MANSFIELD TOWN FC PLAYER PROFILES
Pictures Copyright of Dan Westwell
No 1 Young Sutton in Ashfield born goalkeeper who has played his way through the junior sides at Field Mill. He made his debut from the bench when Kevin Pilkington was injured during the match with Cheltenham Town and Mick Bingham was also injured. He then made five further appearances towards the end of season 05/06.  As well as an excellent keeper, Jason is also renowned as a more than capable outfield player too!!
Jason White
Goalkeeper
No 2 Full back Johnny Mullins became Peter Shirtliff's first signing of the close season when he joined the Stags on a two year deal from Reading.  The young right back had two successful spells on loan at Kidderminister Harriers, he made over 50 appearances for the Aggborough side, scoring four times and last season he won the Harriers Player of the Year award.  However, after failing to break into the Reading first team despite captaining the reserves, he was released by Steve Coppell and decided to remain in the league ahead of a permanent return to the Harriers.
Johnny Mullins
Right Back
No 3 Left back Gareth Jelleyman joined the Stags from Peterborough United on a free transfer in January 2005 after a short loan spell of precisely one match. Gareth has played for the Welsh Under 21 side and recently signed a new one year extension to his Stags contract which keeps him at Field Mill until 2007.
Gareth Jelleyman
Left Back
No 4 Central midfielder Jon D'Laryea joined the Stags on a two and half year deal after a successful loan spell from Manchester City.  Already a crowd favourite in the holding midfield role, much is expected of Jon over the next few seasons.
Jonathan D'Laryea
Midfield
No 5 Experienced Norwegian Central defender Jon Olav Hjelde joined the Stags in the summer of 2005 after being released by neighbours Nottingham Forest.  Jon made almost 200 appearances for the Reds in two spells and turned down moves to Doncaster Rovers and Danish and Norwegian clubs to join the Stags.  Despite saying he was returning home at the end of last season, Jon had a change of mind and has signed a one year deal.
Jon Olav Hjelde
Defender
No 6 Much was expected of Alex John-Baptiste as a string of excellent performances for the youth team brought him to first team action towards the end of season 2002/03.  That season he won the Jack Retter Trophy, awarded by SSA to the outstanding youth team player of the season.  Since then Alex has gone from strength to strength and is now widely regarded as the best young player the club has produced in decades.  He had amassed almost 100 appearances before his 20th birthday and has been watched by more scouts than attend a National Jamboree!!  His pace is one of his strongest assets, but with his aerial ability and excellent tackling, he has all the attributes to play at a much higher level later in his career.
Alex John-Baptiste
Defence
No 7 Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Matthew Hamshaw joined the Stags on a two year deal in June after turning down a host of other offers following his release by Stockport County.  Born in Rotherham, Matt began his career at Sheffield Wednesday making almost 100 appearances and scoring 6 times for the Owls before his move in 2005 to Stockport where he scored 5 times in just over 40 appearances.  Matt can play either left or right side of midfield, an area the Stags have been looking to strengthen for some time.
Matt Hamshaw
Midfield
No 8 Irish born midfielder Dawson joined the Stags in June 2005 after failing to break into Leicester City's first team.  An Irish Under 21 international, he came through the youth system at Leicester, last season he was skipper of the Reserves side but despite being named in the squad, failed to make a first team appearance and has decided to drop down a couple of divisions to kick start his career.  Stephen scored on his debut at Stockport in the opening game of last season but did fall out of favour for a short period before once again becoming a first team regular towards the end of the season.  Much is expected of this gifted midfielder this season.
Stephen Dawson
Midfield
No 9 Sheffield born striker Richard Barker joined the Stags on a two and a half year deal from Rotherham at the end of November 2004.  Barker began his career at Sheffield Wednesday but it was at Macclesfield, who he joined in 1999 from Brighton, where his career took a turn for the better, becoming somewhat of a cult figure at Moss Rose.  He moved to Rotherham in 2001 and made almost 150 appearances for the Millers before being released on a free transfer and moving to the Stags.  Richard had an outstanding first full season at the club, scoring 23 goals and winning the Stags Supporters Association Player of the Year award.  Club captain, his partnership with the speedy Simon Brown could be the key to a good season.
Richard Barker
Striker
No 10 Simon joined the Stags from WBA in December 2004 for a fee of £50,000 which could rise to £100,000.  Although he never appeared in the Albion first team, Brown had spent a successful spell on loan at Kidderminster Harriers towards the end of season 03/04 and at the start of last season, in fact, Harriers were also interested in signing the quick front man on a permanent deal.  Harriers loss was the Stags gain, despite being hampered by injury, Simon still managed 10 goals in just 15 starts and formed an excellent partnership with Richard Barker.
Simon Brown
Striker
No 11 Michael Boulding began his professional career with the Stags back in season 1999/00 having joined the club from non-league Hallam of Sheffield.  He made 74 appearances, around half as substitute and scored 12 goals before moving to Grimsby on a free transfer.  He spent one season with the Mariners before being surprisingly taken on by Aston Villa, however Michael only made two appearances for Villa but also made appearances on loan for Sheffield United before returning to Grimsby in January 2003.  A year later he was on the move again, this time to Barnsley, and after a short loan spell at Cardiff, began last season at Rotherham though he didn't make an appearance all season.  A crowd favourite from his previous spell, he can play either up front or wide on the left and his pace is certainly his biggest asset.  
Michael Boulding
Striker/Midfield
No 12 Young defender, highly rated by the Field Mill backroom staff who has made his way to the first team through the Stags junior sides. He won the season 01/02 Jack Retter Trophy for the youth team player of the year.  Jake made his full Stags debut coming on as a late substitute during the LDV Cup tie with Crewe Alexandra towards the end of October 2002 and was a regular in the Stags defence, at either full-back or centre half last season and is quickly approaching 100 appearances for the club.
Jake Buxton
Central Defender
No 14 Former youth team striker Chris Beardsley rejoined the Stags in July 2005 after spells at Doncaster Rovers and Kidderminster Harriers.  He made 8 appearances at Rovers scoring once and then managed 5 goals in 15 starts for Harriers.  Prior to his moves, his Stags first team appearances were mostly as a substitute though he did score in a 2-0 win over York in October 2003.  Sadly his second spell at the club has been marred by injury, breaking his leg in a challenge with former Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington which kept Chris out for most of last season.
Chris Beardsley
Striker
No 15 Promising young midfielder Giles Coke joined the Stags from non-league Kingstonian last season.  Giles had an inconsistent season in 05/06 but at his best he is an excellent player to watch, with a fine passing ability and a fearsome shot.  The best of Giles is yet to come, maybe 06/07 will be his season to flourish?
Giles Coke
Midfield
No 16 Nathan made his first team debut towards the end of last season and by the end of the season had made ten appearances, scoring his first senior goal in the 3-3 draw with Bristol Rovers in December 2005.  A graduate of the Stags youth team, Nathan will be hoping to add to his first team appearances this season.
Nathan Arnold
Striker
No 19 Vastly experienced keeper Carl Muggleton joined the Stags on a one year deal in July 2006.  Carl has almost 600 games under his belt, 9 of those for the Stags during a loan spell from Sep-Nov 1999.  His career has taken him to numerous clubs, but most of his appearances were for Stoke City and local rivals Chesterfield, his last club.  Carl is expected to be back-up to Jason White, his experience could be very useful to the young Stags keeper.
Carl Muggleton
Goalkeeper
No 22 Callum was the Stags Young Player of the Year in season 03/04 and at the end of season 04/05 season broke his way into the first team, netting four times in the final few games of last season.  A strong, capable midfielder, he is very highly thought of at the Stags and was rewarded with a new contract this summer.
Callum Lloyd
Central Midfield
No 26 Adam Birchall joined the Stags from Arsenal on a 2 year contract in June 2005.  Having failed to make a breakthrough at the Gunners, Adam spent the first three months of last season on loan at Wycombe, scoring 5 times in his 15 Chairboys appearances.  Adam is a Welsh Under 21 international.  Like Stephen Dawson, Adam made an instant impression with the Stags, scoring on his debut at Stockport, but he spent most of the season in and out of the side, with half his appearances last season as substitute.  He will hope for better this season. 
Adam Birchall
Striker
No 31 Highly rated striker Danny Reet joined the Stags from Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £25,000 in January 2006.  He spent two months on loan at Bury where he scored four times in eight games, including two against the Stags at Field Mill in November.  Danny managed 5 goals for the Stags in his 18 games and he will have to work hard to win a first team place ahead of Barker and Brown.
Danny Reet
Striker