Army of volunteers turn up to clear snow at the One Call Stadium ahead of Stags v Nuneaton clash

Stags put protective covers on the pitch last Thursday with the threat of snow and frosts in the forecasts, and the snows duly arrived on Fruday night, dumping over two tons on the surface.

An appeal was put out for help and some fans began the task on Sunday with many more arriving first thing today.

They included members of the RAF and Cpl Gary Whitworth of RAF Wittering told www.mansfieldtown.net: “I’ve supported Mansfield all my life and don’t want the weather to stop our chances of promotion

“We’ve not got much on at the minute (work-wise) so I thought I’d ask a few of our lads to come and help clear the snow following the club’s appeal, which they were happy to do.”

Stags lost Saturday’s home clash to Macclesfield Town to the snow, but are hopeful they can get the pitch and stands clear in time for the visit of in-form relegation battlers Nuneaton.

“I am feeling really positive about our chances tomorrow as we have people on there now clearing the snow away,” said manager Paul Cox. “I’d like to say a massive thank you to those people on behalf of myself, the players and the staff. We really appreciate it. It is a tough job out there in the freezing cold.

“Credit to those people, giving up their own time and I hope the club will look after them with some bacon sandwiches and cups of tea.”

Although frustrated by the growing backlog of games, Cox admitted the loss of last Tuesday’s game at Wrexham and Saturday’s home clash with Macclesfield to the weather may be a blessing in disguise.

“Fatigue can set in at this time of season and we looked a bit jaded in the later stages of the game at Forest Green,” he said. “But the lads looked hungry and focussed when we trained on Saturday.

“It may be that the rest has done us the world of good.”

However, one setback is an ankle injury suffered by skipper and assistant manager Adam Murray and he is 50-50 to face Nuneaton.

“The boys have been holding nothing back in training and Adam was unlucky and got clipped on the ankle,” said Cox. “I don’t think it’s too serious, he has had a scan done and there’s no serious damage so, knowing Adam, he will want to play tomorrow.

“He is like a little piece of iron. But he is important to us and we don’t want to rush him back for one game and he breaks down. If he need to rest until Saturday then so be it.”

Saturday’s postponed game at home to Macclesfield has been rearranged for Tuesday, 9th April (7.45pm).