The club is saddened to learn of the death of former defender Ian MacKenzie, part of the much-loved 1977 squad which won the Division Three (now League one) title. He was 67.
The club was represented at Ian’s funeral at Lincoln Crematorium yesterday by his former team-mate Kevin Bird and his wife Sue, following his passing last month.
Ian was signed by then Stags’ manager Peter Morris in the summer of 1975 and became a solid and reliable central defender who was a first team regular in his first season. He was a member of the Stags’ 1977 Third Division Championship side, but his appearances were more limited by injuries.
He only made a handful of appearances in the club’s only season in Division 2 (now the Championship) because of a knee injury which required several operations.
In the summer of 1978 the injury forced him to retire from football.
Ian went into the pub trade and first became ‘mine host’ at the Eagle Tavern on Woodhouse Road in Mansfield before moving back to Sheffield.
Staying in the license trade he later moved to Peterborough to run another pub.
In three seasons in north Nottinghamshire he made a total of 73 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals.
Ian is survived by his wife Pat, their three daughters and eight grandchildren.
The club sends its sincere condolences to Ian’s family at this sad time while always revering him fondly for his service at Mansfield as part of an unforgettable era for the Stags.