The labour of love that's seen this group of Mansfield Town fans back their beloved club on and off the pitch for 25 years
Every fan up and down the land loves to do what they can to help their beloved club achieve their goals.
That support, whether financial or time donated, isn’t needed so much at the top end of football these days but the lower we get down the ladder the more vital that help becomes.
It’s such assistance that helped Mansfield Town navigate through the tough times of non-league football during the early days of the Radford regime.
That crucial fan backing came in the form of the Stags Supporters Association group who are now celebrating 25 years of doing their bit in a partnership which has netted Stags well over £250,000.
It’s a landmark anniversary that SSA chairman Dean Foulkes is understandably very proud to have reached.
“It's a fantastic achievement to reach 25 years and huge thanks go to all our volunteers and members for helping SSA support our beloved football club in every way,” said Dean.
“It is a labour of love, run by volunteers, and has grown tremendously over that time. We started with maybe £60-£70 in the bank and six members and it is brilliant to see how it has grown.
“Obviously John and Carolyn Radford have been fantastic for the football club. When we started it was darker days and we have evolved from potentially purchasing essential equipment like tractors, grass seeds and sand into an organisation where we can donate approximately £10,000 to £15,000 a year.
“The beauty for me is we try to look after all aspects of the club. One of our main aims is to provide things for supporters and donate money to the football club.
“The success of the football club over the last few years has been fantastic and obviously the supporters’ club has a bounce off that. It’s more than that though because we had very good support when times were tough.
“I genuinely believe people want to help and make a positive difference. I would like to think people buy into the collective. They can contribute and a lot of people buying into that means you can really influence the football club and make a positive impact, which is what it is all about.”
Down the years SSA has dug deep to fund a number of important ventures such as the canopies outside Sandy's Bar and Kitchen and £4,000 for a brand new roof close to the snack bar in the new Radford Family Stand.
Back in 2018 SSA Members donated £6,000 to fund a sensory area in the club's family room, while they have also donated thousands down the years to fund essential items such as several player tunnels and ground maintenance equipment.
The fan group hasn’t just confined their support to the male game with Mansfield Town Ladies also receiving backing.
But something the SSA are especially proud of is running a family-friendly ground to ground away travel service for all fans to every single competitive Stags first team away match every season for the last quarter of a century.
“People make friends on the away travels and can make a companionship for life,” adds Dean. “People get together. The one constant regardless of what is happening in people’s personal lives in Mansfield Town, it is addictive.
“My grandad took me to games when I was six or seven-years old. Whatever else was happening in my personal life at the time, my one constant was my grandad taking me to Mansfield Town on a Saturday afternoon.
“The away travel is brilliant and gets people together. If you travel away every other week you get to know people and it is much more than just football. You are making a positive difference and it is humbling.
“It is tough, as a volunteer you are always concerned that the bus won’t turn up. It is a big responsibility but one that we enjoy.”
It’s an achievement that has drawn plenty of praise from Stags boss Nigel Clough.
"It is a wonderful achievement and congratulations to them. Dean has been telling me how the started so small and have built up and built up. To have put that amount of money over the last 25 years has been a brilliant achievement,” he said.
"They have been so important over the years. Managers come and go, players come and go but they are the ones who are always there and will stay with the club over many many years.”
As well as SSA Members continually to financially support the club through club commercial activity, they have also offered to fund a new canopy outside the club reception and are hoping to be involved in a potential future small memorial area at the club.
SSA has also given young members the opportunity every year to attend Hallowe’en, Christmas and Easter Junior parties.
To mark the occasion a special 25 year anniversary pin badge is now on sale at Mansfield Museum for £3.
Membership is currently priced at just £4 a month. For further information on the SSA - and how you can join - visit thessa.net