The fixtures have been released ahead of the 2023/24 season and, in Sky Bet EFL League Two, Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town now know who they’ll be facing, and when (subject to change) when it all begins again, on Saturday 5 August.
The key dates for the Stags will see them travel to Lee Bell’s Crewe Alexandra, and the Mornflake Stadium, for the season opener, with the first home game arriving seven days later, when they host Derek Adams’ Morecambe.
The first, Nottinghamshire derby, against Luke Williams’ newly-promoted Notts County, takes place at Meadow Lane on Saturday 14 October, with the return fixture, at the One Call Stadium early in the New Year, on Saturday 3 February.
Having last met in League Two, back in the 2018/19 campaign, each side winning their respective, home game, Mansfield winning 2-0 (Christopher ‘CJ’ Hamilton, brace) at home on 8 December 2018, Notts County winning the return fixture, 1-0 (Craig Mackail-Smith) on 16 February 2019.
The other newcomers from the National League, Phil Parkinson’s champions Wrexham, they travel to Mansfield on Tuesday 3 October, with the return fixture, at the Racecourse Ground, on Friday 29 March.
Over the festive period games will come thick-and-fast as Clough’s charges are away to Sutton United on Saturday 23 December, followed by a home game with Grimsby Town on Boxing Day; Saturday 29 December will see Doncaster Rovers visit the One Call, and the New Year kicking off with a trip to Stockport County on New Years’ Day.
The last home game of the season, one of three scheduled for the final month, sees Gillingham visit on Saturday 20 April, followed by the final game of the season, a week later, at Barrow, on Saturday 27 April.
STAGS’ FIRST FIVE GAMES – Crewe Alexandra (A, Sat, 5 August), Morecambe (H, Sat, 12 August), Doncaster Rovers (A, Tues, 15 August), Grimsby Town (A, Sat, 19 August), Stockport County (H, Sat, 26 August)
STAGS’ LAST FIVE GAMES – Accrington Stanley (H, Mon, 1 April), Crawley Town (H, Sat, 6 April), MK Dons (A, Sat, 13 April), Gillingham (H, Sat, 20 April), Barrow (A, Sat, 27 April)
In addition to the league fixtures, the cup draws have also been made for the opening throes of the new season, with that of the EFL Trophy group stage, and the Carabao Cup First Round.
In the EFL Trophy, the Stags have been drawn in Group H alongside Dino Maamria’s League One side, Burton Albion, Grant McCann’s League Two outfit, Doncaster Rovers, and the separately drawn Premier League U21 side, with Everton U21 joining the Football League trio.
Meanwhile, the Carabao Cup has seen the Stags drawn to host that of Paul Hurst’s League Two side, Grimsby Town, on the week commencing Monday 7 August.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc the One Call Stadium will host an all Notts derby in the new year.