MANSFIELD husband-and-wife owners John and Carolyn Radford have had plenty of romantic weekends away.
During their 16-year stewardship John has treated his lady to unglamorous, wet and muddy trips to places like Alfreton, Braintree and Barrow.
Carolyn and John Radford pose with the FA Cup ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clashCredit: Paul Tonge
The Mansfield power couple have been plotting a dream FA Cup upsetCredit: Paul Tonge
Even a recent Valentine’s Day date was spent in BURNLEY… hardly a top-tier destination for a loved-up couple. But their heart-shaped reward was a stunning 2-1 win to topple the Prem club as they found out the true meaning of the “Romance of the Cup”.
It set the Stags up for a dream fifth-round home tie today against record 14-time winners — who are not only John’s favourite Prem team, but also their 12-year-old twin sons’, Rupert and Albert.
Carolyn, 43, laughed: “We go to all the best places — romance isn’t dead in our household! But what a wonderful Valentine Day’s present that proved to be.”
For John, 60, the local lad who saved his boyhood club from extinction 15 years ago, it is a real Stags-to-riches story.
He said: “It’s dreamland. My father supported Mansfield and Arsenal and I have followed in his footsteps.
“I’m fortunate being a fan now owning the club and my twin boys have followed me.
“I even share my name with the Arsenal legend John Radford.
“We were jumping around the room when we were drawn against them.
Mansfield stars celebrate their brilliant victory at BurnleyCredit: PA
“It’s going to be an incredible day in Mansfield’s history. We’ve sold all 10,000 tickets and could’ve done three times over easily, such is the excitement in the town. If we were to somehow beat them, I’d be the happiest chairman in the world.”
Carolyn added: “We’ve already got our twins half-and-half scarves.
“They want Mansfield to win — of course — but it’s nice to see both their favourite teams playing.
“They’re big fans of so they’ll be hoping to meet him.
“It will be surreal seeing top Premier League superstars and at our stadium.”
But this is not the first time Mansfield have hosted world-class opposition in the under the Radfords.
In 2013, controversially scored the key second goal in a 2-1 win for after clearly handling in the build-up against the then-National League side.
Carolyn said: “Our other son Hugo, who is almost 13, is a Liverpool fan — but he wasn’t quite yet born. We’ve had to show him the videos of that.”
Carolyn, 43, proudly holds the FA CupCredit: Paul Tonge
Mansfield’s ambitious owners visited a local primary school ahead of the big matchCredit: Paul Tonge
While the Radfords were travelling back from Turf Moor to their home in Portugal — buzzing after a famous win — they bumped into none other than in the departures lounge at Manchester Airport. City had just beaten Salford 2-0 to set up a fifth-round tie at Newcastle.
Carolyn revealed: “The kids said, ‘Is that Pep?’. We were shocked when we saw it was and went to chat.
“He was happy for us getting through but didn’t seem as enthusiastic about City reaching the next round.
“Pep was great with the kids and it was lovely to run into him again.
“We welcomed him to our stadium eight years ago when he came to watch our defeat to Cardiff in an FA Cup replay, where the winner was to face City. He fondly remembered coming and wished us well for the next round.”
John came to Mansfield’s rescue in September 2010 by purchasing the club for £1, although he has ploughed in millions down the years.
He bought back their Field Mill home — now called the One Call Stadium after the insurance company he owns — and built a new stand, training ground and padel courts.
The Radfords guided the club back into the in 2013 and, after nine years, they won promotion in 2024.
Their manager, Nigel Clough, is currently the second-longest serving boss across the entire EFL, having taken over in November 2020
John said: “He’s just the perfect manager for me. We both don’t talk a lot but know what we want. I can just leave him to it.
“Sometimes we’ll bring our dog, Casper, down to mingle with his at the club.
“There was a period early in his time with us where we didn’t win for 14 games and we had to support him. And we’re glad we did.
“He got into the and if he were to do that with us, it would be the stuff of dreams.
“Everyone talks about his legendary dad Brian but this is Nigel’s time now and he deserves all the credit for what he has done at this club.”
The Radfords got into the Cup spirit by visiting local St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Newark — with the trophy making an appearance as well.
They arrived and left by their family helicopter and Carolyn says she gets more nervous flying in a chopper than at any Cup tie.
She explained: “I’m just looking at John at the controls, thinking, ‘What’s that noise?’.
“I have got my precious cargo of three children in the back and it adds to the anxiety! But John just fires it up and off we go.”
However, it was worth it as they got to hold the famous trophy, although the security protecting it was tighter than Arteta’s defence.
Carolyn said: “It was quite amusing. I think that they thought we were going to run off with it.
“They were telling us stories about dropping the trophy. Mind you, it’s about a million pounds worth of silver.”
But on Saturday, taking on Arsenal will be pure gold.
Carolyn poses for a selfie with Pep GuardiolaCredit: Supplied
The Radfords left the school in their family helicopterCredit: Paul Tonge
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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