Mansfield Town have unveiled their seventh summer signing after striker Chris Beardsley (31) agreed terms on a move back ‘home’ to One Call Stadium.

Manager Adam Murray said: “Chris offers something that we lacked last year – a little bit of know-how, guile and experience in this league.

“He’s somebody who knows how a dressing room should be run. He’s worked under Graham Westley for a while and that’s a tough camp to be in, so I’m really pleased with this signing.”

Beardsley said: “The manager impressed me hugely with his plans. He has a real idea of what he wants and how he wants to implement it.”

Having graduated from the old Stags academy system during the same era as Liam Lawrence, Bobby Hassell and Leroy Williamson, Beardsley left to join Doncaster Rovers in 2004.

Following a short stay in South Yorkshire, he then spent half a season at Kidderminster Harriers, prior to returning to Mansfield ahead of the 2005/06 campaign.

Spells with York City, Kettering Town and Kidderminster (loan) followed, before he was signed by old Stevenage boss Graham Westley in 2009. The frontman went on to play a key role in Boro’s rise – achieving success in all of three of his seasons at the Lamex Stadium.

He made 36 appearances in their Conference Premier title-winning season in 2009/10, then played a further 32 games as they made it back-to-back promotions by achieving promotion from League Two, via the play-offs.

In 2011/12, he helped his employers achieve a place in the League One play-offs, before his old manager opted to sign him for Preston North End.

He endured a frustrating couple of years with the Lilywhites, but found game-time during a loan spell at Bristol Rovers and was part of the team that played against the Stags on the final day of the 2013/14 campaign.

The Derby-born frontman returned to Stevenage last term, where he scored four goals in 29 league outings – helping the club to get a place in the end-of-season play-offs.