Living next to a football stadium may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the residents living next to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium, it’s a unique and exciting experience. The stadium, known as the Field Mill, is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world, dating back to 1850. Situated in the heart of a former mining community in Nottinghamshire, the stadium is surrounded by tightly-packed Victorian housing.
On match days, the residents can hear the cheers and celebrations of 6,000 fans from their backyards. They also face the occasional inconvenience of rogue balls and water from the pitch sprinklers ruining their sunbathing sessions. However, living next to the stadium also comes with its perks. In the past, residents would receive free match tickets if a ball landed in their garden. Although this practice has ended, the atmosphere and excitement of hearing a goal being scored make up for it.
Tracey Anne Pepper, a resident of 30 years, loves living next to the stadium. She explains that they are fortunate not to have large crowds of people walking up their street. However, on match days, a few away fans can be seen wandering around, hoping to get into the stadium. Tracey also mentions the fun of grabbing balls that bounce into the street and pretending not to have seen anything.
Mansfield Town finished eighth in League Two last season, narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Despite not having won many cups, the team has a loyal fanbase that has stuck with them through thick and thin. In fact, a record 5,000 season tickets were sold ahead of the upcoming season. The residents living next to the stadium feel a sense of pride and belonging when the team does well.
Mandy Connolly lives right next to the stadium, with her back garden just 30 yards away from the away stand. She enjoys watching the fans in the away end leaping up and down when their team scores. Mandy has had four balls land in her garden over the past six years, which she gives to local kids. She also mentions the occasional inconvenience of the pitch sprinklers reaching her garden, forcing her to quickly bring in her washing. However, she finds it fascinating to watch helicopters land and take off from the pitch, which is occasionally used as a helipad.
Parking is not a problem for the residents living close to the stadium. Lord Street, where many of them reside, is a cul-de-sac with no entrance to the stadium. Additionally, the council has implemented a residents-only permit system due to the stadium’s proximity to the town center. Lesleigh Butler, a hotel worker, has lived on Lord Street for seven years and has never had a parking issue. The only downside for her is the mess left behind after the annual fireworks display hosted by the club.
Overall, the residents living next to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium appreciate the unique benefits of their location. They enjoy the atmosphere on match days and feel a sense of community when the team performs well. The occasional inconveniences, such as rogue balls and sprinkler water, are outweighed by the excitement and pride of living next to a historic football ground. Despite talks of redevelopment in the past, many residents have chosen to stay in their homes, proving that living next to the stadium is indeed a nice place to live.