Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has fond memories of watching and playing for Mansfield Town and is looking forward to tomorrow’s game at the Banks’s Stadium.
The Saddlers boss grew up in the town and spent six years as a player with the Stags.
Mansfield have won five matches in a row and have turned their fortunes around under Nigel Clough.
Clarke has good memories of his time with Mansfield and shared some of his memories.
"I was born in the town, in a rough estate in Ladybrook,” Clarke said.
"My granddad used to be a steward at the football club and I used to go when I was six-years-old and sit on the wooden stands of the old Field Mill ground and always dreamed about playing for them.
"I managed to play 150 games for them, my hometown club.
"But it's also a club that relegated me with Bristol Rovers into the Conference.
"Nigel has gone in there, he's a cracking manager who has done a great job. He's managed some top clubs and has a healthy squad there.
"They were one of the League Two favourites at the start of the season.
"Nigel has gone in there, got them organised and well drilled and they're moving in the right direction in the league.”
The Saddlers have had a free week to prepare for tomorrow’s game after Tuesday’s match against Crawley Town was moved to March and Clarke was pleased to have another solid week on the training pitch.
"It's always good to get on the training pitch and get working away with the lads.
"With the bad weather this winter and last winter we're getting to close to nine months of me here as a manager where we haven't got a full-sized grass pitch.
"We're privileged that we have a full-size 4G on the side of the stadium that we use - we don't want to go on the pitch and damage it.
"Getting a full week on the training pitch is always beneficial.”
You can watch tomorrow’s game live on iFollow by purchasing a match pass here.