Miners strike derby
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(7 October 1933)
1933–34 Third Division North
(12 August 2025)
2025–26 EFL Cup
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Teams | Chesterfield Mansfield Town |
| First meeting | Mansfield Town 0–3 Chesterfield (7 October 1933) 1933–34 Third Division North |
| Latest meeting | Chesterfield 0–2 Mansfield Town (12 August 2025) 2025–26 EFL Cup |
| Stadiums | SMH Group Stadium (Chesterfield) Field Mill (Mansfield Town) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 78 |
| Most wins | Chesterfield (30) Mansfield (30) |
| Most player appearances | See below (4) |
| Top scorer | Steve Wilkinson (5) |
The Miners strike derby or Derbyshire–Nottinghamshire derby is an association football club rivalry between Chesterfield and Mansfield Town, first contested in 1933.[1][2] Chesterfield play at the SMH Group Stadium in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, while Mansfield Town play at the Field Mill in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire; the two grounds are separated by 12 miles (19 km). The teams have played 78 matches in all competitions; Chesterfield winning 30, Mansfield Town winning 30 and the remaining 18 being drawn.[3][4][5]
The first meeting between the two clubs occurred on 7 October 1933, when Mansfield Town hosted Chesterfield, a game Chesterfield won 3–0.[6]
This fixture has always been fiercely contested owing to the close proximity of the clubs. At the height of early 1970s football hooliganism, the fixture led to scenes of mass street fighting in both town centres.
The 1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike intensified the rivalry further. Both the towns of Chesterfield and Mansfield were historically involved in coal mining. Margaret Thatcher's closure programme targeting every UK coal mine threatened job losses, leading to many mining towns and cities including Chesterfield going on strike. Miners in Mansfield however continued to work because there was no national strike ballot. This led to Chesterfield supporters using the nicknames "Scabs" and "Strike-Breakers" against Mansfield's. Mansfield Town supporters responded with nicknames for Chesterfield's such as "Arthur's Little Lemmings" and "Pet Eaters" (from the story of a striking miner's family eating a pet rabbit).[7]
In Mansfield, The Union Of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) was set up. They became known as "Maggie Thatcher's Miners" due to the organisation being set up in co-operation with Thatcher. She convinced the UDM that Mansfield miners could work in privatised coal mines, though, all mines around Mansfield eventually closed.[8][9]
Head-to-head
Statistics
| Competition | Played | Chesterfield wins | Draws | Mansfield wins | Chesterfield goals | Mansfield goals | H2H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 66 | 24 | 15 | 27 | 86 | 88 | +3 |
| Play-offs | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +1 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +1 |
| League Cup | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| EFL Trophy | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +1 |
| Total | 78 | 30 | 18 | 30 | 108 | 105 | 0 |
List of matches
- League
| # | Season | Date | Competition | Home Team | Result | Away Team | Stadium | Attendance | H2H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1933–34 | 7 October 1933 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 0–3 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 14,184 | +1 |
| 2 | 17 February 1934 | Chesterfield | 3–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 12,298 | +2 | ||
| 3 | 1934–35 | 15 September 1934 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 1–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,424 | +1 |
| 4 | 26 January 1935 | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 5,026 | +1 | ||
| 5 | 1935–36 | 7 December 1935 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,230 | +2 |
| 6 | 11 April 1936 | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 10,523 | +3 | ||
| 7 | 1951–52 | 22 September 1951 | Third Division North | Chesterfield | 1–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 17,446 | +3 |
| 8 | 26 January 1952 | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 10,411 | +2 | ||
| 9 | 1952–53 | 23 August 1952 | Third Division North | Chesterfield | 4–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 18,506 | +3 |
| 10 | 20 December 1952 | Mansfield | 1–4 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,802 | +4 | ||
| 11 | 1953–54 | 14 September 1953 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 2–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 11,185 | +4 |
| 12 | 1 January 1954 | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 12,259 | +4 | ||
| 13 | 1954–55 | 4 September 1954 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 2–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 16,759 | +3 |
| 14 | 30 March 1955 | Chesterfield | 4–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,772 | +4 | ||
| 15 | 1955–56 | 5 November 1955 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,375 | +5 |
| 16 | 31 March 1956 | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 15,138 | +6 | ||
| 17 | 1956–57 | 25 December 1956 | Third Division North | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 11,107 | +7 |
| 18 | 8 April 1957 | Mansfield | 3–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,746 | +6 | ||
| 19 | 1957–58 | 30 November 1957 | Third Division North | Mansfield | 1–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 12,575 | +6 |
| 20 | 12 April 1958 | Chesterfield | 1–4 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 12,279 | +5 | ||
| 21 | 1958–59 | 20 September 1958 | Third Division | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 15,952 | +4 |
| 22 | 7 February 1959 | Chesterfield | 3–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 10,120 | +5 | ||
| 23 | 1959–60 | 28 November 1959 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 9,451 | +4 |
| 24 | 19 March 1960 | Mansfield | 4–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 11,122 | +3 | ||
| 25 | 1961–62 | 23 September 1961 | Fourth Division | Chesterfield | 0–4 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 10,939 | +2 |
| 26 | 10 February 1962 | Mansfield | 2–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,373 | +2 | ||
| 27 | 1962–63 | 17 September 1962 | Fourth Division | Chesterfield | 4–4 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 12,993 | +2 |
| 28 | 22 October 1962 | Mansfield | 3–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 16,679 | +1 | ||
| 29 | 1970–71 | 2 January 1971 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 2–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 16,474 | +1 |
| 30 | 15 March 1971 | Mansfield | 2–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 13,181 | +1 | ||
| 31 | 1971–72 | 18 September 1971 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 9,960 | +2 |
| 32 | 1 January 1972 | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,331 | +1 | ||
| 33 | 1975–76 | 26 December 1975 | Third Division | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 8,607 | +2 |
| 34 | 17 April 1976 | Chesterfield | 1–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 10,614 | +1 | ||
| 35 | 1976–77 | 27 December 1976 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 11,826 | 0 |
| 36 | 11 April 1977 | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 11,905 | +1 | ||
| 37 | 1978–79 | 16 April 1979 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 1–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,931 | 0 |
| 38 | 21 May 1979 | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,159 | +1 | ||
| 39 | 1979–80 | 18 August 1979 | Third Division | Mansfield | 3–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 5,622 | +2 |
| 40 | 3 November 1979 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,364 | +1 | ||
| 41 | 1983–84 | 26 December 1983 | Fourth Division | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,734 | 0 |
| 42 | 21 April 1984 | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,364 | 0 | ||
| 43 | 1984–85 | 26 December 1984 | Fourth Division | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,960 | 0 |
| 44 | 6 April 1985 | Mansfield | 0–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,030 | 0' | ||
| 45 | 1986–87 | 7 September 1986 | Third Division | Mansfield | 1–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,797 | 0 |
| 46 | 25 January 1987 | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,080 | +1 | ||
| 47 | 1987–88 | 29 August 1987 | Third Division | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 5,233 | 0 |
| 48 | 1 January 1988 | Chesterfield | 3–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 5,070 | +1 | ||
| 49 | 1988–89 | 3 December 1988 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 1–3 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,236 | 0 |
| 50 | 6 May 1989 | Mansfield | 3–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,779 | +1 | ||
| 51 | 1991–92 | 31 August 1991 | Fourth Division | Chesterfield | 0–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,740 | +2 |
| 52 | 28 December 1991 | Mansfield | 2–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,514 | +3 | ||
| 53 | 1993–94 | 31 August 1993 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 0–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 5,712 | +4 |
| 54 | 3 January 1994 | Mansfield | 1–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,272 | +3 | ||
| 55 | 1994–95 | 27 August 1994 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 4,210 | +4 |
| 56 | 18 December 1994 | Mansfield | 4–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 3,519 | +5 | ||
| 57 | 14 May 1995 | Play-offs | Mansfield | 1–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 6,582 | +5 | |
| 58 | 17 May 1995 | Chesterfield | 5–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 8,165 | +4 | ||
| 59 | 2000–01 | 16 September 2000 | Third Division | Chesterfield | 4–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,793 | +3 |
| 60 | 17 February 2001 | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 7,899 | +2 | ||
| 61 | 2002–03 | 24 August 2002 | Second Division | Mansfield | 0–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 7,258 | +1 |
| 62 | 18 January 2003 | Chesterfield | 1–2 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,813 | +2 | ||
| 63 | 2007–08 | 15 September 2007 | League Two | Mansfield | 1–3 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,514 | +1 |
| 64 | 20 December 2007 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,300 | 0 | ||
| 65 | 2013–14 | 28 September 2013 | League Two | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Proact Stadium | 10,015 | +1 |
| 66 | 22 March 2014 | Mansfield | 0–0 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 5,931 | +1 | ||
| 67 | 2017–18 | 25 November 2017 | League Two | Mansfield | 2–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 7,525 | +1 |
| 68 | 14 April 2018 | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Mansfield | Proact Stadium | 7,967 | +2 |
- Cup
| # | Season | Date | Competition | Round | Home Team | Result | Away Team | Stadium | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1970–71 | 19 August 1970 | League Cup | First round | Mansfield | 6–2 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | – |
| 2 | 1971–72 | 18 August 1971 | League Cup | First round | Chesterfield | 0–0 | Mansfield | Saltergate | – |
| 3 | 23 August 1971 | First round replay | Mansfield | 0–5 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | – | ||
| 4 | 1973–74 | 29 August 1973 | League Cup | First round | Chesterfield | 1–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | – |
| 5 | 3 September 1973 | First round replay | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | – | ||
| 6 | 1988–89 | 10 December 1988 | EFL Trophy | Preliminary | Chesterfield | 2–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 2,640 |
| 7 | 1993–94 | 19 October 1993 | EFL Trophy | First round | Mansfield | 3–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 2,291 |
| 8 | 2008–09 | 8 November 2008 | FA Cup | First round | Chesterfield | 3–1 | Mansfield | Saltergate | 6,612 |
| 9 | 2013–14 | 8 November 2013 | EFL Trophy | Second round | Mansfield | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Field Mill | 4,834 |