Having released Christy Pym (110 apps, 2022-25) following the conclusion of last season, Mansfield Town have filled the void by announcing the arrival of experienced shot-stopper, Liam Roberts.

Pym was part of the Stags side who gained promotion to EFL League One, in 2024, and had become a valued member of manager Nigel Clough’s Stags, however, after the 2024/25 season had concluded, it was time to try something new between the sticks.

In the latter stages of the season not long since finished, Clough had tried different options in goal, with Pym, Owen Mason, and Scott Flinders all making appearances, Pym’s final outing being the 4-0 defeat away to eventual League One champions, Birmingham City.

Roberts meanwhile spent last season at Championship side, Millwall, where he made half-a-dozen appearances (in all competitions), as back-up to Danish shot-stopper, Lukas Jensen; Roberts is perhaps best known for the incident in last season’s FA Cup Fifth Round match between rivals Crystal Palace and Millwall.

That aside, Roberts is an experienced player and, following the expiration of his contract at The Den, and subsequent release, Stags boss, Clough, was quick to bring him to the One Call Stadium. Clough told www.mansfieldtown.net of the signing of the 30-year-old ‘keeper: “We needed a first-choice goalkeeper and we think Liam fits the bill perfectly.

“He’s played against us over the years and we’ve been very impressed by him.

“He has Championship experience as well as a lot of experience in League One.

“He’s at a good age and we’re very pleased to have him as our number one.”

Although there was to be eight loan spells, Roberts spent the first nine years of his career at the Bescot Stadium, home of home-town club, Walsall, coming through their youth system, eventually making his debut, against Millwall, in early February 2016.

Roberts would go on take make near 150 appearances for the Saddlers, whilst also being loaned out to a number of clubs, one of which was, in 2014, a Mansfield-based non-league club, Rainworth Miners Welfare (currently in the United Counties League Division One).

He would eventually move on from his home-town club in 2021, joining Northampton Town, coming into his own at the Sixfields Stadium; his one season for the Saddlers would see him keep twenty clean sheets, making forty-nine appearances overall.

That showing between the sticks saw him named the club’s Player of the Year, as well as claiming the EFL League Two Golden Glove, and being named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year – it was one of those seasons.

A season in the Championship with Middlesbrough followed (2022/23), being loaned out the following season to League One side, Barnsley; Millwall then followed last season and now,

having racked up over 260 appearances in the last decade in the professional game (and many more elsewhere), it’s time for the Stags faithful to hopefully welcome, and who knows, make him a cult hero.

Time will tell on that, but helping Mansfield Town to promotion to the Championship (they can but dream), will go a long way to claiming a moniker of that standing.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Liam Roberts signs from Millwall.