2017–18 Mansfield Town F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Mansfield Town's 121st season in their history and their fifth consecutive season in League Two.^[1]

Mansfield Town

2017–18 season
Owner	John Radford
Chief Executive	Carolyn Radford
Manager	Steve Evans (until 27 February 2018) David Flitcroft (from 1 March 2018)
Stadium	Field Mill
League Two	8th
FA Cup	Third round
EFL Cup	First round
← 2016–17 2018–19 →

Results

Friendlies

As of 26 June 2017, Mansfield Town have announced eight pre-season friendlies.^[2][3][4][5] On 1 November 2017, it was announced Mansfield Town would face Clipstone.^[6]

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Report
1	6 July 2017	Malta Select XI	A	5–0	Rose 14', Digby 23', Atkinson 55', Angol (2) 62' (pen.), 76'	Report
2	15 July 2017	Sheffield Wednesday	H	2–3	Taft 32', Bennett 81'	Report
3	18 July 2017	Stocksbridge Park Steels	A	4–0	Rose (2), Hamilton (2)	Report
4	19 July 2017	Middlesbrough	H	2–2	Howson (o.g.), Angol	Report
5	22 July 2017	Nottingham Forest	H	0–4		Report
6	25 July 2017	Gainsborough Trinity	A	4–0	Sterling James (2) 8', 61', Hamilton 38', Potter 75'	Report
7	25 July 2017	Matlock Town	A	4–0	Angol (2), Atkinson, Mellis	Report
8	29 July 2017	Alfreton Town	A	2–0	Rose 80', Mellis 87'	Report

League Two

Main article: 2017–18 EFL League Two

The League Two fixtures were released on 21 June 2017.^[7]

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers	Report
1	5 August 2017	Crewe Alexandra	A	2–2	4,933	Rose 55', Mirfin 66'	Report
2	12 August 2017	Forest Green Rovers	H	2–0	3,826	Rose 51', Anderson 57'	Report
3	19 August 2017	Accrington Stanley	A	1–2	1,645	Angol 25'	Report
4	26 August 2017	Luton Town	H	2–2	4,665	Bennett 23', Angol 71'	Report
5	2 September 2017	Carlisle United	A	1–1	4,677	Butcher 58'	Report
6	9 September 2017	Grimsby Town	H	4–1	4,625	Angol (2) 34' (pen.), 80' (pen.), Pearce 54', Osborne 64' (o.g.)	Report
7	12 September 2017	Wycombe Wanderers	H	0–0	2,938		Report
8	16 September 2017	Lincoln City	A	1–0	9,563	Rose 61'	Report
9	23 September 2017	Cambridge United	H	2–1	3,814	Mellis 65' (pen.), Rose 87'	Report
10	26 September 2017	Cheltenham Town	A	0–3	2,480		Report
11	30 September 2017	Notts County	H	3–1	7,072	Rose (2) 47', 59', Duffy 63' (o.g.)	Report
12	7 October 2017	Colchester United	A	0–2	3,262		Report
13	14 October 2017	Swindon Town	H	1–3	4,081	Rose 90+1'	Report
14	17 October 2017	Barnet	A	1–1	1,262	Butcher 45+2'	Report
15	21 October 2017	Newport County	A	1–1	3,146	Rose 22'	Report
16	28 October 2017	Exeter City	H	1–1	3,608	Hemmings 18'	Report
17	11 November 2017	Coventry City	A	1–0	8,410	MacDonald 84'	Report
18	18 November 2017	Stevenage	H	1–0	3,353	Hemmings 24'	Report
19	21 November 2017	Port Vale	A	4–0	3,878	Diamond (2) 43', 52', Rose 54', Hemmings 63'	Report
20	25 November 2017	Chesterfield	H	2–2	7,525	White 26', Diamond 88'	Report
21	9 December 2017	Crawley Town	A	0–2	1,791		Report
22	16 December 2017	Yeovil Town	H	0–0	3,032		Report
23	23 December 2017	Morecambe	H	2–1	3,058	Hemmings 8', Rose 88'	Report
24	26 December 2017	Grimsby Town	A	1–1	5,704	Angol 80'	Report
25	30 December 2017	Wycombe Wanderers	A	2–1	4,227	Potter 52', Angol 81'	Report
26	1 January 2018	Carlisle United	H	3–1	3,632	Hemmings 9', 75', Bennett 31'	Report
27	13 January 2018	Cambridge United	A	0–0	4,324		Report
28	20 January 2018	Cheltenham Town	H	3–2	3,483	Hamilton (2) 35', 90+4', Hemmings 80'	Report
29	27 January 2018	Morecambe	A	2–1	1,416	Rose 70', Benning 90+4'	Report
30	3 February 2018	Barnet	H	3–1	3,795	MacDonald 42', Atkinson 55', Rose 70'	Report
31	10 February 2018	Swindon Town	A	0–1	6,031		Report
32	13 February 2018	Newport County	H	5–0	2,866	Rose 6', Potter 9', 28', 61', MacDonald 34'	Report
33	17 February 2018	Exeter City	A	1–0	3,680	Rose 38'	Report
34	24 February 2018	Coventry City	H	1–1	6,105	Hemmings 16'	Report
35	6 March 2018	Lincoln City	H	1–1	6,091	Byrom 49'	Report
36	10 March 2018	Colchester United	H	1–1	4,050	Hemmings 22'	Report
37	17 March 2018	Notts County	A	1–1	12,563	Hemmings 90+9' (pen)	Report
38	24 March 2018	Forest Green Rovers	A	0–2	2,287		Report
39	31 March 2018	Accrington Stanley	H	0–1	5,053		Report
40	2 April 2018	Luton Town	A	1–2	9,592	Hemmings 34'	Report
41	7 April 2018	Crewe Alexandra	H	3–4	3,480	Angol 15', Hemmings 50', Miller 76'	Report
42	10 April 2018	Stevenage	A	1–1	2,294	Atkinson 51'	Report
43	14 April 2018	Chesterfield	A	1–0	7,967	Benning 67'	Report
44	21 April 2018	Port Vale	H	1–1	4,210	Howkins 73' (o.g.)	Report
45	28 April 2018	Yeovil Town	A	3–2	3,500	Angol (2) 48', 76', Hemmings 69' (pen)	Report
46	5 May 2018	Crawley Town	H	1–1	4,734	Hemmings 64'	Report

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
6	Coventry City (O, P)	46	22	9	15	64	47	+17	75	Qualification for League Two play-offs[a]
7	Lincoln City	46	20	15	11	64	48	+16	75
8	Mansfield Town	46	18	18	10	67	52	+15	72
9	Swindon Town	46	20	8	18	67	65	+2	68
10	Carlisle United	46	17	16	13	62	54	+8	67

Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to EFL League One.

FA Cup

Main article: 2017–18 FA Cup

On 16 October 2017, Mansfield Town were drawn away to Shaw Lane in the first round.^[8] A second round home tie against Accrington Stanley or Guiseley was confirmed.^[9] Guiseley won that match 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 scoreline (a.e.t.) to face Mansfield.^[10]

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers	Report
R1	4 November 2017	Shaw Lane	A	3–1	1,700	Pearce 34', Rose (2) 73', 78'	Report
R2	2 December 2017	Guiseley	H	3–0	4,081	Spencer 31', 52', 65'(pen.)	Report
R3	6 January 2018	Cardiff City	A	0–0	6,378		Report
R3 Replay	16 January 2018	Cardiff City	H	1–4	5,746	Rose 35'	Report

EFL Cup

Main article: 2017–18 EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Mansfield Town were drawn at home to Rochdale in the first round.^[11]

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers	Report
R1	8 August 2017	Rochdale	H	0–1	1,457		Report

EFL Trophy

Main article: 2017–18 EFL Trophy

On 12 July 2017, Mansfield Town were drawn alongside Everton U23s, Lincoln City and Notts County in Northern Group G.^[12] After finishing as runners-up, Mansfield were drawn away to Blackpool in the second round.^[13]

Pos	Lge	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	L2	Lincoln City (Q)	3	3	0	0	0	7	3	+4	9	Round 2
2	L2	Mansfield Town (Q)	3	2	0	0	1	4	4	0	6
3	L2	Notts County (E)	3	1	0	0	2	4	5	−1	3
4	ACA	Everton U21 (E)	3	0	0	0	3	2	5	−3	0

Updated to match(es) played on 7 November 2017. Source: EFL.com
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers	Report
Group Match 1	29 August 2017	Lincoln City	H	1–3	2,495	Potter 8'	Report
Group Match 2	24 October 2017	Notts County	A	2–1	2,290	Angol 1', Hamilton 73'	Report
Group Match 3	5 November 2017	Everton U21s	H	1–0	964	Diamond 81'	Report
Second round	6 December 2017	Blackpool	A	1–1 (4–5 p)	587	Butcher 88'	Report

Squad statistics

No.	Pos.	Name	League Two		FA Cup		League Cup		League Trophy		Total		Discipline
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	Conrad Logan	45	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	49	0	2	0
2	DF	Rhys Bennett	34(4)	2	3	0	1	0	1	0	39(4)	2	5	1
3	DF	Mal Benning	27(1)	1	3	0	1	0	2	0	33(1)	1	7	1
4	DF	Paul Digby	10(5)	0	0(1)	0	1	0	4	0	15(6)	0	3	0
5	DF	Krystian Pearce	36(2)	1	3	1	1	0	1	0	41(2)	1	12	1
6	DF	Zander Diamond	18(2)	3	2	0	0	0	1	1	21(2)	3	2	0
7	MF	Alex MacDonald	40(1)	3	4	0	0	0	1	0	45(1)	0	8	0
8	MF	Jacob Mellis	22(8)	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	26(8)	1	9	0
9	FW	Lee Angol	16(13)	9	1(1)	0	0	0	3	1	20(14)	10	9	0
10	MF	Paul Anderson	24(9)	1	4	0	1	0	1(1)	0	30(10)	1	1	0
11	MF	Will Atkinson	24(15)	2	1(2)	0	1	0	2(1)	0	28(18)	2	4	0
12	GK	Bobby Olejnik	1	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	6	0	0	0
14	DF	George Taft	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0
15	FW	Jimmy Spencer	3(15)	1	1(2)	3	1	0	4	0	9(17)	4	2	0
16	DF	Hayden White	25(3)	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	29(3)	1	9	1
17	MF	Alfie Potter	16(11)	4	1(2)	0	0(1)	0	3(1)	1	20(15)	5	2	0
18	DF	David Mirfin	12	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	13	1	2	0
19	DF	Johnny Hunt	18	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	21	0	5	0
20	MF	Jack Thomas	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	1(3)	0	1(4)	0	0	0
21	MF	Omari Sterling-James	2(11)	0	0(2)	0	1	0	3(1)	0	6(14)	0	3	0
22	MF	C. J. Hamilton	28(5)	2	4	0	0(1)	0	1(2)	1	33(8)	3	1	0
23	FW	Kane Hemmings	36(1)	15	2	0	0	0	0(1)	0	38(2)	15	8	0
24	MF	Calum Butcher	10(7)	1	0(1)	0	0	0	2	1	12(8)	2	5	0
25	MF	Adam King	5(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5(2)	0	2	0
26	MF	Joel Byrom	18(1)	1	2	0	1	0	1	0	22(1)	0	7	0
27	MF	Matt Penney	0(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(2)	0	0	0
31	FW	Ricky Miller	0(8)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(8)	1	2	0
32	FW	Danny Rose	35(4)	14	3	3	0(1)	0	0(1)	0	38(6)	17	9	0
37	FW	Zayn Hakeem	0	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0(1)	0	0	0
Own goals			—	2	—	0	—	0	—	0	—	2	—

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017	CF		Lee Angol	Peterborough United	Undisclosed	[14]
1 July 2017	RM		Paul Anderson	Northampton Town	Free	[15]
1 July 2017	CM		Will Atkinson	Southend United	Free	[16]
1 July 2017	CB		Zander Diamond	Northampton Town	Free	[17]
1 July 2017	CB		Paul Digby	Ipswich Town	Free	[18]
1 July 2017	LB		Johnny Hunt	Chester	Free	[19]
1 July 2017	GK		Conrad Logan	Rochdale	Free	[20]
1 July 2017	CM		Jacob Mellis	Bury	Free	[21]
1 July 2017	CB		David Mirfin	Scunthorpe United	Free	[22]
1 July 2017	GK		Bobby Olejnik	Exeter City	Free	[23]
1 July 2017	CF		Jimmy Spencer	Plymouth Argyle	Free	[24]
1 July 2017	RM		Omari Sterling-James	Solihull Moors	Free	[25]
1 July 2017	RB		Hayden White	Peterborough United	Undisclosed	[26]
31 August 2017	DM		Calum Butcher	Millwall	Free	[27]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017	CF		Yoann Arquin	Free agent	Released	[28]
1 July 2017	RM		James Baxendale	Free agent	Released	[28]
1 July 2017	CB		Lee Collins	Forest Green Rovers	Released	[28][a]
1 July 2017	CF		Matt Green	Lincoln City	Released	[28][b]
1 July 2017	LM		Ashley Hemmings	Boston United	Released	[28][c]
1 July 2017	CF		Patrick Hoban	Dundalk	Released	[28][d]
1 July 2017	RM		Kevan Hurst	Guiseley	Released	[28][e]
1 July 2017	GK		Brian Jensen	Crusaders	Released	[28][f]
1 July 2017	CM		Jamie McGuire	Coaching role	Released	[28][g]
1 July 2017	GK		Scott Shearer	Oxford United	Released	[28][h]
1 July 2017	CB		Corbin Shires	Free agent	Released	[28]

1. Lee Collins joined Forest Green Rovers following his release from the club.^[29]
2. Matt Green joined Lincoln City following his release.^[30]
3. Ashley Hemmings joined Boston United following his release.^[31]
4. Patrick Hoban joined Dundalk following his release.^[32]
5. Kevan Hurst joined Guiseley following his release.^[33]
6. Brian Jensen joined Crusaders following his release.^[34]
7. Jamie McGuire accepted the offer to take a coaching role at the club following his release.^[35]
8. Scott Shearer joined Oxford United following his release from the club.^[36]

Loans in

Start date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	End date	Ref.
22 August 2017	CF		Kane Hemmings	Oxford United	30 June 2018	[37]

Loans out

Start date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	End date	Ref.
14 September 2017	CM		Jack Thomas	Boston United	24 October 2017	[38][a][b]

1. On 16 October, Jack Thomas extended his loan with Boston United for a further month.^[39]
2. On 24 October, Mansfield Town exercised the option to recall Jack Thomas.^[40]

References

1. "History". Statto. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
2. "Stags announce big-name pre-season friendly". Mansfield Town Official Site. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
3. "Stags to play Premier League hopefuls in friendly". Mansfield Town Official Site. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
4. "Stags announce Reds' friendly". Mansfield Town Official Site. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
5. "First team friendly arranged in Malta". Mansfield Town Official Site. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
6. "Date confirmed for Clipstone friendly". Mansfield Town Official Site. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
7. "League Two fixtures: Who are your club playing next season?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
8. "Stags handed away tie in FA Cup first round". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
9. "Stags drawn at home in FA Cup". Mansfield Town Official Site. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
10. "Stags to face Guiseley in FA Cup". Mansfield Town Official Site. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
11. "Stags drawn at home in Carabao Cup first round". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
12. "Checkatrade Trophy group finalised". Mansfield Town Official Site. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
13. "Stags to play Blackpool away in Trophy". Mansfield Town Official Site. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
14. "Stags sign highly-rated Posh striker". Mansfield Town Official Site. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
15. "Stags add experienced Championship winger to squad". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
16. "Stags strengthen squad by signing versatile midfielder". Mansfield Town Official Site. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
17. "Stags land Diamond signing". Mansfield Town Official Site. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
18. "Stags snap up versatile former Ipswich man". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
19. "Versatile left-footer pens Stags deal". Mansfield Town Official Site. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
20. "Stags sign sought-after shot-stopper". Mansfield Town Official Site. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
21. "Stags sign gifted midfielder". Mansfield Town Official Site. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
22. "Stags sign multiple promotion-winner". Mansfield Town Official Site. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
23. "Stags sign experienced shot-stopper". Mansfield Town Official Site. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
24. "League Two promotion-winner pens Stags deal". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
25. "Stags snap up talented frontman". Mansfield Town Official Site. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
26. "Stags capture White from Posh". Mansfield Town Official Site. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
27. "Stags capture promotion winning midfielder". Mansfield Town Official Site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
28. "Stags announce retained list". Mansfield Town Official Site. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
29. "Lee Collins: Forest Green Rovers sign Mansfield Town defender on free transfer". BBC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
30. "Lincoln City: Matt Green, Ollie Palmer & Josh Ginnelly join League Two club". BBC. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
31. "Former Mansfield Town winger Ashley Hemmings on why he joined Boston United". LincolnshireLive. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
32. "Patrick Hoban makes the move back to Dundalk". LincolnshireLive. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
33. "Kevan Hurst: Former Mansfield midfielder one of four to join Guiseley". BBC. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
34. "Crusaders sign Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen on one-year contract". BBC. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
35. "Jamie McGuire accepts new role at Stag". Mansfield Town Official Site. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
36. "Scott Shearer: Oxford United sign keeper after Mansfield Town departure". BBC. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
37. "Stags snap up prolific goalscorer". Mansfield Town Official Site. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
38. "Young midfielder makes Boston loan move". Mansfield Town Official Site. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
39. "Midfielder extends Boston loan". Mansfield Town Official Site. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
40. "Midfielder recalled from Boston". Mansfield Town Official Site. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.