LOMAS ON STAGS: Veteran Stephen Quinn’s energy and class has sparked Mansfield Town's current revival

No one man makes a football team – but Mansfield Town fans must be wondering how different things might have been had veteran Stephen Quinn not had that six game ban that saw the club’s fortunes nosedive.
Stag's midfield dynamo Stephen Quinn - photo by Chris Holloway/The Bigger Picture.mediaStag's midfield dynamo Stephen Quinn - photo by Chris Holloway/The Bigger Picture.media
Stag's midfield dynamo Stephen Quinn - photo by Chris Holloway/The Bigger Picture.media

As they near the end of their on-field careers, some players look like they have little left in the tank and are on a last payday somewhere living on past glories.

But former Irish international Quinn, despite now being 35 years of age, looks as fast, energetic and enthusiastic as any of the younger members of the squad.

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And he also has the know-how and experience they don’t, more often than not doing the right thing.

The parnership he and Stephen McLaughlin have formed down the left is formidable and will cause problems for any defence in League Two.

As soon as he returned to the side, Stags looked a much better team and results have followed.

Obviously, behind closed doors, Quinn may well feel the pace of what he still puts his body through and it’s good to see Nigel Clough try to get the best out of him but also manage his minutes too.

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As soon as Stags made it 3-1 on Saturday on the hour, Quinn was taken off to rest up for the two long hauls south this week to huge applause.

As long as Mansfield can keep the Dubliner fit, Quinn will give his all to entertain and win matches.

As well as another three points, another bright point of Saturday was the sight of the new scoreboard in action for the first time.

It’s not the finished article yet as the club intend to build something more attractive around it as it currently sits on a black backdrop which covers the old scoreboard and it looks a little stark and lost.

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But the quality of the screen and vivid pictures are stunning and hopefully the owners will also be able to improve the sound system at the ground too as it was testing for supporters to hear the words on the pre-match film.

But the high-tech scoreboard is another big step forward for the club and it was good to see it read ‘Mansfield 3 Scunthorpe 1’ on its EFL debut at the end of another great afternoon for the fast-improving Stags.