Town
15 November 2011Tom NaylorDerby County
1 December 2011Paul ConnorGainsborough Trinity
14 December 2011Matt BellStafford Rangers
30 December 2011Paul BollandHarrogate Town
2 January 2012Tom Naylor †Derby County
4 February 2012Joe KendrickBlyth Spartans
16 March 2012Matt Bell
Sam Craven		Leek Town
Hednesford Town

† £100,000+

Pre-Season

Mansfield prepared for the season with 8 pre-season friendlies, 2 at home and 6 away. Another game with local team Worksop was arranged, but then cancelled. The first-team squad, along with manager Paul Cox and assistant Micky Moore also faced local cricket side Shirebrook CC in a friendly 20/20 game, which was lost.
† = Trialist
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F – A		ScorersAttendanceNotes
12 July 2011Nuneaton TownA1-2Stevenson 6'370
15 July 2011Notts CountyH1-2Connor 26'2353
19 July 2011Doncaster RoversH0-11576
23 July 2011Halifax TownA1-0Briscoe 47'743
26 July 2011Hednesford TownA3-2Green 51', Briscoe 64', Naylor 71'310
30 July 2011Boston UnitedA4-1Murray 1', 81', Briscoe 70', Howell 90'637
3 August 2011IlkestonA4a2O.G. 4', Green 15', Briscoe 25', 44' 521Match abandoned after 73 minutes.
6 August 2011ChasetownA4-1Smith 6', Dyer 21', 31', Flynn† 41'321

Conference National

Fixtures as on Mansfield Town website.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F – A		ScorersAttendance
PositionNotes
13 August 2011Bath CityH1-1Connor 3'3997 13
16 August 2011GatesheadA0-3825 21
20 August 2011Braintree TownA1-1Briscoe 47'875 18
23 August 2011LutonH1-1Green 27'2592 20
27 August 2011Kettering TownH3-0Briscoe 11', Green 51', Dyer 64'2051 14
29 August 2011Stockport CountyA1-0O'Neill 67'3571 81200 Kick-off
3 September 2011DarlingtonA2-0Green 5', 14'2647 4
10 September 2011Newport CountyH5-0Green 11', Briscoe 33',72' Dyer 56', O'Neill 75'2324 31715 Kick-off, TV
17 September 2011BarrowA3-2Green 4' Futcher 29' Meikle 81'1244 4
20 September 2011Telford UnitedH1-1Green 72'2481 5
24 September 2011Kidderminster HarriersH0-32522 8
27 September 2011WrexhamA3-1Wright 41', Green 67', Connor 90+5'3478 5
1 October 2011Forest Green RoversA1-1Dyer 1'893 8
8 October 2011Grimsby TownH2-1O'Neill 71', Connor 76'2982 6
15 October 2011SouthportH1-3Akrigg 76'2416 9
18 October 2011Lincoln CityA1-1Green 87'2944 9
22 October 2011Alfreton TownH3-2Green 74', Meikle 87', Todd 90+1'2982 8
5 November 2011Cambridge UnitedH1-2Green 55'2046 10
19 November 2011AFC TelfordA0-02203 9
26 November 2011Bath CityA1-1Meikle 24'816 9
29 November 2011GatesheadH1-1Dyer 10'1513 10
3 December 2011Braintree TownH4-1Dempster 24', Green 49', 67', Meikle 60'1790 8
6 December 2011Grimsby TownA0-02553 9
17 December 2011SouthportA1-3Dempster 48'1006 10
26 December 2011York CityH1-1Green 10'3551 9
1 January 2012York CityA2-2Green 15', Verma 71'4284 9
7 January 2012Forest Green RoversH1-0Meikle 64'2008 9
21 January 2012Hayes & Yeading UnitedH3-2Dyer 38', Green 68', Hutchinson 90' 1872 10
25 January 2012Luton TownA0-05261 101930 Kick-off, TV
28 January 2011Ebbsfleet UnitedA3-0Green 21', Roberts 38', 90+4'1085 9
18 February 2012Newport CountyA0-11285 9
21 February 2012DarlingtonH5-2Dempster 14', Green 43', 70', 75', Briscoe 86'1697 8Re-arranged from 4 February.
25 February 2012TamworthH2-1Smith 76', Green 87'2221 7
3 March 2012Lincoln CityH2-1Dyer 47', Roberts 58'4830 6
6 March 2012Cambridge UnitedA2-1Dyer 10', Briscoe 57'1738 5
10 March 2012TamworthA1-0Green 13'1600 4
13 March 2012Fleetwood TownH1-1Geohaghon 90'+1'3132 4Re-arranged from 11 February.
17 March 2012BarrowH7-0Briscoe 9', 17', 67', Howell 28', Meikle 41', Green 54', Rhead 77'2510 4Biggest league win since 1965
20 March 2012Alfreton TownA6-3Howell 17', 43', Briscoe 31', Green 33', 90', Geohaghon 89'3354 3Re-arranged from 13 March.
24 March 2012Fleetwood TownA0-23106 3
31 March 2012Ebbsfleet UnitedH1-0Green 83'2630 3
7 April 2012Kettering TownA3-0Meikle 14', Green 63', Rhead 86'1818 3
9 April 2012Stockport CountyH2-1Smith 47', Briscoe 53'3,883 3
14 April 2012Hayes & Yeading UnitedA3-1Howell 5', Dyer 67', Green 71'4873No segregation - away support unknown
20 April 2012WrexhamH2-0Howell 13', Alan Marriott 61'3,665 31930 Kick-off. TV
28 April 2012Kidderminster HarriersA3-0Stevenson 56', Briscoe 78', Green 87'3,56531300 Kick-off

Play-Offs

DateRoundOpponentsVenueResult
F - A		ScorersAttendanceNotes
2 May 2012Semi-Final 1st legYork CityBootham Crescent1-1Dyer6057 1930 Kick-off, TV
7 May 2012Semi-Final 2nd legYork CityOne Call Stadium0-1
a.e.t.		7295 1400 Kick-off, TV
Lost 2-1 on aggregate

FA Cup

In the FA Cup, Mansfield achieved their worst result in over 80 years, not progressing past the qualifying rounds for the first time since falling to the non-league.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F - A		ScorersAttendance
29 October 20114th Round Fleetwood TownH1-1Dyer 70'1725
1 November 20114th Round ReplayFleetwood TownA0-51159

FA Trophy

Mansfield hoped to go one step further than the previous season's disappointment, however the team fell at the first step, an upset away to lower-league opposition.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F - A		ScorersAttendance
10 December 20111st RoundDroylsdenA1-2Green 84'335

Squad statistics

Records as of 28 April 2012. Most Appearances column includes starts and substitute appearances. League fixtures only.
† Ross Dyer, Alan Marriott, Matt Green
Louis Briscoe, Anthony Howell, Ritchie Sutton

Starting XI

This shows the most used players in each position, based on Mansfield's typical starting XI for the league season.

Reserve team

Although Mansfield does not have an official reserve team playing in a league, squads made up of fringe and youth players along with trialists are competing in various non-competitive matches throughout the season. It was later announced that a reserve team would be created with immediate effect, participating in friendlies for the remainder of the 11–12 season.
† = Trialist, ‡ = Youth Team Player
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F – A		ScorersAttendanceNotes
9 July 2011Rainworth Miners WelfareA1-1Samba† 79'1005
28 July 2011Mansfield Town Youth XI7-0N/ABehind Closed Doors
10 October 2011Solihull MoorsA1-1Connor 30'N/ABehind Closed Doors
19 October 2011Doncaster RoversA1-0Todd 25'N/ABehind Closed Doors
25 October 2011TamworthA1-0Harris‡ 60'N/ABehind Closed Doors
8 November 2011Northampton TownA0-3N/ABehind Closed Doors
10 November 2011Nottingham ForestA2-3Dyer, DayN/ABehind Closed Doors
15 November 2011Eastwood TownA2-1Howell 65', Stevenson 80'
7 December 2011Eastwood TownA4-0Hutchinson† 14', 23', Flood† 36', O.G. 37'50
22 December 2011Solihull MoorsA1-1Hutchinson†N/ABehind Closed Doors
10 January 2012Eastwood TownH3-0Hutchinson, Mitchley, WorthingtonN/ABehind Closed Doors
16 January 2012Northampton TownA1a1GreenN/ABehind Closed Doors
Abandoned after 75 minutes due to frozen pitch
17 January 2012Notts CountyHP-PN/ABehind Closed Doors
Abandoned due to frozen pitch
28 January 2012Rainworth Miners WelfareA1-1Harris‡ 13'102
11 February 2012Sutton Coldfield TownA2-0Rhead, StevensonN/ABehind Closed Doors
14 February 2012AFC TelfordA0-5263
3 April 2012QuornA7-2Rhead 1', 32', Hutchinson 13', Thompson 70', Stevenson 75', 83', Somes 80'

Youth team

After several years of absence, Mansfield Town's youth team reformed for the 2011–12 season. The under-19 squad is competing in the Northern Section of the Football Conference Youth Alliance, as well as the Midland Youth Cup and the Youth Alliance League Cup. The team is playing its home league matches at Field Mill, while some friendlies were played at the nearby Welfare Ground.

League

Ranked by league goals.
RankDivisionNameLeague GoalsCup GoalsTotal Goals
11Adam Somes21223
26Matthew Harris707
3Clayton Brown
Joe Flint		41
0		5
4
4Joel Holland325
5Jobe Shaw202
6Scott Rogers
Jack Hawkins
Blake Vincent		11
0
0		2
1
1

Fixtures

DateFixture TypeOpponentsResultScorersLeague Position
16 July 2011FriendlyMatlock Town5-0-
20 July 2011FriendlyRetford United11-0Brown, Chambers, Flint, Harris, Holland, Munn, Somes -
28 July 2011FriendlyMansfield Town Reserve XI0-7-
2 August 2011FriendlyRainworth MW5-0Brown, Somes, Williams, Villums-
6 August 2011FriendlyChasetown5-3Flint, Hawkins, Somes -
10 August 2011FriendlyPinxton0-1-
15 August 2011FriendlyNotts Representative XI4-0Flint, Somes -
17 August 2011FriendlyOadby Town4-1-
19 August 2011FriendlyBoston United3-1-
21 August 2011FriendlyNewark Town5-0Chambers, Coupe, Harris, Munn-
24 August 2011FriendlyBlidworth10-1Barke, Chambers, Flint, Hawkins, Rogers, Somes -
14 September 2011Youth Alliance MMU Newcastle5-1Flint, Holland, Somes 1
28 September 2011Youth Alliance Ilkeston2-2Somes 2
4 October 2011Midland Youth Cup
1st Round		Lincoln City0-4-
12 October 2011Youth Alliance Birmingham City Blues1-1Somes5
26 October 2011Youth Alliance FC Halifax Town4-1Holland, Somes 4
2 November 2011Youth Alliance Gateshead3-1Brown, Holland, Somes3
9 November 2011Youth Alliance Stalybridge Celtic5-1Brown, Flint, Hawkins, Somes2
16 November 2011Youth Alliance Newcastle Town7-0Brown, Rogers, Somes 1
23 November 2011Youth Alliance Boston United1-1Vincent2
30 November 2011Youth Alliance Fleetwood Town1-0Flint2
7 December 2011Youth Alliance Fleetwood TownP-P2
14 December 2011Youth Alliance Cup
1st Round		Boston United3-2Brown, Rogers, Somes-
11 January 2012Youth Alliance MMU Newcastle2-1Harris, Shaw1
18 January 2012Youth Alliance Cup
2nd Round		MMU Newcastle1-1Holland
Won 4-3 on Penalties		-
25 January 2012Youth Alliance Ilkeston4-4Harris, Shaw, Somes 1
1 February 2012Youth Alliance Birmingham City Blues3-1Harris 1
8 February 2012Youth Alliance FC Halifax TownP-P1
22 February 2012Youth Alliance Gateshead1-1Somes1
27 February 2012Youth Alliance Fleetwood TownP-P1
29 February 2012Youth Alliance Stalybridge Celtic3-1Harris, Somes1
7 March 2012Youth Alliance Cup
3rd Round		Birmingham City Whites2-4Holland, Somes-
14 March 2012Youth Alliance Newcastle Town0-21
21 March 2012Youth Alliance Boston United1-1Somes3
26 March 2012Youth Alliance Fleetwood Town1-4Somes3
4 April 2012Youth Alliance FC Halifax TownP-P3
11 April 2012Youth Alliance FC Halifax Town0-14