Mansfield Town v Exeter City 1962/63
The season is just beginning. This is Mansfield Town's 4th match of the season and they've won all of the first three. Is this their season to get out of Division 4.
Really nice vibrant new cover for Mansfield Town in 1962/63. 2 tone colours to match the club strip, although it looks more yellow than amber. Perhaps the impact of the 57 intervening years.
All the information you need can be seen on the front cover (including what to drink before, during and after the match).
Good to see a change from a drawing of match action or a view of the stadium. The only drawback to this issue is the large format that always meant that it couldn't fit pockets without being folded and therefore torn.
Unusual use of the inside page in this programme. Pen pictures of two new signings for the season and players appearances and goals.
And while the advert for the Blackpool Illuminations is timeless, you'll have to go a long way to see a promotion for Snuff, even outside of the pages of a football programme.
Details of the club and the Manager's notes are in their traditional place. The manager of the time was Raich (H.S) Carter, more famous for his playing career of course, and he starts by mentioning the excellent start that the team has made to the new season.
He also notes that Mansfield have an early chance for their first 'double' as this fixture was the reverse of the away game 5 days earlier.
Thats what happened too with the 'Stags' posting a 1-0 win with the goalscorer, ironically being Ken Wagstaff who is pictured on the page.
It turned out to be a significant season for Wagstaff.
Crammed with advertisements, and some club information on fixtures and transfers, the centre pages manage to get one of the smallest team layouts I've come across, especially as this publication is wider than most.
Super smooth guy dominates the next page advertising a product that cannot be mentioned nowadays.
They've managed to squeeze in the Supporter's club notes which mention that the team's good form has led to an increase in bar sales, that last Wednesday evening saw a new band entertain the members ' The Blue Ramblers' and the Mens and Ladies Darts teams are preparing for the winter session.
The last inside page has a couple more player photographs and a League table that shows Mansfield Town in pride of place at the top.
Could it last?
Well, not entirely. But with 108 goals scored, 34 of them from Ken Wagstaffe, they did manage a creditable 4th - pipping Gillingham to automatic promotion on goal average.
