Bleeding ears and blue skin – the end (of the season) is nigh!

And so a long and eventful first season in the Blue Square Premier comes to an end this Sunday.

For a number of the squad the visit of Stevenage Borough will mark the end of their time at Field Mill as boss David Holdsworth tries to build a team he feels capable of challenging for a way out of this league next season.

Speculation is rife who may or may not be on their way and who may be coming in to replace them.

And it looks set to be a summer of intrigue on that front as Holdsworth tries to utilise his extensive contacts to bring in the right men.

Well done to all those who made the journey down to Woking last weekend for the final away trip of the season, particularly the smurf army! We’ve all the ‘blues’ at recent away games but it’s never been running down our faces and arms in bright spring sunshine!

To be perfectly honest I shed no tears to hear Woking were relegated this week.

It was hard work to find the ground, driving round a one-way system of a town  that is far bigger than I ever imagined it would be. More like a small city.

Then, in trying to retrace my steps post-match, I ended up having to turn the car round down a suburban millionaires’ cul-de-sac that I had I accidentally turned down and was forced to ask directions back to the M25. Yes – a bloke does sometimes have to ask directions.

Another good reason for not going back there is avoiding their local radio commentator who must have swallowed a megaphone when he was young. Could you  hear him from where you were?

I am sure Health and Safety busybodies would require him to turn the volume of his mouth down if there were a way to do so. But from 1pm to 6.30pm it was a torturous afternoon and I am suprised my ears were not bleeding by the time I left.

Even David Holdsworth jokingly began shouting his answers at us at the post-match press conference as he tried to compete with Mr Megaphone.

With the season all but over, it was a shame but inevitable that Tuesday’s home crowd for a meaningless game with Altrincham would be small – the third smallest of the season in fact.

I am sure those with Sky TV who stayed in to watch Liverpool and Arsenal share eight goals will feel they made the right decision.

But those who did attend Field Mill enjoyed a cracking game with Stags playing some delightful football with a side that included two youngsters and a third given a debut also near the end.

Tom Naylor, in particular, stood out as he has done in recent reserve games and this 17-year-old has the ability to play in the centre of the Mansfield defence for years to come once he has bulked up his frame to carry his undoubted skill and determination.

Thanks to those who voted for our Chad Stags Readers’ Player of the Year. I will be handing the trophy over to your winner before kick-off on Sunday.

Let’s hope Stags can go out with a win to end 2009 unbeaten at home under David Holdsworth to send out a warning to the league for next year.

And let’s hope those that run on the pitch at the final whistle and the stewards there to look after their safety all behave themselves and we have a far more satisfactory last day to the season than we have had in recent years.

Let’s fill the Mill for Easter

After the poor midweek attendance at Field Mill I would guess Stags are hoping it was due to people saving their money for Saturday to watch the home clash with Barrow.

The weather is due to pick up, the price of chocolate eggs will be coming down and Stags will hopefully turn on another display as entertaining as the one against Ebbsfleet.

 I know the previous two away games were a huge disappointment. But, let’s be honest, few sides are going to leave Histon or Wrexham with victories and all they did was underline where David Holdsworth needs to strengthen in the summer.

We know this side is not the finished article that the manager has in his mind.

We also know that there are just three home games left and three chances to put a few quid into the Field Mill coffers to pay the office staff, players and bills over what will be very tight summer months.

 If, after Wrexham, you decided to stay away on Tuesday in protest then you missed a treat and hopefully you will be back on Saturday.

If it’s a financial issue fair enough – times have rarely been as hard.

If, on the other hand, you will now stay away until they start looking the part next season then yah, boo, sucks! We will let you know when the glory bandwagon is ready to depart.

The debuts of Daryl Clare and Oliver Hotchkiss plus the home debut of Gianluca Havern were a delight to watch as was the way Clare and a revitalised Rob Duffy combined.

We also had the best game so far in a Stags shirt from Louis Briscoe who scored once and could have had five while Curtis Woodhouse was outstanding at left back.

Fans called for someone to buy out Keith Haslam and it was done, fans called out for a better keeper and Daryl Clare to be signed and they were signed, fans called out for cheaper admission – they can get in for £7.60 a game next season if they join the new season ticket deal and they called for better PR and the club are now very open and honest and have even thrown a training session open to kids during the school holiday next week.

They are bending over so far backwards to please the town that Stags are in danger of slipping a disc!

At home since New Year’s Day they are unbeaten in all eight games and have conceded just one goal.

After a rollercoaster season there is still the chance and the aim of a top 10 finish to sound a warning to the rest of the league.

 How good would it be to see over 3,000 make an Easter pilgrimage to the Mill this Saturday to get behind them and show this town does want a football club.