And when they asked police how they were supposed to get back to Mansfield, the fans were told: "Get the service bus!"

Club officials will make an official protest about the incident on Monday.

• McEwan says scoreline flattered Spireites


• Chesterfield 3 Mansfield Town 1

The supporters had paid £40 for a corporate day out to the big cup clash - including bucks fizz, a meal, a matchday programme, matchday tickets and return transport on an executive coach.

But they were shocked at the final whistle to find a group of 'troublemakers' on their coach - leaving them stranded on the streets outside Saltergate.

The coach, containing fans police believe had travelled only to cause trouble, was then escorted out of Chesterfield and back to Mansfield.

Stags commercial director Bob Gorrill, who was in charge of the corporate party, protested in vain to police outside the ground.

Fortunately for the fans, space was found for them on two double deckers hired by the Stags Supporters Association (SSA) for its members.

However, many of the 'executive' fans had to stand up on the buses for the journey back to Mansfield.

One disgruntled supporter, who did not want to be named, told Chad: "I paid £40, partly to guarantee transport to and from the ground.

"The police apparently said that these hooligans had come on the service bus and had no transport booked back to Mansfield.

"The police just wanted these idiots out of their hair; they weren't interested in how we were supposed to get back to Mansfield.

"I didn't know that the police had powers to do this. It was not the club's fault and with the help of the SSA, they made sure we got back to Field Mill."

Police had kept Mansfield's fans inside the ground at the final whistle for a few minutes as they tried to avoid trouble between rival supporters.

Earlier groups of supporters from both clubs had left the ground early under the watchful eye of a large police presence.