Macclesfield Town F.C.

Macclesfield Town
Full name Macclesfield Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Silkmen
Founded 1874 (1874) (as Macclesfield)
Ground Moss Rose
Ground Capacity 6,355 (2,599 seated)
Chairman Mark Blower
Manager John Askey
League National League
2014–15 Conference Premier, 6th
Website Club home page

Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English association football club in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. The club played in the Football League from 1997 until relegation to the Conference Premier in 2012. The club was formed in 1874 and play home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium.

The 2011–12 season was Macclesfield Town's 15th consecutive season in the Football League and their 13th consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football which, until their relegation, made them the then longest-standing members of League Two.

History

A football club was first formed in Macclesfield in the mid-19th century, but played rugby union rules. In 1874, the club adopted the rules of the Football Association. Between 1874 and 1940 the club was known by a succession of names, including Macclesfield Football and Athletic Club, Hallifield F.C. and Macclesfield F.C.[1] When competitive football resumed after World War II, Macclesfield Town Football Club Ltd. was formed and the club gained their current name.[2] The club joined the Cheshire County League in 1946–47, playing their first game after reformation on 31 August, 1946, a 2–0 defeat to Buxton.[3] 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 1951–1954, including the club's first Cheshire 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.[4] At the end of that season the club won the Cheshire 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 League by a record equalling thirteen point margin.[5] 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 ever non-league player to be named Footballer of the Month by the London Evening Standard.[6]

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 twelve 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.[7] 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 Conference). The 1980s saw steady rebuilding. The club finished as Northern Premier League runners-up in the 1984–85 season, and two years later Macclesfield Town's third Northern Premier League title resulted in promotion to the Conference.

Macclesfield Town 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, the same opponents as Macclesfield Town's first final nineteen years earlier. However, the team did not match the achievement of their predecessors, 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.

McIlroy era

McIlroy took charge at the start of the 1993–94 season, and guided the club to the Football Conference championship in his second season as manager. However. the club was denied promotion to the Football League because the Moss Rose did not meet league requirements of having a 6,000 total capacity including at least 1,000 seats by the League's deadline of 31 December 1994.[8] Macclesfield Town won the Conference title again two seasons later in 1996–97, by which time the stadium had been upgraded and they were promoted to Division Three of the Football League in place of Hereford United.

Upon gaining League status, the club turned fully professional.[9] Macclesfield Town's first League match was a 2–1 win at home to Torquay United. The momentum of the Conference success continued, and in their first League season, Macclesfield Town finished runners-up in Division Three and were promoted for the second consecutive season, this time to Division Two. It was a memorable year for the club, who were unbeaten at home for the entire season. However, the higher level proved a step too far for the club, who finished the 1998–99 season bottom of Division Two and were relegated. McIlroy soon left to become the Northern Ireland national coach and was replaced by former Manchester United colleague Peter Davenport. 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.

Recent years

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 and achieved a finish of fifth for the 2004–05 season, resulting in a playoff place, but the team were eliminated in the semi-finals by Lincoln City. However, 2005–06 proved disappointing with the team failing to build on the previous season's progress, finishing an undistinguished 17th. Horton was sacked by the club in late September 2006, following a dismal start to the season in which Horton failed to secure a win in the twelve games prior to his dismissal, 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 twenty 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, which not only gave Ince his first manager of the month award when he was League Two Manager of the Month for December 2006, but also earned the Silkmen 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 2006, it was announced that Ince had resigned from Macclesfield town to become MK Dons manager.[10]

On 29 June 2007, Ian Brightwell was announced as the new manager, with Asa Hartford as his assistant.[11] 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.

Following a poor run of results and with the club again flirting with the relegation zone to the Football Conference, on 27 February 2008, Ian Brightwell and Asa Hartford left the club with immediate effect. Keith Alexander was named as manager until the end of the season. Alexander kept the Silkmen in League 2 following a run of four wins and three draws in nine games and was awarded a new two-year contract.

On 3 March 2010, Macclesfield Town announced that manager Keith Alexander had died at the age of 53.[12] Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003, died after arriving home from the League Two match at Notts County. Subsequently, on 13 April 2010, Macclesfield Town announced Gary Simpson, previously Keith Alexander's Assistant, as manager on a two-year contract in May 2011.,[13] which was subsequently extended by a further year.[13]

On 10 January 2011, it was announced that midfield player Richard Butcher had died aged 29.[14] The club retired the number 21 shirt in his honour.[15]

Macclesfield Town failed to win a League (or any other) match from the start of January 2012 through until the match away verses Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday 17 March, a winless streak of 14 League matches (16 counting the FA Cup Third Round & Third Round Replay). Due to this, Simpson was asked to step down as manager by Chairman Mike Rance on Sunday 18 March 2012. He was replaced by Brian Horton, but Horton was unable to turn around Town's poor run of form and the team were relegated to the Conference Premier on 28 April 2012 following home defeat to Burton Albion. Following the relegation Horton left the club and Glyn Chamberlain took charge of the team for the remaining game of the season. Macclesfield failed to win any games from January 2012 until the end of the season in May 2012, a total of 25 games without a victory (23 League, 2 FA Cup; 15 defeats, 7 draws).

Return to the Football Conference

Following relegation, Glyn Chamberlain left the Silkmen and Macclesfield Town then appointed Steve King as manager on Monday 21 May 2012.[16] At the same time, it was announced that Andy Scott would stand down as deputy chairman with immediate effect, and that three other directors, including the chairman Mike Rance, would stand down in due course.[17]

On 5 January 2013, Macclesfield Town beat Championship Leaders Cardiff City in the FA Cup 3rd round 2–1. This gave them a place in the 4th round of the tournament for the first time in their 139-year history. Macclesfield Town were generally in or around the Conference National play-off places for much of the season, but a failure to secure a play-off spot resulted in the sacking of Steve King just before the season ended, with the club reappointing former manager John Askey as King's replacement.

Stadium

Macclesfield Town play their home games at the Moss Rose stadium in the south of the town, and have done so since 1891. The first game at the Moss Rose (on the ground adjoining the then named, Moss Rose Inn) took place on 12 September 1891 and therefore 2011 was the ground's 120th anniversary. 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.[18] 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 clubs 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.[19] 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 released a statement for the possibility of relocating to a new Stadium, approximately 1 mile south from the Moss Rose to the proposed 'South Macclesfield Development Area'.[20] However, due to the club being a permanent fixture in the lower part of League Two and coupled with the fact that England lost the bid to host the 2018 World Cup (which would have helped the cause for a new stadium), it seems more than likely that Moss Rose will exist as the club's ground for the foreseeable future.

Colours and crest

Macclesfield Town's colours are 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.[21] Earlier incarnations of the club wore several different 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.[21]

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 has won the approval of the majority of fans.

Supporters

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.[22] 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. The bulk of supporters are from Macclesfield and its environs with small pockets of fans from Norway, Japan,[23] Port Talbot South Wales and Fleet Hampshire (The Southern Silkmen Lads – SSL). In the April 2011 issue of the football magazine FourFourTwo, Macclesfield Town supporters were voted "League Two Best Away Fans".

Macclesfield Town's traditional rivals are Altrincham, a rivalry dating back to when both clubs were in the Cheshire League, and later the Northern Premier League and Football Conference. As far back as 1911 the Macclesfield and Altrincham teams were engaged in a close tussle for the Manchester League title – won narrowly by the Silkmen. However, the clubs have not shared the same division since the 1996–97 season when Macclesfield Town were promoted and Altrincham were relegated from the Football Conference. Their closest rival in the Football League years has been Stockport County, however as Stockport County were relegated at the end of the 2010–11 season this derby did not take place in the 2011–12 season. Following relegation for the Silkmen, this local derby was briefly of the footballing calendar once again, until Stockport's relegation to the Conference North at the end of the 2012–13 season.

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Republic of Ireland GK Ritchie Branagan
2 England DF Andy Halls
3 England DF Curtis Haynes-Brown
4 Republic of Ireland DF Neill Byrne
5 England DF George Pilkington
6 England MF Paul Turnbull
7 England MF Theo Bailey-Jones
8 England MF Paul Lewis
9 England FW Chris Holroyd
10 England FW Jack Sampson
No. Position Player
11 England MF Danny Rowe
12 England DF Dan Cowan
13 Iraq GK Shwan Jalal
14 England FW Kristian Dennis (on loan from Stockport County)
15 France DF Tony Diagne (on loan from Lincoln City)
18 England MF Danny Whitehead
19 England DF David Fitzpatrick
23 England MF Danny Whitaker
24 England MF Chris Churchman
25 Gibraltar FW Reece Styche (on loan from Kidderminster Harriers)

Retired numbers

21 – England Richard Butcher. Midfielder (2010–11) – posthumous honour.[24]

Non-playing staff

Position Name
Manager John Askey
Assistant Manager Efe Sodje
General Coach Byron Jenkins

Seasons

These are 11 recent Macclesfield seasons, for a full history, see List of Macclesfield F.C. seasons

Year League Level Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer Goals FA Cup League Cup FA Trophy Average attendance
2004–05 Football League Two 4 46 22 9 15 60 49 +11 75 5th of 24
Lost in PO semifinal		 Jon Parkin 22 R2 R1 - 2272[25]
2005–06 Football League Two 4 46 12 18 16 60 71 −11 54 17th of 24 Clyde Wijnhard 8 R1 R2 - 2274[26]
2006–07 Football League Two 4 46 12 12 22 55 77 −22 48 22nd of 24 Kevin McIntyre 8 R3 R1 - 2427[27]
2007–08 Football League Two 4 46 11 17 18 47 64 −17 50 19th of 24 Francis Green[28] 11 R1 R1 - 2297[29]
2008–09 Football League Two 4 46 13 8 25 45 77 −32 47 20th of 24 Gareth Evans[30] 12 R3 R2 - 1897[31]
2009–10 Football League Two 4 46 12 18 16 49 58 −9 54 19th of 24 Emile Sinclair
Ricky Sappleton[32]		 7 R1 R1 - 1887[33]
2010–11 Football League Two 4 46 14 13 19 59 73 −14 55 15th of 24 Tyrone Barnett[34] 13 R2 R1 - 1807[35]
2011–12 Football League Two 4 46 8 13 25 39 64 −25 37 24th of 24
Relegated		 Ben Tomlinson
George Donnelly[36]		 6 R3 R2 - 2227[37]
2012–13 Conference National 5 46 17 12 17 65 70 −5 63 11th of 24 Matthew Barnes-Homer 18 R4 - R1 1670[38]
2013–14 Conference National 5 46 18 7 21 62 63 −1 61 15th of 24 Scott Boden 18 R3 - R1 1512[39]
2014–15 Conference
National		 5 46 21 15 10 60 46 +14 78 6th of 24 Waide Fairhurst 10 QR4 - R1 1773

Honours

Club Records

All records correct as at 15 August 2011.

Record Football League appearances

Name Years FL Starts FL Sub FL Total
Tinson, DarrenDarren Tinson1997–20032630263
Tipton, MatthewMatthew Tipton2002–201014054194
Whitaker, DannyDanny Whitaker2002–200615615171
Askey, JohnJohn Askey1997–200313635171
Hitchen, SteveSteve Hitchen1997–20031438151
Wood, SteveSteve Wood1997–200112922151
Priest, ChrisChris Priest1999–200414010150
Adams, DannyDanny Adams2000–20041462148
Reid, IzakIzak Reid2006–201111728145
Wilson, SteveSteve Wilson2001–20051322134
McIntyre, KevinKevin McIntyre2004–20081304134

Record Football League goalscorers

Rank Name FL Goals (FL Apps)
1 Matthew Tipton 50 (194)
2 John Askey 31 (171)
3 John Parkin 30 (65)
=4 Richie Barker 23 (58)
=4 Danny Whitaker 23 (171)
6 John Miles 21 (122)
=7 Gareth Evans 19 (82)
=7 Steve Wood 19 (151)
9 Lee Glover 18 (85)
=10 Hamza Bencherif 16 (60)
=10 Kevin McIntyre 16 (134)

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

Macclesfield Town made history when Chris Priest, a Macclesfield Town player, scored the final goal of the last millennium.

References

  1. ↑ "The Early Years". Macclesfield Town official website. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  2. ↑ Macclesfield Express 24 April 1946
  3. ↑ Phythian, Graham (2001). Saga of the Silkmen: The History of Macclesfield Town FC. Lancaster: Carnegie. ISBN 1-85936-087-4., p84
  4. ↑ Saga of the Silkmen, p107
  5. ↑ Saga of the Silkmen, p207-208
  6. ↑ Saga of the Silkmen, p121
  7. ↑ "Northern Premier League". Macclesfield Town official website. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
  8. ↑ Saga of the Silkmen, p165
  9. ↑ Saga of the Silkmen, p176
  10. ↑ "Paul Ince resigns". Macclesfield Town official website.
  11. ↑ "Ian Brightwell appointed as Manager". Macclesfield Town official website.
  12. ↑ "Keith Alexander". Macclesfield Town official website.
  13. 1 2 "Simmo Commits Future". Macclesfield Town official website.
  14. ↑ "Richard Butcher". Macclesfield Town official website.
  15. ↑ "Macclesfield Town retire number 21". Macclesfield Town official website.
  16. ↑ "Steve King Appointed Silkmen Manager". Macclesfield Town official site.
  17. ↑ "Board Changes at Moss Rose". Macclesfield Towen official website.
  18. ↑ "The Moss Rose". Macclesfield Town official website. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  19. ↑ "The Early Years". Macclesfield Town official website.
  20. ↑ "Club Statement". Macclesfield Town official website.
  21. 1 2 Saga of the Silkmen, p6
  22. ↑ "English League Two Attendance". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  23. ↑ "When Saturday Comes". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  24. ↑ http://www.mtfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10393~2265524,00.html
  25. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200426,00.html
  26. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200526,00.html
  27. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200626,00.html
  28. ↑ http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/TopGoalScorers?club_id=183&comp_id=209
  29. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200726,00.html
  30. ↑ http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/TopGoalScorers?club_id=183&comp_id=248
  31. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200826,00.html
  32. ↑ http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/TopGoalScorers?club_id=183&comp_id=282
  33. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~200926,00.html
  34. ↑ http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/TopGoalScorers?club_id=183&comp_id=327
  35. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~201026,00.html
  36. ↑ http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/TopGoalScorers?club_id=183&comp_id=372
  37. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10794~201126,00.html
  38. ↑ http://www.emfootball.co.uk/attend2013.html
  39. ↑ http://www.emfootball.co.uk/attend2014.html

Sources

External links

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