The Stags will celebrate promotion to EFL League One with an open top bus parade and party on Sunday. Mansfield Town clinched promotion on 16 April with a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley, securing a top three finish and guaranteed automatic promotion.
Tomorrow’s final games of the season will decide whether Mansfield or Wrexham, who are both on 85 points, will finish second or third. Mansfield, who have a goal difference of 43, are away to Barrow; while Wrexham, with a goal difference of 36, entertain Stockport – who will conclude the season as League Two champions, with an unassailable 92 points. Either way, both Mansfield and Wrexham will play next season in League One as the top three are promoted.
They will be joined by one of seven teams still hoping to make the play offs after tomorrow’s games. MK Dons are guaranteed one of the four play-off spots, while Doncaster, Crewe Alexander, Barrow, Crawley Town, Bradford City and Walsall will all be hoping to finish the season on a high and hope other results go their way.
Walsall, the bottom placed team of those still in with a mathematical chance of a play off spot, will need to win their game away at AFC Wimbledon. But that won’t be enough unless Barrow, Crawley and Bradford all lose, and the goal difference between Walsall and Barrow changes by seven goals.
To celebrate Mansfield’s promotion, the team will parade arrange Mansfield in an open-top bus, which will leave the One Call Stadium at 1.00 pm.
It will pass the Sir John Cockle pub in Sutton Road at 1.15 pm, before moving on to the Bold Forester pub in Botany Avenue at 1.20 pm. It will then head to the William IV pub in Stockwell Gate at 1.25 pm on its way to the Marketplace.
Here, the bus will pass along Clumber Street and then down Leeming Street, where it will stop for around 30 minutes between 1.45 pm and 2.15 pm, before making its way on to Westgate.
After its pause in the centre of town, it will head to Nottingham Road passing both The Talbot pub and the Il Rosso Italian restaurant at 2.40 pm before returning to the One Call Stadium at 3.00 pm.
All timings are approximate as the journey time will depend on traffic and crowd size.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the whole town to come together and celebrate a historic promotion”, Stags’ owners, John and Carolyn Radford, said. “We’re greatly looking forward to celebrating with the people of Mansfield on Sunday and hope that thousands will turn out to show their appreciation to the players and staff.”
In addition to the open top bus parade, celebrations will take place all afternoon and early evening at the One Call Stadium. The club’s Fan Zone marquee, opposite the Ian Greaves Stand, will be open to supporters from midday until approximately 7.00 pm.
Police and security personnel will be on hand to ensure crowd safety, and the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics is prohibited.
To ensure the parade can take place safely, road closures will be in place from midday until around 3 pm along the route, particularly in the following areas:
- Top of Regent Street
- Top of Leeming Street
- Entrance to Market Street
- Westgate
- Stockwell Gate (entry to Marketplace) Queen’s Street / Exchange Row
