A Friday trip to Field Mill

Craig Priest from Mansfield Matters gives us his pre-season thoughts

Jul 18, 2025

Friday 18 July 2025

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THE SCARF MY FATHER WORE 2025-26 CALENDAR: Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Mansfield supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Our season preview continues with Mansfield Town today. Craig Priest from Mansfield Matters joins us for a chat.

Today’s edition is sponsored by SAW Contracts Ltd. A big thank you to Steve.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,312

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Last win at our place: Wednesday 9 April 2008, League Two, 2-1

Last win at their place: Tuesday 14 October 2003, LDV Vans Trophy first round, 2-1

Today’s Ladbrokes title/promotion odds: County: 12/1 7/2 Mansfield: 66/1 16/1

Top story in the local news today: ‘Fears Nottinghamshire town will be “changed forever” by construction of 240 new homes’

Kyle Wootton headed County’s equaliser at Field Mill last season (Photo credit: Stockport County FC)

Burton away on the opening day. Cardiff at home on the final day. Thoughts?

We’ve got to play everyone at some point – I really don’t get the hype about fixture lists to be honest. Burton will be an interesting one given we’ve taken Ryan Sweeney in the summer. He was captain for them last season and has just been given the armband here. He also scored an own goal so let’s not repeat that!

Which team do you most want to beat this season?

In typical Nigel Clough fashion, I want to win every game and beat everyone! I have some cousins who are Luton fans, so six points would be very welcome for bragging rights. We owe Bolton one after throwing it away last season at their place.

We’re all from Stockport, who the fuck are you?

I’ll go with what we’ll be singing at your place again: “Three points again, olé olé!” Cursed us now haven’t I…

There’s been a little bit of controversy at Glastonbury this summer. What’s the worst song/chant Mansfield fans have ever sung?

There was a particular chant about Lucas Akins which included some dreadful lyrics that were cringy and just wrong. Our “1987” chant grates on me a bit because it’s not factually accurate – but hey, who am I to get in the way of rhyming lyrics!

In terms of your summer transfer business so far, where have Mansfield been shopping?

Tesco. Good products with excellent clubcard savings – we’ve not spent a penny!

Which Mansfield player is most likely to end up in League One’s team of the season?

Dom Dwyer has set big targets and looks very sharp with an extended pre-season under his belt. Liam Roberts will be a contender for golden glove, whilst I’d keep a close eye on new boy Nathan Moriah-Welsh too.

Which former Mansfield player is most likely to come back and bite you on the arse this season?

Obviously Davis Keillor-Dunn at Barnsley, although I’m hopeful he’ll get a move and we can (hopefully) take a cut. He’s just a handful and scores goals for fun. Ben Waine will probably bag a hat-trick against us for Port Vale – he was terrible for us on loan from Plymouth last season and really made me wonder if I could get a game for my country if he could! (Sorry Ben, I’m sure you’re a lovely fella but you just didn’t cut it.) Bradford have a few ex-Stags too.

I’m a member of the Stockport Sippers Society, who always enjoy a trip away every season. Last year we had a fantastic weekend in Exeter. Why should we choose Mansfield for a couple of nights this season?

Are you mad? Even I wouldn’t choose to spend a few nights in Mansfield and I live here! Although when your alternatives are the likes of Luton, Plymouth and Wigan, you might be on to something.

Spud Bros have been all over social media recently after sponsoring Preston’s shirts. If you could choose any food place in Mansfield to be on the front of your shirts, what would you go for?

Brimbles in the town centre. They do a smashing sausage cob.

What’s your early predictions for promotion and relegation in League One?

Ah, I hate these questions. I always get it wrong and get found out for knowing sod all!

Promotion: Wycombe, Luton, Rotherham (play-offs).

Relegation: Burton, Peterborough, Stevenage and Port Vale.

“Mansfield Town Football Club, nicknamed ‘The Stags’, is a professional football team based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, known for its passionate fanbase and long-standing presence in the lower tiers of English football.” That’s what artificial intelligence said about you. Decent summary?

Can’t argue with that to be fair.

The world’s absolutely fucked at the moment. If you could choose one person at your club to sort everything out, who would you go for?

Nigel Clough and Andy Garner. They’re not taking any shit.

And finally, if World War 3 breaks out in December while County fans are in Mansfield, where’s the best place for us to hide?

The newly renovated Bishop Street Stand – they’ve got the best damn toilets in the land!

➡️ Click on the links below for the other season previews we’ve published so far.

AFC Wimbledon / Bolton / Huddersfield / Leyton Orient / Lincoln / Luton / Reading

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Photo of the day

Somewhere between Stockport and Mansfield

Damon Carroll’s famous mankini got another airing during our trip to Mansfield last season.

Today in SK

🎶 DJ

Friday Night Disco at The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all night at The Cross Keys (SK8).

If you’re out for a few beers tonight, pop into one of our featured venues such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Steelworks (SK6) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).