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Archived News from July 2008

MARK STALLARD IS McEWAN`S FIRST SIGNING
15th July 2008 23:59


Stallard is McEwan's first signing

Full story at mansfieldtown.net here

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'New Stags' sign first player
CHAD.co.uk, 8 July 2008

VETERAN striker Mark Stallard (33) joined the Stags on Tuesday evening.

Full story at here

He became the first player to sign for new manager Billy McEwan at Field Mill - a move suggested at Chad.co.uk on Monday.

His arrival - subject to a medical - follows news earlier in the day that hot-shot forward Micky Boulding was leaving Field Mill.

Boulding, like his brother Rory and utility player Gareth Jelleyman, rejected a new contract offer and left on Tuesday.

McEwan said of Stallard's decision to come to the Stags: "This is a big signing for the football club. Mark is a proven goalscorer and I am sure he will be a fans' favouritte, given time.

"I know what he is all about having trained him when I was a coach at Derby.

"He is an honest, genuine player and I have no doubt that he will score us goals."

Stallard was a massive favourite at Notts County in a five-year spell which saw him score 66 goals in 168 matches.

Last season he was at Lincoln City and has been on trial at Field Mill over the past two days, following McEwan's appointment as manager on Friday by the Stags' new owners.

The club's official website mansfieldtown.net reports that he has made 400 League appearances over 17 years.

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AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH STALLARD FROM OFFICIAL SITE:
http://www.mansfieldtown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1342272,00.html
11 Jul 08

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH STALLARD FROM OFFICIAL BBC RADIO NOTTINGHAM:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/7505543.stm
14 Jul 08

Stallard has faith in boss McEwan
BBC , 14 Jul 08

Mansfield Town striker Mark Stallard says manager Billy McEwan will bring a professional approach to Field Mill.

McEwan took charge of the Stags earlier this month and made the 33-year-old his first signing.

Stallard told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I've got total faith and belief in him from working with him before at Derby.

"I know how professional he is. Things will certainly be run the right way when he is given enough time to get them working his way."

Stallard - who has now been joined in the Stags squad by Jon D'Laryea, Adie Moses and Michael Blackwood - thinks fans will have to be patient with the new boss.

"I think he's going to need a bit of time because we're desperately short of numbers and the club's in a massive transitional period," Stallard said.

"There's plenty to do and he's certainly got his hands full.

"At the moment he's having to work hard just to get players in."

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'Get behind us' plea from new Stags striker Stallard
CHAD.co.uk, 11 Jul 08

NEW Stags striker Mark Stallard has spoken for the first time about his move to Mansfield Town.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/39Get-behind-us39-plea-from.4280492.jp

The experienced striker, released by Lincoln at the end of last season, became new Stags boss Billy McEwan's first signing on Tuesday.

He told the club's official website mansfieldtown.net on Friday: "It is a decent club, it has been a League for many years.

"I have worked with Billy before, know what he is all about and he sold it to me quickly.

"He is very good, a very good football man, very knowledgeable.

"I have no doubt his contacts within the game will benefit Mansfield.

"But he will need time to get players in . . . it is an absolute barebone squad, something I have never known before.

"But he does things the right way and players respond to that.

"We know the club at the moment is a little bit on its knees, but hopefully since the takeover we can get things right and look at more positive things."

Stallard said he hoped he could offer experience and quality to the club and 'help to bring younger lads through'.

He described himself as an old fashioned centre forward who will give 110%.

And to the Stags supporters he said: "Just get behind us, stick with the club, new owners, new manager, new squad . . . it will take time to get it right . . . get behind us and give us the support I have been on the receiving end of when coming here for opposition teans.

"I know the supporters here are fantastic and will get behind the team."

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BBC.co.uk:
Stags swoop for striker Stallard

Mansfield Town boss Billy McEwan has made his first signing with the capture of veteran striker Mark Stallard.

The much-travelled former Derby County and Notts County frontman, 33, was released by Lincoln City at the end of last season.

And McEwan was delighted to bring him to Field Mill: "This is a big signing. Mark's a proven goalscorer and I am sure he will be a fans' favourite.

"He is an honest player and I have no doubt that he will score goals."

Stallard, whose length of contract with the club has not been revealed, has played more than 400 league games during a 16-year career.

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Eastwood come close to signing ex-magpies striker
Evening Post, 12 Jul 08

Eastwood boss Paul Cox today revealed he came close to signing former Notts County striker Mark Stallard.

The much-travelled, Derby-born player has eventually joined Conference club Mansfield Town.

But Cox - who has gone full-time as Badgers' manager this week - says he had talks with Stallard and was close to pulling of what would have been a huge signing.

"Strengthening the centre forward area is a priority at the moment and we spoke to Mark about coming here and he showed some interest," he said.

"But then Mansfield came in for him and he explained he wanted to play at the higher level, which I respect and understand.

"He would have scored a lot of goals at our level and I think he will be a good acquisition for Mansfield."

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Stallard has no goals target at Stags
Evening Post, 14/07/2008
Mark Stallard is refusing to set himself a goals target for the new season at Mansfield.

The striker has boasted an excellent scoring record throughout his career at Football League level.

But the Derby-born player, who became new manager's Billy McEwan's first signing on Tuesday, says he never aims for a particular figure.

"All the way through my career I have not had a target in mind, although I am confident I can score a goal in every game I play," said Stallard.

"If you tell everyone you are going for a set number of goals then it puts extra pressure on you and there is enough pressure on strikers to score as it is.

"And if you set a target and reach it there is a danger of then taking your foot off the pedal.

"But I would like to think I can offer more than goals. I can bring experience and I would like to think I can hold the ball up and set up just as many goals for my team-mates as I get myself."

Stallard, 33, is no stranger to Stags fans, having been a thorn in their side in the past.

He scored twice in Notts County's 3-2 defeat there in 2001-2002 and another in a 3-1 win for Lincoln at Field Mill against the Stags last season.

But like his boss McEwan, who knows him from his trainee days at Derby, Stallard is under no illusions as to the size of the task they face.

"If you look at the squad from last season there is hardly anyone left and we don't even have 11 players on contract," he said.

"The fans are not stupid and they understand it is going to be difficult."

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