'Grateful to have him': Mansfield Town players pay homage to Nigel Clough amid 'remarkable' new club record

Nigel Clough will make history on Tuesday, for the most league games overseen as manager of Mansfield Town.

The midweek clash against AFC Wimbledon will be match 275 for Clough in the EFL, officially overtaking the previous record set by club legend Ian Greaves.

Nigel Clough applauds fans on the pitch after the FA Cup fourth round football match between Burnley and Mansfield Town at Turf Moor in Burnley on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul Currie / AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — Nigel Clough applauds fans on the pitch after the FA Cup fourth round football match between Burnley and Mansfield Town at Turf Moor in Burnley on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul Currie / AFP via Getty Images)

On the merry-go-round that is the fire and hire nature of football management, the Stags boss marks his sixth year at the One Call Stadium and a new era in the club’s history books.

Since his arrival in 2020, Mansfield have continued to reach for the stars under Clough’s leadership. After returning to League One for the first time since 2002, Stags have improved year after year and they are now testing just how far up the table they can climb.

Last season saw a strong finish reward Stags with tenth place – their best league result in almost four decades. This time round, the players have not held back expressing their hopes of challenging to be in and around the play-off spots as their next target.

Speaking ahead of their away visit to AFC Wimbledon this week, Tyler Roberts had a lot of praise for Clough and the milestone he is on the cusp of reaching as manager.

“One of the big reasons I was so excited to sign again was that since I’ve come in, he’s looked after me,” the striker said. “For a player that’s had a rough couple of years with injuries and changes of manager, he’s given me some stability and appreciation. It’s a remarkable achievement for him, I will definitely congratulate him tomorrow. He’s been great for me and continues to be – I’m grateful to have him as a manager.”

Michael Smith also had praise for Clough and the environment that has been built at Mansfield Town. The striker, like every other new signing who arrived this summer, named Clough as one of the main reasons he chose Stags over anywhere else.

“It’s really uncommon in football these days. It’s a merry-go-round of managers at every club, so to have the longevity at one club speaks volumes about what the manager is capable of,” Smith said after scoring in the 1-1 draw against Oxford United last week.

“This season especially, with the squad he’s put together and the football we are playing. It’s really enjoyable to be here.”