List of Mansfield Town F.C. players
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. As of the 2016–17 season, they play in League Two, the fourth tier level of the English football league system. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans. In 1906, the club turned professional, after which the Methodist church disowned the club and forbade them to use the name "Wesleyans". The club reacted by changing its name to Mansfield Wesley, before adopting the current name Mansfield Town in 1910.
History of Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield's performances picked up, with finishes of 3rd, 5th and 3rd again in the following seasons. In preparation for the 1906–07 season, the league dropped the 'Amateur' tag from its name. The Church refused to have anything to do with this new-found professionalism, abandoning the club. The club replied by changing its name to Mansfield Wesley, and operated from then on as a professional club. Mansfield took advantage of this new-found freedom from the church by moving up into the Notts and District League, where they finished i a respectable 6th position in their first season. The final of the Mansfield Hospitals Charity Cup was also reached, however local rivals "Mansfield Mechanics" won 4-1. After a similar season the following year, the club showed signs of progression in 1908–09. Local lad Jack Needham was the star, picking up 46 goals in 35 games - earning himself a move to Birmingham FC - as Wesley finished 4th in the table.