2012–13 Mansfield Town F.C. season


The 2012–2013 Season of Mansfield Town F.C. was its fifth in the Blue Square Bet Premier, following relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2007–08 season. The club also took part in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy. The club played its home games at Field Mill, renamed the One Call Stadium for sponsorship reasons, following chairman John Radford's purchase of the ground from previous landlord Keith Haslam the season before. The Stags' youth team again participated in the Football Conference Youth Alliance under-19 league and cup, along with the Midland Youth Cup. Mansfield's reserve team reformed officially for the 2012–13 season, competing in the Central League.
After the disappointment of play-off defeat the previous season, and an indifferent start to the season which had seen some fans calling for him to be sacked, Paul Cox led his side to Conference glory. A club record 95 points saw the Stags crowned champions on the final day of the season after a tense battle to the title with Kidderminster Harriers. The title was sealed with a 1–0 victory over Wrexham on 20 April 2013.
As well as winning the league, Mansfield enjoyed an excellent FA Cup run. A 2–1 win over Lincoln City set up a third round tie with Premier League side Liverpool. A controversial Luis Suárez goal helped the Reds to a 2–1 victory, although Mansfield enjoyed considerable media praise for the brave display from their players and the reaction to the game from Cox.

Pre-season

The Stags warmed up for the season with ten friendlies, three at home and seven away. A planned friendly against Shepshed was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch. A second friendly planned for the evening of 31 July, against Stourbridge was cancelled because of an illness spreading through the team. The friendly the following day, at Rainworth Miners Welfare, was contested by the youth team.
† indicates a trialist.
DateOpponentsH / AResult
F – A		ScorersAttendance
14 July 2012LeamingtonA1-0M. Green 82'400
17 July 2012HednesfordA2-0Stevenson 19', Tolley 50'
19 July 2012Shepshed DynamoAP-P
20 July 2012Gainsborough TrinityA0-0
23 July 2012Hucknall TownA3-0Howell 45', McGorrigan† 46', 89'385
25 July 2012Derby CountyH2-1M. Green 52', Meikle 59'2596
28 July 2012Nottingham ForestH2-1Howell 49', Wright 63'Behind closed doors
31 July 2012Eastwood TownA3-0Stevenson 32', Fearon 43', Wright 88'
31 July 2012StourbridgeAP-P
3 August 2012Boston UnitedA2-1Wright 24', Speight 26'352
4 August 2012Rotherham UnitedH2-3Stevenson 47', M Green 71'1300
7 August 2012SheffieldA5-4Todd 3', Speight 11', 41', Clements 30', Hutchinson 43'165

Conference National

FA Cup

DateRoundOppositionH/AResult
F-A		ScorersAttendance
20 October 2012Fourth Qualifying RoundWorkingtonA2-1Speight 32', 67'701
3 November 2012First RoundSlough TownH0-01686
13 November 2012First Round ReplaySlough TownA1-1†Woozley O.G. 45+2'1597
1 December 2012Second RoundLincoln CityA3-3M. Green 20', Briscoe 53', Rhead 90+3'4127
12 December 2012Second Round ReplayLincoln CityH2-1Farman O.G. 14', Briscoe 76'5304
6 January 2013Third RoundLiverpoolH1-2M. Green 79'7,574

† Won on penalties.

FA Trophy

DateRoundOppositionH/AResult
F-A		ScorersAttendance
First RoundMatlock TownH1-11615
First Round ReplayMatlock TownA1-2758

Reserves

Youth team

Like the season before, the Stags' youth team competed in the Football Conference Youth Alliance North Division, Football Conference Youth Alliance League Cup and Midland Youth Cup. They also competed in the FA Youth Cup.

League

DateRoundOppositionH/AResult
F-A		ScorersAttendance
19 November 20121st RoundMMUA2-2†Jones, Thomas

† Lost on penalties

FA Youth Cup

DateRoundOppositionH/AResult
F-A		ScorersAttendance
5 September 2012Preliminary RoundGlossop North EndA3-0Chambers, Robinson,95
21 September 2012First Qualifying RoundGresleyH8-0Thomas 15', Flint 46', 76', Robinson 56', Chambers 78', 90', 90+2' Pusrglove 86'163
2 October 2012Second Qualifying RoundLincoln CityA1-8Flint 74'412

Midland Youth Cup