Field Mill One Call Stadium: Mansfield Town

Peter Bonnett / Flickr.com

Currently known as the One Call Stadium because of sponsorship, Field Mill claims to be the oldest football ground in the Football League. Some reports suggest that football was played at the ground as long ago as 1850, though it is generally accepted that 1861 is the first year that can be proven to have hosted matches.

The stadium took its name from a large water-powered textile mill that sat across the road from it. The mill was demolished in 1925 but the ground has continued to use the name originally given to it, or at least it does so when it’s not being sponsored by some company or another. In the past it was sometimes used as a cricket ground, but from 1894 onwards it has almost exclusively hosted football matches.

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Field Mill One Call Stadium Photos

• The visitor's stand at Field Mill The visitor's stand at Field Mill
• Mansfield v Portsmouth Mansfield v Portsmouth
• View from stands View from stands
• View of the stands View of the stands
• Field Mill Field Mill
• Outside the Ground Outside the Ground
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Field Mill One Call Stadium Seating Plan & Where to Sit

Field Mill does have four stands but, at the time of writing, only three of them are in operation because of safety issues. The Ian Greaves Stand is a two-tiered structure that runs along the side of the pitch. The Quarry Lane End is a single-tier structure that stands behind one of the goals whilst The North Stand houses the away supporters. The Bishop Street Stand houses the managers’ dugouts but has been condemned and will not be used for the foreseeable future, although there are plans to build a 2,800 seat stand in its place.

Mansfield Town Ticket Prices

The cheapest way to get tickets to see Mansfield Town play is by buying your tickets in advance as this will see you rewarded with a £2.00 discount to the ‘on the day prices’. Presuming you aren’t that organised, however, you’ll find that Mansfield Town don’t categorise their matches, so the only things that will change how much you’ll pay are your age and where in the ground you want to go. Membership will offer a further discount to tickets for the Quarry Lane stand.

Here are the cheapest and most expensive tickets bought in advance for adults and concessions:

• Adults: £21.00 - £24.00
• Concessions: £19.00 - £21.00

How To Get Mansfield Town Tickets

You can buy tickets online, over the phone or in person both on the day of games and in advance.

Where to Buy

Getting To Field Mill One Call Stadium

Mansfield is just outside Nottingham, so if you know how to get to the land of Robin Hood then you’re well on your way. Here are some options you’ll want to be looking at, travel-wise:

Train - Mansfield Railway Station is so close to the ground that you can actually see it. It will take about three hours to reach from London.

Bus - Mansfield Bus Station is a ten minute walk from the ground, so any bus that takes you there is one you’ll want to get on. Which should be any bus, eventually.

Car - From the North leave the M1 at Junction 29 onto the A617 before following the signs. From the South and West leave the M1 at Junction 28 for the A38 then do the same thing. From the East you’ll already be on the A617 so you’re fine.

By Air - East Midlands Airport is roughly 26 miles from the ground.

Taxi - A cab from the station to the ground will take no longer than five minutes and should cost about £5.

Parking Near Field Mill One Call Stadium

There is a small car park at the ground that serves people on a first come first served basis. There is a retail park opposite the stadium but be aware that they don’t allow match day parking and you might get a fine.

• See Available Parking Near Field Mill One Call Stadium

Useful Resources

Field Mill One Call Stadium Hotels

Obviously Nottingham isn’t too far away if you want to stay there, but if not here are some of our favourite places to get a bit of kip in Mansfield itself:

Days Inn Chesterfield Tibshelf - £45+

Roadchef Motorway Svc Area, M1 Jnt 28 29, Tibshelf, Alfreton, DE55 5TZ

Located about five miles away from the ground in nearby Alfreton is this member of the Days Inn chain of hotels. You’ll find it just off the M1, so being able to drive is pretty important. It’s got a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, free parking and a games room. More details.

Holiday Inn - £60+

Carter Lane East, South Normanton, Alfreton, DE55 2EH

Just under six miles from the stadium is this pleasant hotel chain with loads to offer. It’s got a restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre with indoor pool, a conference space and free parking. More details.

Twin Oaks Hotel - £80+

Church Lane, Chesterfield, S44 6UZ

Found in Chesterfield about six and a half miles from Field Mill is this 3-star hotel that’s got a bar, a games room, a meeting room and a garden. There’s also free Wi-Fi and free parking, should either of those things be important to you. More details.

Pubs & Bars Near Field Mill One Call Stadium

Again, Nottingham is a good place to go if you have time on your hands and don’t mind travelling. If you’re keener to stay in Mansfield, though, here are some of the options:

Facilities

Let’s be honest, any ground that has had a section of it condemned isn’t exactly going to be the most spectacular of places. That said, the bits of Field Mill that are safe to walk on are clean, pleasant enough and has all of the usual places you’d expect to be able to buy food and drink before and during the match.

Prices

• Programme: 3.00
• Pie: 3.00
• Cup of tea: 2.00
• Beer: 3.50

Hospitality

There is hospitality available at Field Mill, and if you do go for it you will gain access to the 1861 suite along with a delicious 3 course meal, the chance to watch an interview with a current player or legend, half time refreshments and hospitality seating. It is available seasonally or on a match by match basis.

Private Hire

With spacious rooms, on-site parking and a dedicated team to meet your every need, the One Call Stadium is the ideal place to host your private functions and events in Mansfield. It is also able to host weddings and receptions after funerals.

Stadium Tours & Museum

There are no tours of Field Mill available, nor is there a museum. Still, hopefully reading this wasn’t seen as a complete and utter waste of your time.

About Mansfield Town

Formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans, the name was changed to Mansfield Wesley in 1906. Mansfield Town became so named in 1910 and have stuck with that moniker ever since. The Stags, as the club is know, has had an interesting history and a relative degree of success. It won the Football League Trophy in 1987, the Third Division in 1977, the Fourth Division in 1975 and the Conference Premier League in 2013.

In the late 1980s the club was bought by Keith Haslam, a man whose ownership of The Stags would prove to be hugely controversial. It is believed that he took over a million pounds out of the club during his time at the helm, eventually selling it for £1 in 2008 whilst keeping hold of ownership of the stadium. One of the prospective bidders for the club had said that, if he’d won, he was planning to change the name of the team to Harchester United after the fictional team from the Sky One TV series Dream Team. Thankfully this never happened.

Field Mill One Call Stadium History

The area where the ground was built was originally used for games and recreation by workers at the Greenhalgh & Sons Works. They sometimes played cricket on the space but, because Harwood Greenhalgh, one of the ‘sons’, played for Notts County and England it was more often that not used for football matches. Between 1912 and 1916 the ground was occupied by Mansfield Mechanics, but when they failed to pay their rent they were booted out and Mansfield Town moved in.

In 2008 the sale of Mansfield by Keith Haslam caused controversy when he refused to also sell the stadium, remaining the owner until it was bought off him in 2012. In 2010 he evicted the club from the stadium after a rent dispute, leaving the club to try and find an alternative venue for their home matches. The 1st of March is known as ‘Amber Day’ to the club’s supporters as it was on this day in 2012 that the stadium was taken back into Mansfield’s possession and the club was finally rid of Haslam’s association with it.

Future Developments

Obviously one of the main developments likely to take place is the development of The Bishop Street Stand, what with it currently being condemned and everything. There is no timescale on this at present, however.