Mansfield Town Vs Bradford City

Matchday 74 holds a special place for Grandad Steve, as it’s one of his favourite grounds. Unfortunately, due to heavy traffic in the area, we had to leave with plenty of time, departing home at 16:00. We picked up Grandad Steve and headed straight onto the motorway. The journey should normally take about 1.5 hours, but with rush hour traffic, it could take up to double the time. Needless to say, the traffic was as expected—extremely slow on the M5 and through to the M6 southbound. After 2.5 hours, we arrived in Mansfield, covering just 80 miles.

We managed to find parking near a gym outlet, only a 5-minute walk from the stadium. Unfortunately, our plan to visit a nearby Wetherspoons had to be scrapped, as it was too risky with the game starting soon.

We headed to the ground and made our customary visit to the club shop to purchase our matchday scarf. Sadly, due to the match being a low-priority game, there were no programs available. So, we took a few photos and then headed to “Sandy’s” bar, located at the rear of the Ian Greaves Stand.

The bar was a pleasant and relaxing spot to have a pre-match drink. On a typical matchday, I imagine it would be much busier. Both Grandad Steve and I enjoyed a pint of IPA, while Liam opted for a hot chocolate, all generously bought by Grandad Steve. After we finished our drinks, we made our way into the ground.

Following the security bag check, we went through the turnstiles one ticket at a time and headed straight to the toilet. The stadium’s age was immediately apparent—it was clear that this was a traditional ground in need of redevelopment. As we made our way to our seats, we noticed a sign declaring Mansfield Town as the “Oldest Professional Football Team In The World.” Field Mill, now known as One Call Stadium, has hosted football matches since 1861, making it one of the oldest football grounds in the world.

I misread our tickets and, after about 15 minutes, was politely asked by security to move to our designated seats. This turned out to be a good move, as the view where we had originally settled was restricted by the dugout shelters. The attendance for the game was notably low—less than 1,600—with only one stand used for home fans and one for away supporters.

Despite the historic setting, the game itself was far from exciting. The atmosphere was subdued, and with a full moon overhead, it soon became clear that Mansfield was not going to win. Although they dominated possession, the quality of play was poor, and Bradford City eventually won 3-0. For me, it was probably the worst game of our challenge so far. To make matters worse, we left on the 90th minute and missed Bradford’s third goal, which came in stoppage time.

The journey home was just as exhausting, with gridlocked traffic even at 23:00. We finally arrived back around 23:30, completely drained. It was a match I won’t forget, but for all the wrong reasons. At least we can tick Mansfield Town off the list and move on to the next match in our challenge.

5 Facts About Mansfield Town:

1. Founded in 1897: Mansfield Town, known as “The Stags,” has a rich history dating back to its formation over a century ago.
2. One Call Stadium: The club plays its home games at Field Mill, one of the oldest football grounds in the world, with matches held there since 1861.
3. Promotion to League Two: After a difficult period in the Conference Premier, Mansfield Town returned to the Football League in 2013.
4. FA Cup Success: The Stags reached the FA Cup quarter-finals during the 1968-69 season, one of their greatest achievements in the competition.
5. The Stags’ Nickname: Mansfield Town’s nickname comes from the stag that appears on the town’s coat of arms, symbolizing the club’s deep ties to the local community.