Mansfield Marksman
Encyclopedia
Mansfield Marksman was a rugby league
team based at various times in Mansfield
, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
, Alfreton
and ultimately Nottingham
.
Amateur rugby league continues in Nottingham in the shape of Nottingham Outlaws who play in the Rugby League Conference National Division
.
, in 1984-85. Their General Manager was Dave Parker. They played initially at Mansfield Town's Field Mill
, and was sponsored by Mansfield Brewery
and named "Marksman" in the singular after a lager the brewery produced. The club colours were predominately sky blue and dark blue shirts with yellow trim, however towards the end of their existence the club colours became a more basic blue and amber.
The first home game attracted 2,291 spectators and they defeated Wakefield Trinity
15-0. They won eight of their first nine games; the only defeat being 7-6 at Dewsbury. However, they struggled after this and attendances declined steadily. Their final home game of the season against Rochdale Hornets
was watched by 321 spectators and they were beaten 9-8.
The club lost £90,000 in this first year and could not afford the rent at Field Mill. The final game there was on 2 February 1986 when Marksman lost 32-2 to Leigh. The club then moved to Alfreton Town's North Street
stadium. The first game at the new venue was on 23 March 1986 when Mansfield were beaten 42-18 by Workington Town
in front of a crowd of 290.
The club moved once again for the 1988-89 season to Sutton Town's Lowmoor Road ground at Kirkby-in-Ashfield
.
in June 1989. The move also led to the loss of sponsorship by Mansfield Brewery and the club was renamed Nottingham City RLFC. They played at the Harvey Hadden Stadium and their initial club colours were sky blue shirts with a dark blue and gold vee, carrying over the Mansfield Marksman colours. Later the club colours changed to myrtle green, yellow and white shirts. In later years the shirts were myrtle green with purple trim. One season the team adopted the name Nottingham City Outlaws RLFC, a name that would later be used by the city's amateur side.
The Nottingham team was led by player-coach Mark Burges, several players were from Batley Boys RLFC and other local towns, Dave Parker took over at Huddersfield
and the Nottingham City club was run by former Mansfield Director Paul Tomlinson and his mother Joan. As Nottingham they won only seven games in four years.
Chief Executive Maurice Lindsay
wanted to reduce the number of clubs in the lower division of the league in 1993. The three clubs finishing bottom of the second division would be demoted to the National Conference League
. Nottingham struggled and finished bottom of the Third Division at the end of the 1992-93 season, winning only one game. With both Nottingham City and Blackpool Gladiators both already relegated, the crucial last match at Nottingham on 12 April 1993, between Nottingham City and Highfield
would determine the final relegation. Highfield won 39-6 and Highfield survived at the expense of Chorley Borough.
The RLSA, the Rugby League Supporters Association, had called on fans to turn out at the Harvey Hadden Stadium, in protest against the decision, City’s normal crowd of three hundred or so was boosted by this to a season’s best of 851. The three expelled clubs plus Highfield RLFC pursued legal action against the Rugby Football League
decision, but to no avail.
Nottingham City were relegated from the National Conference League
in their first year and then resigned from the league the following year.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team based at various times in Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Kirkby-in-Ashfield is a market town in Nottinghamshire, England, with a population of 25,265 . It is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area. The Head Offices of Ashfield District Council are located there....
, Alfreton
Alfreton
Alfreton is a town and civil parish in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, adjoining the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire districts. It was formerly a Norman Manor and later an Urban District. The population of the Alfreton Ward was 7,928 at the 2001 Census...
and ultimately Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
Amateur rugby league continues in Nottingham in the shape of Nottingham Outlaws who play in the Rugby League Conference National Division
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
.
Mansfield Marksman RLFC
Mansfield Marksman was founded in 1984 and joined the Second Division, along with Sheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
, in 1984-85. Their General Manager was Dave Parker. They played initially at Mansfield Town's Field Mill
Field Mill
Field Mill is a multi-use stadium in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.It is currently occupied by its main tenant, Mansfield Town.The stadium has a capacity of around 10,000 when fully open, but due to the Bishop Street Stand being closed and safety restrictions, the ground currently holds less...
, and was sponsored by Mansfield Brewery
Mansfield Brewery
Mansfield Brewery was constructed in 1855 on land that was once a part of the North Notts Coalfield in the market town of Mansfield, England. The main beer brewed here was Mansfield Bitter, along with other popular brands including Riding Bitter, Old Bailey, and Marksman Lager. The brewery also...
and named "Marksman" in the singular after a lager the brewery produced. The club colours were predominately sky blue and dark blue shirts with yellow trim, however towards the end of their existence the club colours became a more basic blue and amber.
The first home game attracted 2,291 spectators and they defeated Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
15-0. They won eight of their first nine games; the only defeat being 7-6 at Dewsbury. However, they struggled after this and attendances declined steadily. Their final home game of the season against Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
was watched by 321 spectators and they were beaten 9-8.
The club lost £90,000 in this first year and could not afford the rent at Field Mill. The final game there was on 2 February 1986 when Marksman lost 32-2 to Leigh. The club then moved to Alfreton Town's North Street
North Street (stadium)
North Street also known as the Impact Arena is a football stadium in Alfreton, Derbyshire. It is the home of Alfreton Town F.C. who currently play in the Conference National. Capacity is 3,600 with 1,500 seats....
stadium. The first game at the new venue was on 23 March 1986 when Mansfield were beaten 42-18 by Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
in front of a crowd of 290.
The club moved once again for the 1988-89 season to Sutton Town's Lowmoor Road ground at Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Kirkby-in-Ashfield is a market town in Nottinghamshire, England, with a population of 25,265 . It is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area. The Head Offices of Ashfield District Council are located there....
.
Nottingham City RLFC
A boardroom split occurred over the decision to move the club to NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in June 1989. The move also led to the loss of sponsorship by Mansfield Brewery and the club was renamed Nottingham City RLFC. They played at the Harvey Hadden Stadium and their initial club colours were sky blue shirts with a dark blue and gold vee, carrying over the Mansfield Marksman colours. Later the club colours changed to myrtle green, yellow and white shirts. In later years the shirts were myrtle green with purple trim. One season the team adopted the name Nottingham City Outlaws RLFC, a name that would later be used by the city's amateur side.
The Nottingham team was led by player-coach Mark Burges, several players were from Batley Boys RLFC and other local towns, Dave Parker took over at Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
and the Nottingham City club was run by former Mansfield Director Paul Tomlinson and his mother Joan. As Nottingham they won only seven games in four years.
Chief Executive Maurice Lindsay
Maurice Lindsay
Maurice Lindsay CBE was a Scottish broadcaster, writer and poet. He was born in Glasgow.After serving in World War II he became a radio broadcaster, also editing the 1946 anthology Modern Scottish Poetry, and writing music criticism. He later was Programme Controller at Border Television.His...
wanted to reduce the number of clubs in the lower division of the league in 1993. The three clubs finishing bottom of the second division would be demoted to the National Conference League
National Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
. Nottingham struggled and finished bottom of the Third Division at the end of the 1992-93 season, winning only one game. With both Nottingham City and Blackpool Gladiators both already relegated, the crucial last match at Nottingham on 12 April 1993, between Nottingham City and Highfield
Liverpool City (rugby league)
Liverpool City was a semi-professional rugby league club from the city of Liverpool in England.-The first Liverpool City - 1906-1907:A professional club first emerged in Liverpool, called Liverpool City in 1906, playing at the Stanley Athletics Ground. They hold an unwanted record in the...
would determine the final relegation. Highfield won 39-6 and Highfield survived at the expense of Chorley Borough.
The RLSA, the Rugby League Supporters Association, had called on fans to turn out at the Harvey Hadden Stadium, in protest against the decision, City’s normal crowd of three hundred or so was boosted by this to a season’s best of 851. The three expelled clubs plus Highfield RLFC pursued legal action against the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
decision, but to no avail.
Nottingham City were relegated from the National Conference League
National Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
in their first year and then resigned from the league the following year.