Macclesfield Town F.C.

History

19th century

The beginnings of Macclesfield Town Football Club can be traced, at least in part, to the 8th Cheshire Rifle Volunteers who were formed in 1873 and played regularly in Macclesfield from October 1874. It was agreed at a public meeting on 21 October 1876 that the 8th Cheshire Rifle Volunteers and the Olympic Cricket club teams be merged to form Macclesfield F.C.; initially matches alternated between association and rugby rules. At the beginning of the 1878–79 Macclesfield United Football Club merged with Macclesfield Football Club. The club played in the FA Cup competition for the first time on 18 November 1882, losing 3–4 to Lockwood Brothers and first entered the Cheshire Senior Cup in the 1879–80 season, winning this competition for the first time on 22 March 1890 when they beat Nantwich 4–1 and went on to be winners on three more occasions before the turn of the century.

Macclesfield became members of The Combination at the start of the 1890–91 season and moved from Victoria Road to the Moss Rose on 12 September 1891 which remains the home of the Silkmen today. In July 1894 the first limited company, Macclesfield Football and Athletic Club Limited, was formed but only lasted until the end of the 1896–97 season when it was wound up and Macclesfield Football Club withdrew from The Combination due to financial constraints. For the 1897–98 season, and the following two seasons, local amateur side Hallefield moved their fixtures to the Moss Rose.

1900 to World War II

Having re-formed, Macclesfield became members of the Manchester League for the 1900–01 season and were champions in the 1908–09 and 1910–11 seasons. They fielded two senior teams for the 1911–12 season, continuing in the Manchester League with the second team competing in the Lancashire Combination 2nd Division. Having withdrawn from the Manchester League at the end of the 1911–12 season, the club reverted to one senior team for the 1912–13 season which competed in the Lancashire Combination 2nd Division. They gained promotion as runners-up at the end of the 1913–14 season to compete in the 1st Division for the 1914–15 season. In line with all other football clubs after a decree by the government there was no further competitive football at the Moss Rose during hostilities.

Macclesfield became inaugural members of the Cheshire County League at the start of the 1919–20 season of which they were champions in the 1931–32 and 1932–33 seasons. In the 1933–34 season, Albert Valentine set an all-time club record scoring 83 goals in the season. The first ever manager, James Stevenson, was appointed for the 1936–37 season. Between 1900 and 1939 they won the Cheshire Senior Cup three times (1910–11, 1929–30 and 1934–35). Although a member of the Cheshire War-time League (1939 West Series and 1940 East Series), due to dwindling attendances and increasing debts Macclesfield withdrew from the league at the end of the 1939–40 season and no further football was played on the Moss Rose during the Second World War. It would be just prior to the 1946–47 season before the outstanding debts were settled.

1946 to 1999

When competitive football resumed after World War II, Macclesfield Town Football Club Ltd was formed and the club gained their current name. The club re-joined the Cheshire County League in 1946–47, playing their first game after reformation on 31 August 1946, a 2–0 defeat to Buxton. The club's form in the remainder of the 1940s was largely indifferent, with the exception of a Cheshire League Challenge Cup win in 1948. The 1950s proved more successful, with four trophies in as many years from 1951 to 1954, including the club's first Cheshire County League title in 20 years in 1953, though the team's fortunes faded in the latter half of the decade.

Macclesfield Town progressed through four qualifying rounds to make their first appearance in the FA Cup first round in 1960 under manager Frank Bowyer, but lost 7–2 to Southport. At the end of that season the club won the Cheshire County League, beginning a nine-year period in which they won three league titles and finished no lower than fifth, and in 1964 won the Cheshire County League by a record-equalling 13 point margin. The club reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in 1968, meeting First Division Fulham at Craven Cottage. Macclesfield Town lost 4–2, but the performance resulted in Macclesfield Town's Keith Goalen becoming the first non-league player to be named Footballer of the Month by the London Evening Standard.

The club were founder members of the Northern Premier League, one of three leagues at the fifth tier of English football, upon its creation in 1968. Macclesfield Town were champions in each of the first two seasons of the competition, finishing 12 points clear in 1968–69, and by goal average in 1969–70. The 1969–70 season also resulted in a trip to Wembley for the inaugural final of the FA Trophy, a knockout competition for non-league clubs. Macclesfield Town defeated Telford United 2–0 in front of more than 28,000 spectators to win the competition. A period of decline then followed, despite the performances of Willie Mailey in goal, and the side's fortunes reached a nadir when the club finished bottom of the Northern Premier League in 1979, a year when the stronger teams from the division formed the national Alliance Premier League (now known as the National League). The 1980s saw steady rebuilding. The club finished as Northern Premier League runners-up in the 1984–85 season.

Macclesfield Town's third Northern Premier League title in the 1986–87 season resulted in promotion to the Football Conference; they also lifted the League Challenge Cup and President's Cup. They finished in mid-table in their first Conference season, and eliminated two League teams, Carlisle and Rotherham, from the FA Cup. The club reached the FA Trophy final for the second time in 1989, facing Telford United. However, the team did not match the achievement of their predecessors 19 years earlier, losing 1–0. From a high of a fourth place league finish in 1989–90, Macclesfield Town's final standing diminished each season, and following a struggle against relegation in 1992–93, manager Peter Wragg was sacked, and replaced with former Manchester United midfielder Sammy McIlroy.

2000 to 2020

A dismal start to the following season cost Davenport his job though, and Gil Prescott took over for the remainder of the season, keeping Macclesfield Town clear of relegation. David Moss in turn succeeded Prescott as manager and delivered two decent mid-table finishes, but a bad start to the 2003–04 season resulted in his sacking. Club stalwart John Askey succeeded Moss initially on a temporary basis, and earned the job permanently with some promising early results. However, a terrible run of one win in three months meant that Askey's term as manager was short-lived.

In March 2004, with relegation to the Conference threatening, Macclesfield Town turned to the experienced 55-year-old Brian Horton to take charge. Horton reinvigorated Macclesfield Town who finished fifth in the 2004–05 season, resulting in a playoff place, but the team were eliminated in the semi-finals by Lincoln City. In 2005–06, the team finished an undistinguished 17th. Horton was sacked by the club in late September 2006, following a 12-game winless start to the season, leaving the club bottom of the Football League.

On 23 October 2006, Paul Ince was confirmed as Macclesfield Town's new player-manager. He lost his first match in charge 3–2 to Mansfield Town, and it took Macclesfield Town until 20 games into the season to record their first league win under Ince, on 5 December 2006. The team then went on a nine match unbeaten run, earning Ince the League Two Manager of the Month award for December 2006, and also securing an FA Cup tie against then English champions Chelsea away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, which Town lost 6–1. They were then just able to survive after drawing 1–1 with Notts County on the final day of the 2006–07 season, after a poor run of results landed the team back in the relegation zone; this game also saw the last appearance (and booking) of Paul Ince as a professional footballer. On 24 June 2007, Ince resigned to become MK Dons manager.

On 29 June 2007, Ian Brightwell was announced as the new manager, with Asa Hartford as his assistant. Macclesfield Town started the 2007–08 season away with a 1–1 draw to former Premier League club Bradford City and narrowly lost 1–0 to another former Premier League team Leeds United in the first round of the Football League Cup. Away from the pitch, in January 2008, Chairman Rob Bickerton left the club after 7 years to join Shrewsbury Town. He was replaced by club supporter Mike Rance, with ex-player Andy Scott, founder of Bank Fashion Retail stores, as vice-chairman.

2020 winding-up order

On 9 September 2020, the High Court granted Macclesfield a seven-day extension (effectively a 12th adjournment) to a winding-up petition over unpaid tax to give time for a possible takeover of the club by Robert Benwell (previously linked with a move to buy Bury F.C.). If the takeover – said to be at "an advanced stage" – fell through, current owner Amar Alkadhi said outstanding debts would be paid (HMRC was owed £188,721.09, with eight creditors owed £592,000).

On 16 September 2020, the High Court made a winding-up order against the club, pushing the club into liquidation. Judge Sebastian Prentis made the order after receiving no evidence relating to the club's sale or satisfactory evidence of the club's ability to pay creditors, saying "nothing gives me comfort that the club can pay its debts in a reasonable period".

The Silkmen Supporters' Trust were reported to be exploring what actions they could take to save the club, and to be seeking a meeting with the receiver. However, on 29 September 2020, the club was suspended by the National League and its first three scheduled games were postponed, pending a notice of expulsion taking effect from 12 October 2020.

The club's final match was a 2–1 victory in a friendly match at Cheshire neighbours Witton Albion on 15 September 2020.

Macclesfield Football Club establishment

On 13 October 2020, the official receiver confirmed that the assets of Macclesfield Town had been sold to Macc Football Club Limited. Local businessman (and owner of 10th tier Stockport Town) Robert Smethurst had purchased the assets, intending to establish a new club, Macclesfield Football Club, and enter the North West Counties Football League in the 2021–22 campaign. Former Wales international Robbie Savage, then a Stockport Town player, joined the club's board, and former Town player Danny Whittaker became team manager.

Kit and badge

Macclesfield Town's colours were blue and white; the club have used combinations of these colours since 1947, with the exception of the 1975–76 season, when the team wore tangerine and black as part of a sponsorship deal. Earlier incarnations of the club wore several colours. The first Macclesfield kit was amber and black stripes, but between 1882 and 1947 the club also used red and white, red, yellow and blue, blue and white, and black and white. The club currently play in a blue home shirt and a black away shirt. Their sponsors include ZAM and Macclesfield College.

The club crest is based upon the coat of arms of Macclesfield, and features a blue Lion Rampant holding a wheatsheaf. A new club crest was planned for the start of the 2007–08 season. However, many loyal supporters were not happy with the modern design so the plans were delayed and a re-designed badge was introduced in early 2008, which won the approval of the majority of fans.

Stadium

Macclesfield Town played their home games at the Moss Rose stadium in the south of the town from 1891. The first game at the ground adjoining the then named Moss Rose Inn took place on 12 September 1891. Before moving to the Moss Rose, three other grounds were used: Macclesfield Grammar School, Rostron's Field (near Coare Street) and Victoria Road (then known as Bowfield Lane).

The current capacity of the Moss Rose is 6,335, of which 2,599 is seated. The Silk FM Stand (traditionally known as the London Road or Main Stand) runs along one side of the pitch and consists of a seated grandstand with open air terracing to either side, and the opposite side is the seated Alfred McAlpine Stand. The club's most vociferous supporters congregate in the Star Lane End, which is a mixture of terracing and seating. Visiting supporters are housed in the open air Silkman End (named after a public house which formerly adjoined the terrace) and part of the McAlpine Stand.

The record attendance for Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose is sometimes given as 7,002 for an FA Cup tie against Spennymoor United in 1968. Phythian's Saga of the Silkmen (p. 85) and the News of the World Football Annual both give the record attendance of Moss Rose games involving Macclesfield Town as 9,003, in the Cheshire Cup tie vs. Winsford United, 14 February 1948. The Macclesfield Times (19 February 1948) reported that 80 coachloads of supporters had arrived from Winsford. Euro 96 winners Germany used the Moss Rose as a training base during the championships.

In September 2007, the club made a statement about possibly relocating to a new stadium in the proposed 'South Macclesfield Development Area', approximately one mile south of the Moss Rose. However, with the club in the lower part of League Two, and as England lost the bid to host the 2018 World Cup (which would have helped the cause for a new stadium), the Moss Rose stadium remained the club's ground.

Supporters and rivalries

During their spell as a Football League club, Macclesfield Town had a low level of support in comparison with other teams playing at the same level. The club's average attendance of 1,832 in the 2010–11 season was the lowest in Football League Two and the Football League; in 2019–2020, average attendance was 1,998—less than half of the averages achieved by nearby League Two rivals Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra. Reasons for this include the proximity of Macclesfield to cities with large football clubs such as Manchester and Liverpool, and a lack of historical success, as Macclesfield Town had only been a Football League club since 1997.

Most supporters are from Macclesfield and its environs with small pockets of fans from Norway, Japan, Port Talbot in south Wales and Fleet in Hampshire (The Southern Silkmen Lads – SSL). In April 2011, football magazine FourFourTwo voted Macclesfield Town supporters "League Two Best Away Fans".

Macclesfield Town's traditional rivals were Altrincham and Northwich Victoria, rivalries dating back to when all three clubs were in the Cheshire League, and later the Northern Premier League and Football Conference. Their closest rival in the Football League years has been Stockport County; however, as Stockport were relegated at the end of the 2010–11 season this rivalry was briefly interrupted. Following relegation for the Silkmen, this local derby was briefly resumed, until Stockport's relegation to the Conference North at the end of the 2012–13 season. Altrincham were promoted to the National League in the 2013/14 season; however, two years later, they were relegated to the National League North.

On 23 April 2021, local band and Macclesfield fans, Glass Ankle released a video for their song "Super Silkmen" which featured clips recorded by supporters whilst in COVID lockdown, as well as photos of former players and managers held in high esteem. Lyrics within the second verse reference the rivalries held with Crewe, Altrincham, and Stockport County.

Club records

All records correct as at 29 September 2018.

Highest Football League finish — 24th in Division Two (level 3) – (1998–99 season)

Record Football League victory — 6–0 v. Stockport County (2005–06 season)

Record Football League defeat — 8–0 v. West Ham United (Away) (2018–19 EFL Cup third round)

Highest Football League home attendance — 6,381 v. Manchester City (1998–99 season)

Lowest Football League home attendance — 1,035 v. Northampton Town (2009–10 season)

Highest Overall away attendance — 41,434 v. Chelsea FA Cup 3rd Round (2006–07 season)

Highest Football League away attendance — 31,086 v. Manchester City (1998–99 season)

Lowest Football League away attendance — 1,210 v. Accrington Stanley (2009–10 season)

Record transfer fee paid — £40,000 to Bury for Danny Swailes (2004–05 season)

Record transfer fee received — £300,000 from Stockport County for Rickie Lambert (2002–03 season)

Record Football League appearances

Most Football League appearances — 263, Darren Tinson (1997–98 to 2002–03 season) but see below for the club's all-time record holder, John Askey

Youngest Football League appearance — 16 years 342 days, Elliott Hewitt (2010–11 season)

Oldest Football League appearance — 39 years 196 days, Paul Ince (2006–07 season)

John Askey holds the all-time record for the total number of appearances – 679 matches (1984–85 to 2002–03 season) including Non-League, Football League and Cup matches.

Record Football League goalscorers

Most Football League goals scored — 50, Matthew Tipton (2001–02 to 2009–10 season)

Most Football League goals scored in a season — 22, Jon Parkin (2004–05 season)

Albert Valentine scored the overall most goals in a season scoring 83 in the 1933–34 season.

In Macclesfield Town's first 14 seasons in the Football League (1997–98 to 2010–11 season), they played 644 games, winning 204, drawing 181 and losing 259 games. They scored 750 and conceded 883 goals, and used 215 players.

Chris Priest, a Macclesfield Town player, scored the final goal of the 2nd millennium AD.

Retired numbers

21 – Richard Butcher. Midfielder (2010–11) – posthumous honour

Honours

League

Third Division (level 4)

Runners-up: 1997–98

Football Conference / National League (level 5)

Champions: 1994–95, 1996–97, 2017–18

Northern Premier League

Champions: 1968–69, 1969–70, 1986–87

Cheshire County League

Champions: 1931–32, 1932–33, 1952–53, 1960–61, 1963–64,

Runner-up: 1933–34, 1961–62, 1964–65

Manchester League

Champions: 1908–09, 1910–11

Cup

FA Trophy

Winners: 1969–70, 1995–96

Runners-up: 1988–89, 2016–17

Conference League Cup

Winners: 1993–94

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

Winners: 1986–87

Northern Premier League President's Cup

Winners: 1986–87

Cheshire Senior Cup

Winners: 1889–90, 1890–91, 1893–94, 1895–96, 1910–11, 1929–30, 1934–35, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1959–60, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2014–15

Sources and references

Macclesfield Town at the Football Club History Database