Macclesfield Town news

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Macclesfield Town

Main Address:
Moss Rose Ground
London Road
Macclesfield
Chesire
SK11 7SP

Main Tel No: 01625 264 686
Main Fax No: 01625 264 692

Club Founded: 1875

Stadium: Moss Rose

Stadium Address: London Road, Macclesfield, Chesire, SK11 7SP

Stadium Capacity: 6,335

Team Colours: Blue and White

Honours

Football League Third Division:
Runners-up 1997/98.

F.A. Challenge Trophy:
Winners 1969/70, 1995/96. Finalists 1988/89.

G.M. Vauxhall Conference:
Champions 1994/95, 1996/97.

Northern Premier League:
Champions 1968/69, 1969/70.
Runners-up 1984/85.

J. C. Thompson
Championship Shield
Winners 1995, 1996, 1997.

Bob Lord Trophy:
Winners 1993/94. Finalists 1995/96, 1996/97.

NPL Challenge Cup:
Winners 1986/87. Finalists 1969/70, 1970/71, 1983/83

NPL President's Cup:
Winners 1986/87. Finalists 1984/85.

Cheshire County League:
Champions 1931/32, 1932/33, 1953/54, 1960/61,
1963/64, 1967/68.

CLC Challenge Cup:
Winners 1924/25, 1931/32, 1947/48, 1966/67.

Manchester League:
Champions 1908/09, 1910/11.

Combination:
Champions 1890/91.

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.

Staffordshire Senior Cup:
Winners 1993/94, 1996/97.


The Football League
First Season

While the 96/97 season is remembered as the most successful season so far, the 97/98 season will also hold a prominent place in the clubs history, this too proved to be a treble season success.

The first trophy claimed was the Conference Championship Shield, this particular piece of silverware remaining in the Moss Rose trophy cabinet for a record equalling third consecutive season and the Cheshire Senior Cup was won for a record 19th time.

In the domestic season The Silkmen continued to re-write the history books. They were the first team to attain promotion since Wycombe Wanderers four years previously and very few teams knew what to expect.

The campaign began in the best possible way as we beat Torquay 2-1 with goals from Efe Sodje and Richard Landon. Our first ever attempt at the League Cup was ended prematurley as we were beaten 2-1 at Hull after a 0-0 draw in the first round.

More Cup Struggles

Walsall knocked the Silkmen out of the FA Cup in the second round with an out-of-the-blue 7-0 win at the Moss Rose and there was a same stage exit from the Autowindscreen Shield at the hands of Preston North End.

The greatest achievement came in the league at the start of their first football league season. The Club were looking for a respectable position, mainly to retain their football league status. Amazingly after the third Saturday of the season, Macclesfield headed the table.

Expectations started to grow and as Christmas approached, a play-off place looked a realistic hope. As the New Year arrived an automatic promotion place also looked possible.

At the end of the season Macclesfield finished comfortably in the runners up spot. The foundation of this success and promotion to the second division at the first attempt, was the unbeaten home form.

Record Results
Macclesfield Town were the only club in the English professional game to be unbeaten at home in their league campaign, a record that even Arsenal and Manchester United could not boast. The record at home that season has yet to be beaten P23 W19 D4 L0

Second Division
The 1998/99 season carves yet another chapter in the Moss Rose history books, as this was the first time in the clubs history that they were relegated. Macclesfield were everyone's favourites for relegation and so it turned out, but the most remarkable fact was that they were in the second division in the first place.

The season had a number of highs, there was the clubs first ever success in the League cup, a two-legged victory over Stoke City to earn a trip to St Andrews to face Birmingham City.

The club reached the third round of the FA Cup for the third time in their history, this third round tie gave them a lucrative game against Premiership opposition in the shape of Coventry City.

Competing With The 'Big Boys'
Whilst the overall league position was very disappointing Macclesfield were not disgraced in the second division, of 19 league defeats 14 of these were by a single goal margin.

The League campaign started with a home tie against Fulham which the Silkmen were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0. Not managing the draw they deserved cost the Club their 20 month unbeaten home record which could have spanned three divisions.

There were some tremendous results such as the 2-2 away draws with Preston North End and Gillingham (both of which, the Silkmen were winning until last minute goals) These two treams provided two of our best results at home as we defeated Preston by 3-2 and registered a 1-0 against Gillingham. Beating Oldham Athletic home and away and a home win against Burnley.

The highlight of the season for many was the two matches against Manchester City. A close run thing at the Moss Rose was lost 1-0 through a late Shaun Goater goal and the club managed better than many at Maine Road. A 2-0 defeat with goals from Goater and Taylor the result.

The inevitable happened at the end of a season where many people thought that Macclesfield had come too far too soon and they were relegated back to the Third Division.


Back to the Third
The 1999/2000 season was one where stability was the name of the game following relegation back to the third division. A mid table finish and another Cheshire Senior Cup proved a satisfactory season when you consider that the club lost their manager.

All Change (Part One)
Sammy McIlroy was appointed to the Managers position with Northern Ireland in the January, it was a move that had been touted in the past and it was a sad day when the most successful manager in the club's history finally left.

The appointment to the National position for Sammy was just rewards for the success that he had brought to Macclesfield Town over six unforgettable seasons. Sammy's assistant manager and former Manchester United team mate Peter Davenport was appointed as Sammy's successor.

New Faces
The season had started poorly as the squad, which had been decimated following the relegation tried to gel. Ritchie Barker became a firm fans favourite with his regular goalscoring exploits and the Silkmen crept up the table. Although the Silkmen finished the season well with some excellent victories such as the 4-1 win over Plymouth, the poor start had already put paid to any playoff hopes.

All Change (Part Two)
2000/2001 was another season of change for the Silkmen. As well as a change of manager, there was the grand opening of our new stand.

It also included some great matches. The 3-1 win at home to Bolton was a night to remember and the resulting match at Middlesbrough will also stick in the memory. Winning 1-0 for most of the second half was also great achievement as Peter Davenport's Silkmen proved their worth amongst top opposition.

Unfortunately the League form was slipping because of the Cup run and we were finding it hard to win games. By Christmas, we were out of the FA Cup and hovering just above the relegation dogfight.

Gil Prescott was brought in to help Peter Davenport but when he rejected the idea he left the club and Gil Prescott, Sammy McIlroy's former assistant, was put in charge of the team.

Climbing the League
The turnaround was swift as Gil went unbeaten in the League away from home for seven matches and the club also embarked on a nine game home streak where they won six, drew one and lost just twice.

The chances of the playoffs were slim and they were pared to nothing when an injury crisis hit the club.

Another mid-table finish for the Silkmen as they lost their final game 2-0 to Leyton Orient in front of the newly opened Alfred McAlpine Stand.
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