Mansfield Town’s first addition of the summer transfer window, Scott Flinders, says he is ‘looking forward to some more special memories’ ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper joined the club on an initial one-year deal yesterday.
Flinders made 23 appearances for League One side Cheltenham last season.
Speaking to the club after putting pen to paper at One Call Stadium, the experienced shot-stopper said: “Whenever I’ve played here [at One Call Stadium] before, the atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant.
“Hopefully we can create many more Saturday afternoon and Tuesday night games like that because I know they’re [the Stags’ faithful] passionate here.
“I’ve seen it on the tele [the impact of the Mansfield supporters], at Wembley especially, the amount of fans that travelled down [was superb].
“I’m really looking forward to some more special memories.
“I’m absolutely delighted.
“It’s always a club, whenever I have played against [them], that has been hard to play.
“[I’m] Absolutely delighted to get it over the line and I’m looking forward to getting started now.”
After the club narrowly missed out on promotion to Sky Bet League One in the Play-Off Final last month, Flinders says he hopes the club can go one step further next campaign.
“The main aim is to get promoted.
“I watched the game [the Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final] in Portugal, I think we were unlucky.
“The gaffer spoke to me with regards to the [club’s] home form and how things turned around in October – so we’ve got the foundations to have a really good season next year.
“Let’s go one step further and get promoted.”
When asked what the main attraction was to join the club, Scott said: “I think the manager.
“When we spoke, I knew straight away [that this was a club I wanted to join].
“The training ground [is excellent] and when I have played here before it has always been a really hard game.
“The main reason [for wanting to join] was the manager and where the club is at the minute as well.
“The foundations are there to really have a good season.”
The Rotherham-born ‘keeper lauded the impact of working with the Stags’ goalkeeper coach, Jim McDonagh (Seamus).
“Another big plus is Seamus [the club’s goalkeeper coach, Jim McDonagh],” he said.
“With regards to goalie coaches I don’t think you get anyone with better experience behind them, to pick their brains and to be working under him is only going to benefit me.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Scott nearly called time on his playing career last summer as he pondered a move into coaching but says he made the right decision after playing a healthy number of matches last season.
“I turned down a few things last summer with regards to the coaching side, and I had to think whether to keep on playing,” said the ‘keeper.
“I did the right thing [considering] Cheltenham were back in League One [and I was] playing a lot of games.
“I got that hunger back and it was like a new chapter to be honest.
“I played a lot of games last year and it gave me that fire in my belly to be back playing.
“I’m really looking forward to getting going.”
Mansfield are expected to look at expanding their goalkeeping department further this window and the 35-year-old says he would welcome the competition.
“Wherever you go you’re not expected to play.
“You need to work hard in training, you need to work hard in pre-season to begin with.
“No matter who comes in we’ll get along because that’s the sort of person I am.
“I’m a bubbly character, I like things to be done properly and the competition will be there no matter who comes in.
“Whoever does well will get the shirt.”
Scott went on to describe his skill set.
“My biggest strength is probably how calm I am,” he said.
“I don’t think you play the amount of games I have and not have a calm presence around the team.
“I like to think I don’t get flustered under pressure.
“I’d say that’s my biggest attribute.”
Click here to watch Scott’s first interview a Stags’ player.
