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.

Mansfield Town
2012–13 season
ChairmanJohn Radford
ManagerPaul Cox
Conference National1st (Promoted)
FA Cup3rd Round
(lost to Liverpool)
FA Trophy1st Round Replay
(lost to Matlock Town)
Top goalscorerLeague: Matt Green, 25
All: Matt Green, 27
Highest home attendance7574
(vs. Liverpool, 6 Jan 2013)
Lowest home attendance1615
(vs. Matlock, 24 Nov 2012)
Average home league attendance2758 (league games only)

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.[1]

As well as winning the league, Mansfield enjoyed an excellent FA Cup run. A 2–1 win over Lincoln City[2] set up a third round tie with Premier League side Liverpool. A controversial Luis Suárez goal helped the Reds to a 2–1 victory,[3] 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.

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers Attendance
14 July 2012 Leamington A 1-0[4] M. Green 82' 400
17 July 2012 Hednesford A 2-0 Stevenson 19', Tolley 50'
19 July 2012 Shepshed Dynamo A P-P
20 July 2012 Gainsborough Trinity A 0-0
23 July 2012 Hucknall Town A 3-0 Howell 45', McGorrigan† 46', 89' 385
25 July 2012 Derby County H 2-1[5] M. Green 52', Meikle 59' 2596 (1030)
28 July 2012 Nottingham Forest H 2-1[6] Howell 49', Wright 63' Behind closed doors
31 July 2012 Eastwood Town A 3-0[7] Stevenson 32', Fearon (o.g.) 43', Wright 88'
31 July 2012 Stourbridge A P-P
3 August 2012 Boston United A 2-1 Wright 24', Speight 26' 352
4 August 2012 Rotherham United H 2-3 Stevenson 47', M Green 71' 1300 (253)
7 August 2012 Sheffield A 5-4[8] Todd 3', Speight 11', 41', Clements 30', Hutchinson 43' 165

Conference National
Main article: 2012–13 Football Conference § Conference Premier
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Mansfield Town (C, P) 46 30 5 11 92 52 +40 95 Promotion to 2013–14 League Two
2 Kidderminster Harriers 46 28 9 9 82 40 +42 93 Qualification for Conference Premier play-offs
3 Newport County (P) 46 25 10 11 85 60 +25 85
4 Grimsby Town 46 23 14 9 70 38 +32 83
5 Wrexham 46 22 14 10 74 45 +29 80
Updated to match(es) played on 20 April 2013. Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted.

FA Cup
Date Round Opposition H/A Result
F-A		 Scorers Attendance
20 October 2012 Fourth Qualifying Round Workington A 2-1 Speight 32', 67' 701 (75)
3 November 2012 First Round Slough Town H 0-0 1686 (250)
13 November 2012 First Round Replay Slough Town A 1-1† Woozley O.G. 45+2' 1597 (100)
1 December 2012 Second Round Lincoln City A 3-3 M. Green 20', Briscoe 53', Rhead 90+3' 4127 (1176)
12 December 2012 Second Round Replay Lincoln City H 2-1 Farman O.G. 14', Briscoe 76' 5304 (1360)
6 January 2013 Third Round Liverpool H 1-2 M. Green 79' 7,574 (1433)

† Won on penalties.

FA Trophy
Date Round Opposition H/A Result
F-A		 Scorers Attendance
First Round Matlock Town H 1-1 1615
First Round Replay Matlock Town A 1-2 758

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
  • 11 Teams
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Gateshead 20 17 1 2 69 21 +48 52
2 Mansfield Town 20 14 3 3 60 29 +31 45
3 FC Halifax Town 20 11 5 4 44 28 +16 38
4 Ilkeston 20 10 7 3 40 20 +20 37
Updated to match(es) played on 20 May 2013. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

League Cup
Date Round Opposition H/A Result
F-A		 Scorers Attendance
19 November 2012 1st Round MMU A 2-2† Jones, Thomas

† Lost on penalties

FA Youth Cup
Date Round Opposition H/A Result
F-A		 Scorers Attendance
5 September 2012 Preliminary Round Glossop North End A 3-0 Chambers(2), Robinson, 95
21 September 2012 First Qualifying Round Gresley H 8-0 Thomas 15', Flint 46', 76', Robinson 56', Chambers 78', 90', 90+2' Pusrglove 86' 163
2 October 2012 Second Qualifying Round Lincoln City A 1-8 Flint 74' 412

Midland Youth Cup

References
  1. "Mansfield 1–0 Wrexham". Mansfield Town Official Website. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  2. "Mansfield 2–1 Lincoln City". Mansfield Town Official Website. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  3. "Mansfield 1–2 Liverpool". Mansfield Town Official Website. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  4. "Leamington 0–1 Stags". Mansfield Town Official Website. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  5. "Stags 2–1 Derby". Mansfield Town Official Website. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  6. "Stags 2–1 Forest". Mansfield Town Official Website. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  7. "Stags sweep aside Eastwood". Mansfield Town Official Website. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  8. "Stags win in goal glut". Mansfield Town Official Website. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
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