[JonB]

....and most of it still looks like it did back in 1861!!

Sky Sports News HQ
‏@SkySportsNewsHQ
@mansfieldtownfc manager Adam Murray has just unveiled this at the ground! #92Live

[Westbars Spireite]

Is that even true?

[spireitenag]

 Westbars Spireite, on 04 August 2015 - 07:35 AM, said:

Is that even true?

The site has certainly been in use since 1861 when it was actually a field with a cricket pavilion on it.

It was originally the home of the Greenhalgh's Cotton Mill sports teams with both football and cricket being hosted and even greyhound racing for a couple of years.

Mansfield Town FC were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans a local amateur church side.

They were not to move to Field Mill as it later became named in 1919.

The claim is obviously tentative to say the least.

They also claim to have hosted the first ever competitive floodlit game in 1930,when temporary lights were used to stage the North Notts League Senior Cup Final.

Also claim to be the first club to use a yellow fluorescent ball in a game in 1998.

Talk about clutching at straws for some sort of creditable history.

[Sabreman]

Some people are obsessed, if it is the oldest pro football ground in the world why shouldn't they celebrate it ?

[martatcross]

Sheffield United will maybe have something to say on this one
http://footysphere.com/bramall-lane

This post has been edited by martatcross: 04 August 2015 - 08:17 AM

[Siberian Spireite]

 spireitenag, on 04 August 2015 - 08:04 AM, said:

The site has certainly been in use since 1861 when it was actually a field with a cricket pavilion on it.

It was originally the home of the Greenhalgh's Cotton Mill sports teams with both football and cricket being hosted and even greyhound racing for a couple of years.

Mansfield Town FC were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans a local amateur church side.

They were not to move to Field Mill as it later became named in 1919.

The claim is obviously tentative to say the least.

They also claim to have hosted the first ever competitive floodlit game in 1930,when temporary lights were used to stage the North Notts League Senior Cup Final.

Also claim to be the first club to use a yellow fluorescent ball in a game in 1998.

Talk about clutching at straws for some sort of creditable history.

The yellow ball claim is correct. A Stags-supporting mate and I drove up from work near London to make kick-off (I think it was a Friday evening match) and instead of going in, hung over the Bishop Street wall (me in a Chesterfield woollen hat) hoping they would welly it out of the ground and that we could collect that first fluorescent ball as a souvenir. Unusually, the ball wasn't hoofed out once. Even worse, Mansfield beat Barnet 5-0.

[Goku]

that sounds really fun

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

 JonB, on 04 August 2015 - 07:30 AM, said:

....and most of it still looks like it did back in 1861!!

Sky Sports News HQ
‏@SkySportsNewsHQ
@mansfieldtownfc manager Adam Murray has just unveiled this at the ground! #92Live

Who gives a fk?

 JonB, on 04 August 2015 - 07:30 AM, said:

....and most of it still looks like it did back in 1861!!

Sky Sports News HQ
‏@SkySportsNewsHQ
@mansfieldtownfc manager Adam Murray has just unveiled this at the ground! #92Live

Who gives a fk? perhaps they going to now claim for museum status as well

[Spire-Power]

 spireitenag, on 04 August 2015 - 08:04 AM, said:

The site has certainly been in use since 1861 when it was actually a field with a cricket pavilion on it.

It was originally the home of the Greenhalgh's Cotton Mill sports teams with both football and cricket being hosted and even greyhound racing for a couple of years.

Mansfield Town FC were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans a local amateur church side.

They were not to move to Field Mill as it later became named in 1919.

The claim is obviously tentative to say the least.[b]

They also claim to have hosted the first ever competitive floodlit game in 1930, when temporary lights were used to stage the North Notts League Senior Cup Final.

Also claim to be the first club to use a yellow fluorescent ball in a game in 1998.

Talk about clutching at straws for some sort of creditable history.

Yes very tenuous lol. They didn't get into the football league until 1931 - 30 years after us and with our support I think .

This post has been edited by Spire-Power: 04 August 2015 - 10:41 AM

[Sammy Spireite]

 Ernie Ernie Ernie, on 04 August 2015 - 09:38 AM, said:

Who gives a fk?



Who gives a fk? perhaps they going to now claim for museum status as well

well, you must do, otherwise you wouldn't have clicked on a thread clearly about Mansfield......

[Crack]

Even if it isn't the oldest it certainly looks it.
Its a double take for the old Saltergate gents toiet.

[Spire-Power]

 Crack, on 04 August 2015 - 11:52 AM, said:

Even if it isn't the oldest it certainly looks it.
Its a double take for the old Saltergate gents toiet.

Their style of play has traditionally been neanderthal too

[DIFH]

Careful what you print we look as though we'll be playing them next season.

[Goku]

yeah, being cocky and printing stuff about mansfield would be a very silly thing to do, wouldn't it dave

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

 Sammy Spireite, on 04 August 2015 - 11:43 AM, said:

well, you must do, otherwise you wouldn't have clicked on a thread clearly about Mansfield......

From the thread title I assumed it was going to be about benefits tbh

[clarevoyant.]

 spireitenag, on 04 August 2015 - 08:04 AM, said:

The site has certainly been in use since 1861 when it was actually a field with a cricket pavilion on it.

It was originally the home of the Greenhalgh's Cotton Mill sports teams with both football and cricket being hosted and even greyhound racing for a couple of years.

Mansfield Town FC were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans a local amateur church side.

They were not to move to Field Mill as it later became named in 1919.

The claim is obviously tentative to say the least.

They also claim to have hosted the first ever competitive floodlit game in 1930,when temporary lights were used to stage the North Notts League Senior Cup Final.

Also claim to be the first club to use a yellow fluorescent ball in a game in 1998.

Talk about clutching at straws for some sort of creditable history.

According to a book by Simon Inglis " Football grounds of England and Wales" (1983) Mansfield Wesleyans moved to field mill in 1905 and changed their name to mtfc at the same time. The ground was previously used by a team known as Mansfield mechanics (the mind boggles) It also states that it was used for dog (4 legged variety) racing during the 1930s.

The final paragraph on the ground is interesting

"field mill occupies 9 1/2 acres of land, all owned by the club, full of potential, and the envy of many other clubs."

Good old Keith (haslam)

[spireitenag]

 clarevoyant., on 04 August 2015 - 06:12 PM, said:

According to a book by Simon Inglis " Football grounds of England and Wales" (1983) Mansfield Wesleyans moved to field mill in 1905 and changed their name to mtfc at the same time. The ground was previously used by a team known as Mansfield mechanics (the mind boggles) It also states that it was used for dog (4 legged variety) racing during the 1930s.

The final paragraph on the ground is interesting

"field mill occupies 9 1/2 acres of land, all owned by the club, full of potential, and the envy of many other clubs."

Good old Keith (haslam)

The information in that book would appear to be incorrect.

Field Mill belonged to Mansfield Amateurs until 1911 when Mansfield Mechanics took over the lease from the Duke of Portland until 1917.

Football was however suspended at Field Mill at the end of 1915/16 season due to World War One.

The Mechanic's were expected to continue the lease in 1919 but the newly formed Mansfield Discharged Disabled Soldiers & Sailors team were given the lease by the Duke.

However concern about meeting the rent payment led to them offering a ground share to MTFC as their previous ground "The Prairie" had been turned to allotments during the war.

The above info is taken from Mansfield's own official history of Field Mill.

[Beelzebub]

 JonB, on 04 August 2015 - 07:30 AM, said:

....and most of it still looks like it did back in 1861!!

Sky Sports News HQ
‏@SkySportsNewsHQ
@mansfieldtownfc manager Adam Murray has just unveiled this at the ground! #92Live

I'm just wondering what am amateur football ground might be?

[clarevoyant.]

<p>

 spireitenag, on 04 August 2015 - 06:46 PM, said:

The information in that book would appear to be incorrect.

Field Mill belonged to Mansfield Amateurs until 1911 when Mansfield Mechanics took over the lease from the Duke of Portland until 1917.

Football was however suspended at Field Mill at the end of 1915/16 season due to World War One.

The Mechanic's were expected to continue the lease in 1919 but the newly formed Mansfield Discharged Disabled Soldiers &amp; Sailors team were given the lease by the Duke.

However concern about meeting the rent payment led to them offering a ground share to MTFC as their previous ground "The Prairie" had been turned to allotments during the war.

The above info is taken from Mansfield's own official history of Field Mill.


Simon Inglis states that mtfc purchased field mill from the Duke of Portland (no date given) and he placed a covenant that the ground must always be used for sporting activities, erm!

I suppose it's down to who you consider the more credible Simon Inglis or mtfc.

Just out of interest I wonder how much professional footballers were paid in 1861?

</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Cock up reply in box
</p>

This post has been edited by clarevoyant.: 04 August 2015 - 07:37 PM

[spireitenag]

 clarevoyant., on 04 August 2015 - 07:36 PM, said:

<p>

</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Cock up reply in box
</p>

Purchased 2nd May,1921 for £500 at which time the covenant was placed on it.

Mansfield Cricket Club also has use of ground.

Greyhound racing was started in 1929.