History of Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town was founded in 1897 under the name of Mansfield Wesleyans. Like many football clubs, their name derives from a local church, in this case the Wesleyan church on Bridge Street. Playing in Chocolate and Sky Blue shirts, with Royal Blue shorts and socks, the club played in friendly matches and local cup ties. Its first game was on 4 September 1897, drawing 2–2 against Sherwood Foresters. Mansfield first joined a league in the 1902–03 season, competing in the Mansfield and District Amateur League. 6 September 1902 saw the Wesleyans lose their first league fixture 1-0 away at Mansfield Corinthians. A week later, Shirebrook Swifts put 13 past the Mansfield goalkeeper without reply, the worst defeat ever suffered by the club in a competitive match. The team ended its first season in 7th place (of 12).
Ken Wagstaff
In 1960, as a 17-year-old, Wagstaff was signed by Mansfield Town F.C's then-manager Raich Carter after playing in Mansfield's youth league. Carter put him in the first team squad and he made his league debut on 30 August 1960. In his first game with Mansfield's first squad, the team won, scoring 2–1 over Rochdale. Wagstaff scored both Mansfield goals and he went on to score 93 goals over 181 appearances for Mansfield Town, attracting attention from larger clubs. On 12 November 1964, Hull City paid a then-record purchase fee of £40,000 for Wagstaff.