Many errors and wrongly accredited allegiances with other local teams have been given with regard to the progress of Mansfield Town FC. Not surprisingly so, because football goes well back into the 19th century in this former centre of the East Midlands coal industry. Field Mill was first used for football in sometime in 1861 and is still used for that purpose now, making it the oldest ground in the Football League. A works team by the name of Mansfield Greenhalgh FC played there home matches here. Field Mill was owned by the Duke of Portland, also propietor of the Matlock Mills, and rented both out to the Greenhalgh family for their cotton related business. The family that ran the mill named the ground after it and initially used it for cricket.
There were four Greenhalgh sons, one of them appearing in the first international match for Scotland. They were nicknamed ‘The brown paper parcellers’ because they used to carry their playing kits, scarlet and black hooped shirts with matching stockings and black shorts, in brown paper. An early Mansfield Town, with no relation to the present club, merged with the Greenhalgh eleven in 1894 to become Mansfield FC. This combined club moved away from Field Mill, leaving the ground to become the home of Mansfield Amateurs. Mansfield FC, who ceased to exist in 1900, at one time they played at Parr’s Cricket Field in Newgate Lane, as did their rivals Mansfield and District Football Club from their formation in 1870.
Since it is not our intention to make life easy for you, and to fully appreciate the soccer scene of yesteryear in the Mansfield area, we move to nearby Woodhouse, which until recently was very much a separate town. It was home to several teams amongst which the mighty Mansfield Woodhouse, founded in 1874 and playing at Rawson’s ground in 1875. This is the venue where they took on another Mansfield FC in that same year, a team in no way related to the aforementioned club with the same name.
Back to Mansfield, if only to complicate things. Mansfield Mechanics FC was founded in 1901 and played at the Stanhope Street Ground, a venue which was developed into a proper enclosed ground by one of the earlier Mansfield teams. The Mechanics moved to Westfield Lane in 1911, later to become known as the Chesterfield Road Recreation Ground and still in use for minor football today. In 1912 Mechanics moved to Field Mill where they remained until the First World War. After the War Mechanics considered a merger with a branch of the local Wesleyan Boy’s Brigade, playing under the name Mansfield Wesleyans from 1897. In 1905, much to the chagrin of their founding fathers, this club turned professional and the churchmen insisted the side to change their name to Mansfield Wesley. After the club had entered the Notts & District League, the name was changed again, this time to Mansfield Town, in 1910. Mansfield Mechanics complained to the FA about this as they considered themselves as the premier team in the town, but the name change stood.
After spells at Pelham Street and Newgate Lane Mansfield Town moved to a large open area in 1914, south of Ratcliffe Gate, which, due to its wide open space, gloried in the name of The Prairie. A postwar amalgamation between Mechanics and Mansfield Town would have made a lot of sense, the former having Field Mill as a venue, the latter superior playing resources and a very enthusiastic support. While the talks were going on, Mansfield Town were secretly negotiating with the owner of Field Mill, the Duke of Portland, to go it alone as the exclusive tenants of Field Mill. Thus snubbed, the Mechanics continued to play as a separate team until folding in 1923, by which time Mansfield Town had become members of the Midland League.
So, football in Mansfield has had a long and colourful history. But perhaps not as colourful as their kits through the years. Mansfield Weslyans wore chocolate and light blue stripes with navy blue shorts – although of course they weren’t really that short. In 1905/6 the stripes were replaced by halves. In 1910 the name change brought a colour change too as red shirts and white shorts were adopted. A season later however black and white quarters were worn, and this kit stayed until the First World War.
After cessation of hostilities the club adopted the now familiar amber and blue. Initially wearing amber and blue halves with white shorts. On acceptance into the Football League in 1931 however the team were wearing light blue shirts and white shorts.
Over the years the club then tried a myriad of colours, often focussed around the amber and blue. Quarters and halves were worn until past the Second World War, and in the early Fifties the team wore blue shirts with amber sleeves.
For a period until 1961 the team colours were white shirts with black shorts, but since then amber and blue have dominated: amber shirts with blue trim, blue shirts with amber trim, and a classically simple white with blue and amber trim have all appeared at Field Mill. The colours are distinctive, but the design is an ever-changing kaleidoscope.
Mansfield Town have been nicknamed the Stags since the 1920s, after the small deer often found in the Sherwood Forest nearby. The club’s badge has had a single-minded theme since the 1960s, encompassing this same stag. Before that, Mansfield Town’s emblem was the coat of arms of the old Borough of Mansfield. Incidentally, this emblem never appeared on the shirts of whatever hue.
In the shield we see the cross moline of the Bentinck family differenced by having a fleur de lis termination to each end in gold. This cross separates the four divisions of the shield, while the stag’s heads from the arms of the Cavendish-Bentinck family on a ground sable occur in the first and fourth quarterings. The second and third quarterings are occupied by hanks of cotton, referring to the trade of Mansfield. The crest, which is given in the small circle at the top of the badge is the famous Parliament Oak, represented in its full vigour. Beside this are the two stars of Murray, the Earl of Mansfield and in front of it are the two cross crosslets from the Howard family.
And when you next visit Field Mill listen out for the loyal supporters mumbling a Latin phrase during the course of the game. It’s probably the motto of the old emblem “Siqut quercus virescit industria “, meaning “Industry flourishes as the oak”.
My grandfather played for Mansfield Mechanics and later Mansfield Town pre WW1
My Grandad played for Mansfield Mechanics too Kathryn .It would have been around 1907-1910 .Does anyone know if there are any photographs that exist around this time?
They probably played together. Unfortunately I do not have any photos.
Kathryn/Steve, old team photos are available on the following website: http://stagsnet.net/vintage/teampics/teampics.html
Great stuff! Thank you!
trying to find info about a medal i have year hallmark 1886 . greenhalghs f c … name g sadler on it.
My direct ancestor Thomas Greenhalgh was the brother of the Greenhalgh who moved to Mansfield and operated the Mills in the early 1900s
been watching Stags on & off now over 35+years… in my late teens early-mid 80s used to sell matchday programes either mostly near junction on ring-road near to KFC today [*incidently the arched walkway bridge over Portland St.MDC idea to celebrate millenium & was constructed by WH Davis’Ltd. Shirebrook helped by some welding skills of my brother being & still is an employee of theirs] … well used to walk up lane upside back of houses & gardens of Lord / Bishop St. up on to North Stand still does though nicely tarmac’d now in 70s it got all muddy but hay 70s they were the elcion days 2 championships Div.2 in 77/78 Stoke what a baptism that day 2-1 win P.Shilton in Stoke goal & all bedlem going off in town[4-seasons just a scene of carnage] on TVs MOTD main match Stags 3 all draw with mighty Spurs on a wet wet wet & muddy pitch at our beloved Fieldmill… aye 2 mnth back got myself a replica shirt worn season won Div.3…. made up I been since…anyhow ttfn ! oh & COYS! 😉
i remember that path up to the north stand….was there for the west ham cup game what a night that was….still got the programme.