 Beardsley played junior football for Mickleover Sports and aged 11 joined the youth system of hometown club Derby County , where he stayed for five years . He joined Mansfield Town 's youth system on a three @-@ year scholarship in June 2000 after leaving school . He missed the second year of his scholarship from a double stress fracture in his back , but within six months of returning to full training made his first @-@ team debut aged 18 as a 57th @-@ minute substitute in a 1 – 0 away defeat to Brentford on 28 December 2002 . Beardsley made five appearances in the 2002 – 03 season , after which Mansfield were relegated into the Third Division with a 23rd @-@ place finish in the Second Division . He signed a one @-@ year professional contract with the club on 4 July 2003 . His first career goal came with a header in Mansfield 's 2 – 0 away win over York City on 11 October 2003 . 
