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 Suarez 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 10 friendlies, 3 at home and 7 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 |
Scorers |
Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 July 2012 |
Leamington |
A |
1-0 |
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 |
M Green 52', Meikle 59' |
2596 (1030) |
28 July 2012 |
Nottingham Forest |
H |
2-1 |
Howell 49', Wright 63' |
Behind closed doors |
31 July 2012 |
Eastwood Town |
A |
3-0 |
Stevenson 32', Fearon (OG) 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 |
Todd 3', Speight 11', 41', Clements 30', Hutchinson 43' |
165 |
FA Cup
Date |
Round |
Opposition |
H/A |
Result |
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 |
Scorers |
Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round |
Matlock Town |
H |
1-1 |
1615 |
||
First Round Replay |
Matlock Town |
A |
1-2 |
758 |
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
League Cup
Date |
Round |
Opposition |
H/A |
Result |
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 |
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 |