Article about 92/93 shirt

[Club25Football]

Hi everyone! I run a wee blog about special football shirts and covered a rather old Stags top this week, from the 92/93 season spent in the old Division 2. Thought it might be interesting to the history buffs among you, so figured I'd share it;

https://club25football.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/mansfield-town-1992-1993-home-shirt/

As I am just a casual observer, I'm quite keen to hear whether I made any mistakes regarding the club while writing! I'm also very interested in hearing your thoughts about Stags kits, how the current ones are, which tops were the best and the worst, etc.

As it turns out, the pattern used by the club that year was shared by a few others including Peterborough and Woking and I wrote a small piece about that as well;

https://club25football.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/the-mystery-of-the-lozenges/

Thanks everyone, and hope to hear your thoughts

[julianshatnasty]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

[Martin Shaw]

good article.

This is my page of Stags shirts: https://www.stagsnet.net/vintage/shirts/SHIRTS.HTM

(also team photos https://stagsnet.net/vintage/teampics/teampics.html and badges https://www.stagsnet.net/vintage/MTFCBadges.htm)

When I'm home this evening, I'll check to see if I have any details on Hero.

[ST4GS]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I would guess the 1991-2 and 1992-3 Gunthorpe Textiles shirts were probably one and two in our historic shirt sales table.
Replica shirts seemed to boom around this period.
I bumped into three Stags fans wearing these kits in 1992 in Orlando, they seemed to be everywhere at the time.
I still have these kits and the white away one which is up for £70 odd quid on eBay!!

[Foresttownstag]

Got that shirt and the away one, brilliant shirts and made really well (compared to the modern day versions).

[Club25Football]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I'd love to know if that's true, actually! Kind of dodged what GTC exactly stood for in the article.

good article.

This is my page of Stags shirts: https://www.stagsnet.net/vintage/shirts/SHIRTS.HTM

(also team photos https://stagsnet.net/vintage/teampics/teampics.html and badges https://www.stagsnet.net/vintage/MTFCBadges.htm)

When I'm home this evening, I'll check to see if I have any details on Hero.

I saw your pages earlier Martin, impressive work! It'd be fantastic if you could find something, anything on them

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I would guess the 1991-2 and 1992-3 Gunthorpe Textiles shirts were probably one and two in our historic shirt sales table.
Replica shirts seemed to boom around this period.
I bumped into three Stags fans wearing these kits in 1992 in Orlando, they seemed to be everywhere at the time.
I still have these kits and the white away one which is up for £70 odd quid on eBay!!

I got this one for 20 quid plus postage, not too bad even if it is a little banged up. The Gunthorpe shirts are Ribero-made, which are always popular with shirt collectors in general so I'd expect those to go for even more online.

Got that shirt and the away one, brilliant shirts and made really well (compared to the modern day versions).

I understand quite a few people here don't fancy Surridge much? Quality on their kits is usually good I've found (based on shirts they made for Bury), but maybe their standards have dropped in recent years.

[Martin Shaw]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I'd love to know if that's true, actually! Kind of dodged what GTC exactly stood for in the article.

Yes, Gunthorpe Textile Company.

[Club25Football]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I'd love to know if that's true, actually! Kind of dodged what GTC exactly stood for in the article.

Yes, Gunthorpe Textile Company.

Article has been edited and you've been credited to reflect this - I feel rather silly for not realizing the GTC initials (partially) corresponded with Gunthorpe Textiles!

Have you been able to find out anything about Hero? On my end, it turns out this particular fabric and pattern were also used up and down Ireland, at Dundalk, Monaghan, and a fair few others. The Stags were the only team to have those diagonal stripes across the upper chest, however.

[Martin Shaw]

That was a woeful shirt.

Wasn't GTC an abbreviation for Gunthorpe Textiles who had sponsored previously?

I'd love to know if that's true, actually! Kind of dodged what GTC exactly stood for in the article.

Yes, Gunthorpe Textile Company.

Article has been edited and you've been credited to reflect this - I feel rather silly for not realizing the GTC initials (partially) corresponded with Gunthorpe Textiles!

Have you been able to find out anything about Hero? On my end, it turns out this particular fabric and pattern were also used up and down Ireland, at Dundalk, Monaghan, and a fair few others. The Stags were the only team to have those diagonal stripes across the upper chest, however.

I found a photo from the local paper of the owner of Gunthorpe Textiles Alan Bostock handing over a shirt to the club. The GTC range was a new range of clothing from Gunthorpe Textiles. I could not find any reference to Hero Sports.

I didn't find anything in my scrapbooks about Hero Sports.

However it came to me in a flash that I knew something about it. I remembered that a guy called Andrew Dolloway, who did various things like work for Central TV, produce and commentate on the 1987 Wembley Freight Rover Trophy video, and other bits and pieces, was the owner of Hero Sports. He later sold some retro football kits and I bought one from him.

[part time pete]

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/heros ... otball-kit

Hero sports used to be on Bancroft Lane in Mansfield.

[Club25Football]

I found a photo from the local paper of the owner of Gunthorpe Textiles Alan Bostock handing over a shirt to the club. The GTC range was a new range of clothing from Gunthorpe Textiles. I could not find any reference to Hero Sports.

I didn't find anything in my scrapbooks about Hero Sports.

However it came to me in a flash that I knew something about it. I remembered that a guy called Andrew Dolloway, who did various things like work for Central TV, produce and commentate on the 1987 Wembley Freight Rover Trophy video, and other bits and pieces, was the owner of Hero Sports. He later sold some retro football kits and I bought one from him.

This is the kind of historical research I can appreciate, fantastic effort Martin! That explains both the change in sponsor (from Gunthorpe proper to GTC) and a little bit about Hero Sports and how a completely unknown supplier like them landed the MTFC contract. Much, much, much appreciated!

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/herosports/tips-to-buy-your-football-kit

Hero sports used to be on Bancroft Lane in Mansfield.

And that, then, confirms they were a local brand! Something romantic about a local firm kitting their local team, I find. I know my articles tend to drag on and on forever already, but this is worthy of adding in. Thanks Pete!

[part time pete]

I think Andrew still lives in Mansfield and is the author of a few football books.

[julianshatnasty]

There's a few available on Amazon assuming there aren't two of them!

[Linby Stag]

Have got Chris Withes shirt from that season - what a great lad he is

[Rob]

I have the home and away shirts from that season, the away shirt has a fault so I got it cheap I have about 30 Stags shirts in a box in the loft, I might start wearing them again if it is en vogue!

[Foresttownstag]

I have the home and away shirts from that season, the away shirt has a fault so I got it cheap I have about 30 Stags shirts in a box in the loft, I might start wearing them again if it is en vogue!

I only started going late 90’s so didn’t have the pleasure of seeing us in some of the 90’s kits, I’ve purchased a load of ebay though and wear them as often as I can at games!

Get wearing them Rob!

[SINA STAG]

Talking of shirts I've am old training top I purchased it around 1994 it's got Mansfield Brewery emblem on the front mainly blue n i think it's made by Beaver the material is a thick cotton with cuffs that are elasticated.

I just love it it's been washed that many times n still looks like new.