Matt Rhead, a forward, faced a major decision in the summer of 2012.
After six months of part-time football at Mansfield, the JCB team leader was asked to join full-time by Stags manager Paul Cox.
Giving up paid employment and stability for the unknowns of non-league football was a major risk. But for Rhead, who joined Mansfield from Corby in January 2012, the opportunity to fulfill every boy’s ambition of playing professional football was one he could not pass up.
“I played for Mansfield for the remainder of the season (after joining from Corby), but I was only part-time and then the decision came to go full-time in the summer,” Rhead told the BBC.
“I had recently given birth to a child and had a young family.Football can be unpredictable, so making the decision to go full-time was a risky one.
“But I didn’t want to live with regrets and wonder what could have been. It didn’t matter if it was for one or five seasons; I’m glad I made the proper decision for myself and my family.
“It’s a decision that I will never regret.”
The boyhood Stoke City fan has previously played for Norton United, Kidsgrove, Nantwich, and Congleton.
However, Rhead’s transition to full-time football paid off handsomely, as he soon established himself as a fan favourite during the Stags’ journey to the National League play-off semi-finals.
York City defeated the Stags to cap off a disappointing 2011/12 season.
However, the defeat left Rhead, who went on to play 120 games for Mansfield, certain that the good days were not far away.
“It showed the potential that we had that season to get to the play-offs,” he said afterwards. “Once you acquire that momentum, you can see the possibilities.
“We fell short, but it wasn’t a negative thing; it was too soon to get promoted, and it prepared us well for the following season.
“We had a good bunch of players and were certain we could get promoted.
“We kept the gang together and felt confident heading into the next season.
“We knew we’d be there, or thereabouts. The crowd joined in as well, and it was a pleasant atmosphere.”
The Stags went on to famously win promotion to the Football League the following season, with Rhead creating a lethal partnership with hot shot Matt Green.
According to the former Eastwood guy, it was a match made in heaven.
“Some players you just click with and me and Greeny just clicked,” according to him.
“We knew exactly what each other would do. He was quick and forceful, and I knew he would get to the bottom of things.
“I’d win the first ball, and he’d work in the channels; that’s how we pegged teams back.
“He was excellent that season and a pleasure to play beside. He always gives his all, which worked well for the way we played.
“He was a top player and a top bloke.”
However, none of this would have been feasible without Paul Cox, the genius behind the operation.
Rhead continued, “I’ve played for him in a couple places. He is someone who will tell you the truth; he will not tell you any lies.
“He makes sure you work hard, and he boosts team morale, which helped us win the league.
“The crowd were fantastic, but we stayed together as players.
“We were 1-0 down at Hereford and under pressure, but we knew we were fitter than the other teams in the league. Coxy always gets his teams really fit.”
“We anticipated we’d get stronger as the game progressed.
“He got a lot of players who had won before, which helped. He attracts a diverse group of players, and he is both a brilliant manager and a great guy.
“We had a strong bench and many possibilities. We had a fantastic bunch of players who could handle a variety of duties, and it was all because to Coxy for bringing in the players we needed.”
Rhead’s spell at Mansfield ended in the summer of 2015, following his release.
It was a release that left the big target man extremely disappointed.
“I was disappointed when I left mansfield, I felt I had done well for the club,” according to him.
“But I also knew I wasn’t going to play every week, and I believed I had done enough the previous season to earn a spot.
“Lincoln’s manager contacted and told me he wanted to form a team around me and that I would play every week.
“I felt it was a good opportunity to show what I can do.”
Rhead rapidly established himself at the Imps, achieving National League and League Two promotion in 161 games at Sincil Bank.
He also contributed significantly to the club’s illustrious FA Cup run in 2017/18, which culminated in a quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.
Rhead has happy recollections of his time at Mansfield Town and its fans, despite having left the club six seasons ago.
“When I came to Mansfield I thought the ground, the set up and the fans was crazy,” according to him. “I had never played for a club with good stands.
“The crowd were fantastic, especially when we performed well; they rallied behind the squad and unquestionably helped us win the championship.
“The fans are what make clubs and football, and the ones at Mansfield were fantastic.
“I really enjoyed my time there.”
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