Macclesfield F.C.

Macclesfield Football Club is an association football club based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.[2] It is a phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town F.C. founded in 1874, which was wound-up after a High Court ruling on 16 September 2020.[3] The club began their first competitive season in the North West Counties Premier Division, the fifth step of the National League system, in August 2021, and currently competes in the Northern Premier League following two successive promotions.

For the previous club founded in 1874, see Macclesfield Town F.C.
For the Australian rules football club, see Macclesfield Football Club.
Macclesfield F.C.
Full nameMacclesfield Football Club
Nickname(s)The Silkmen
Founded13 October 2020 (2020-10-13)[1]
GroundLeasing.com Stadium
Capacity5,300 (2,095 seated)
ManagerVacant
LeagueNorthern Premier League Premier Division
2022–23Northern Premier League Division One West, 1st of 20 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Macclesfield F.C. is a successor to Macclesfield Town.[4] Founded in 1874, Macclesfield Town was liquidated and expelled from the National League in 2020 because of debts of over £500,000.[5] Its assets were put up for sale, including the Moss Rose stadium on the Rightmove property website.[6] In October 2020, the stadium and all available assets were purchased by Robert Smethurst, the owner of Stockport Town, with the aim of returning professional football to Macclesfield by creating the phoenix club as Macclesfield F.C.[7] Smethurst appointed the Welsh former professional footballer Robbie Savage as a member of the board for the new phoenix club with Danny Whitaker as manager.[8] He also invested in upgrading the stadium to improve the commercial viability of the new club.[9]

In May 2021, it was announced that Macclesfield would be placed in the NWCFL Premier Division for their first season.[10] Savage announced that the club would be joining with his foundation to offer free tickets to foundation participants to encourage youth attendance at the club's matches.[11] Macclesfield entered the FA Vase for the first time in 2021–22.[12]

2021–22 season

On 31 July 2021 Macclesfield played their first competitive match, a 1–0 win at home against Burscough in the NWCFL Premier Division played in front of a restricted capacity sell-out crowd of 2,018; Leon Arnasalam scored the only goal.[13] The club's first away match was on 3 August, a 4–4 draw at Winsford United, also in the NWCFL Premier Division, with Tom Clare scoring all four Macclesfield goals.[14] On 7 August Macclesfield played their first FA Cup match, beating Burscough 4–0 in the Extra Preliminary Round, but were then knocked out of the FA Cup in the Preliminary Round losing 6–4 at Squires Gate.[15]

On 30 August Macclesfield defeated local rivals Congleton Town 1–0 in the NWCFL Premier Division in front of a record crowd of 3,502, James Berry-McNally scoring the only goal.[16] The match was suspended for several minutes late in the second half due to crowd trouble.[17] It was the first time the neighbouring towns had met in a league match since the 1964–65 season.[18]

On 11 September, Macclesfield played in the FA Vase for the first time, losing 3–2 at Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Winterton Rangers in the first qualifying round.

Macclesfield F.C. was featured in a BBC Sport documentary film, Robbie Savage: Making Macclesfield FC, broadcast on 13 November 2021, which described the launch of the new club following the collapse of Macclesfield Town.[19]

Despite a relatively poor run of form at the start of the new year (L2, D1, W2 in January), a run of ten consecutive wins followed, in which 37 goals were scored and only four conceded.[20] On 12 March 2022, Macclesfield secured the North West Counties Premier Division title and promotion to the NPL Division One West after a 4–0 win against Ashton Athletic, becoming the first club in England's top nine tiers in 2022 to guarantee promotion.[21] Macclesfield finished their league campaign on 2 April, 15 points clear of second-placed Skelmersdale United.[22]

2022–23 season

In October 2022, with the club three points clear at the top of the NPL West Division, Danny Whitaker was replaced as Macclesfield manager by David McNabb.[23] McNabb stepped down in December 2022, with midfielder Neil Danns being appointed interim manager.[24] A 3–1 win against Trafford on 1 April 2023 saw the club crowned champions and achieve back-to-back promotions.[25]

2023–24 season

The summer saw a number of changes to the club personnel including manager Neil Danns who left to take up an assistant role at Tranmere Rovers. His assistant Mark Duffy was named as the new head coach.[26] Record goal-scorer James Berry also departed for a club record fee to join National League side Chesterfield.[27] Notable incomings included Luke Duffy who joined for a record fee from Warrington Town,[28] and John Rooney, Wayne Rooney's younger brother, who returned to the Silkmen having started his career with 41 league appearances for Macclesfield Town.[29]

Macclesfield entered the FA Cup in the First Qualifying Round. Victories over Whickham, Buxton, and Warrington Rylands secured a place in the Fourth Qualifying Round against Alfreton Town.[30]

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
2021– Adidas boohooMAN

Players

Current squad
As of 25 October 2023[31]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Max Johnstone
— GK England ENG Conor O'Keefe
— DF England ENG Lewis Fensome
— DF England ENG Sam Heathcote
— DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kevin Joshua (on loan from York City)
— DF England ENG Brandon Lee
— DF France FRA Laurent Mendy (captain)
— DF England ENG Tre Pemberton
— DF England ENG Freddie Sass (on loan from Southport)
— MF England ENG Leon Arnasalam
— MF England ENG Alex Curran
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Paul Dawson
— MF England ENG Luke Murphy
— MF England ENG Jon Nolan
— MF England ENG John Rooney
— FW England ENG Kane Drummond
— FW England ENG Luke Duffy
— FW England ENG James Hardy
— FW England ENG Alex Hurst
— FW England ENG Neil Kengni
— FW England ENG Danny Rowe

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Sam Grimshaw (at Widnes)

Player of the Season Awards
Season Player Players' Player Directors' Player Ref
2021–22 Guyana Neil Danns Guyana Neil Danns France Laurent Mendy [32]
2022–23 England James Berry England James Berry England Luke Murphy [33]

Management

Managerial history

As of 25 October 2023[35]

Image Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%[nb 1] Honours
Danny Whitaker  England 13 October 2020 29 October 2022 68 48 7 13 171 71 070.59 1 NWCFL Premier Division
David McNabb  England 31 October 2022 10 December 2022 9 7 1 1 22 9 077.78
Neil Danns  Guyana 13 December 2022 5 May 2023 21 15 5 1 53 16 071.43 1 NPL Division One West
Mark Duffy  England 5 May 2023 25 October 2023 18 10 2 6 34 21 055.56

Seasons

As of 25 October 2023[35]

Season League FA Cup Other competitions Top scorer – League goals in () Average
attendance (League)
Division Pld W D L F A Pts Pos Name
2021–22 NWCFL Premier Division 40 29 7 4 94 38 94 1st ↑
Champions 		PR FA Vase QR1 England Tom Clare 23 (21) 3,390
NWCFL Challenge Cup QF
Cheshire Senior Cup R2
2022–23 NPL Division One West 38 28 6 4 95 27 90 1st ↑
Champions 		QR2 FA Trophy R1 England James Berry 33 (24) 3,644[36]
Cheshire Senior Cup QF
2023-24 NPL Premier Division 13 6 2 5 24 16 20 7th QR4 FA Trophy R1 England Alex Curran 11 (8)
Cheshire Senior Cup R1

Club honours

League

Club records
As of 25 October 2023[35]

Attendance
  • Highest home attendance (Top 3):
4,720 v AFC Liverpool, 2 April 2022 – NWCFL Premier Division
4,701[lower-alpha 1] v Prescot Cables, 15 April 2023 – NPL Division One West
4,604 v Ashton Athletic, 12 March 2022 – NWCFL Premier Division
  • Lowest home attendance:
402 v Cheadle Heath Nomads, 2 November 2021 – Cheshire Senior Cup First Round
  • Highest away attendance (Top 3):
2,342 v FC United of Manchester, 26 August 2023 – NPL Premier Division
2,024 v Leek Town, 16 August 2022 – NPL Division One West
1,705 v Radcliffe, 10 October 2023 – NPL Premier Division
  • Lowest away attendance:
181 v Northwich Victoria, 16 November 2022 – Cheshire Senior Cup First Round

Results
  • Biggest home win:
7–0 v Tadcaster Albion, 13 September 2022 - FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
  • Heaviest home defeat:
1–3 v Stockport County, 7 December 2021 – Cheshire Senior Cup Second Round
2–4 v Wythenshawe Town, 8 January 2022 – NWCFL Premier Division
0–2 v Guiseley, 29 October 2022 – FA Trophy First Round
  • Biggest away win:
0–6 v Vauxhall Motors, 22 February 2022 – NWCFL Premier Division
  • Heaviest away defeat:
3–0 v Lancaster City, 22 August 2023 – NPL Premier Division
  • Highest scoring draw:
4–4 v Winsford United (A), 3 August 2021 – NWCFL Premier Division
  • Highest aggregate score:
(10) 6–4 v Squires Gate (A), 21 August 2021 – FA Cup preliminary round

Streaks
  • Longest unbeaten run (All comps):
17 matches, from 14 January 2022 to 2 May 2022
  • Longest unbeaten run (League):
18 matches, from 14 January 2022 to 6 September 2022
  • Longest unbeaten run (Home - All comps):
14 matches, from 31 July 2021 to 7 December 2021
  • Longest unbeaten run (Home - League):
13 matches, from 31 July 2021 to 8 January 2022
  • Longest winning run (All comps):
13 matches, from 12 February 2022 to 2 May 2022
  • Longest winning run (League):
14 matches, from 12 February 2022 to 6 September 2022
  • Longest scoring run (All comps):
25 matches, from 8 January 2022 to 6 September 2022
  • Most consecutive clean sheets (League):
5 matches, from 10 December 2022 to 24 January 2023

Player records
  • Most appearances (All comps):[39]
105 – France Laurent Mendy, 31 July 2021 – present
  • Goals scored (All comps):[40]
53 – England James Berry, 7 August 2021 – 22 April 2023
  • Goals in a season (All comps):
33 – England James Berry, 2022–23
  • Goals in a season (League):
24 – England James Berry, 2022–23
  • Goals scored in a match:
4 – England James Berry v Avro (H), 19 March 2022 – NWCFL Premier Division
4 – England Tom Clare v Winsford United (A), 3 August 2021 – NWCFL Premier Division

Cup performances
Fourth Qualifying Round, 2023–24
First Round, 2022–23
First Qualifying Round, 2021–22
Quarter-Final, 2022–23

Notable players

Macclesfield F.C. players who have attained at least one international cap during their career.

Notes
  1. NPL Division One West record.

References
  1. "Robbie Savage to join Macclesfield board after Smethurst buys club". theguardian.com. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  2. "Macclesfield FC". Macclesfield FC. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. "Macclesfield Town FC wound up in High Court over debts exceeding £500,000". BBC Sport. 16 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. "Government review of football will explore alternative ownership models for clubs". The Independent. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. "Macclesfield Town expelled from National League after club wound up". Cheshire Live. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. Powell, Dave (1 October 2020). "Macclesfield Town's 129-year-old Moss Rose home up for sale on Rightmove". Cheshire Live. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. Scapens, Alex (7 October 2020). "Footballing future in Macclesfield given boost as the Silkmen are bought". Cheshire Live. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. "Macclesfield FC: Robert Smethurst takes over club as Robbie Savage joins board". BBC Sport. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  9. Whelan, Dan (14 October 2020). "Macc plots stadium improvements after takeover". Place North West. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  10. "Macclesfield FC: Reformed club to join North West Counties Premier Division next season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  11. "Robbie Savage launches foundation to give children free access to grassroots football". ITV. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  12. "The Buildbase FA Vase Season 2021–22" (.ashx). The Football Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. Line-ups: Macclesfield 1–0 Burscough, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 4 August 2021.
  14. Line-ups: Winsford United 4–4 Macclesfield, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 4 August 2021.
  15. Line-ups: Squires Gate 6–4 Macclesfield, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  16. Lineups: Macclesfield 1–0 Congleton Town, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  17. Robbie Savage bravely steps in to break up fight at Macclesfield game, Daily Mirror (30 August 2021). Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  18. Silkmen Archives. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  19. Golby, Joel (13 November 2021). "Robbie Savage: Making Macclesfield FC – this would be touching TV … if football's court jester would shut up". Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  20. "NWCFL Club pages: Macclesfield FC". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  21. "Macclesfield crowned champions in first season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  22. "NWCFL League Table". NWCFL. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  23. Gordon, James (31 October 2022). "Macclesfield Unveil New Manager". NPL News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  24. Barnes, Dan (13 December 2022). "Ex-Bolton Wanderers man Neil Danns named interim boss at Macclesfield". The Bolton News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  25. "Macclesfield Secure West Division". www.thenpl.co.uk. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  26. Macclesfield: "NEIL DANNS DEPARTS TO JOIN LEAGUE 2 SIDE TRANMERE ROVERS AS ASSISTANT MANAGER"
  27. "JAMES BERRY JOINS CHESTERFIELD FC FOR A CLUB RECORD FEE". Macclesfield FC. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  28. "LUKE DUFFY JOINS THE SILKMEN FOR A CLUB RECORD SIGNING FEE". Macclesfield FC. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  29. "MACCLESFIELD FC AGREES TERMS WITH MIDFIELDER JOHN ROONEY". Macclesfield FC. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  30. Bates, Kallum (1 October 2023). "Match Report: Warrington Rylands". Macclesfield FC. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  31. Macclesfield men's first team Macclesfieldfc.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  32. "Awards Night: Winners at a Glance". 10 April 2022.
  33. "Awards Night: Winners at a Glance". 24 April 2023.
  34. Macclesfield NWCFL.com. Retrieved: 15 November 2021.
  35. "Macclesfield FC Archives - Unofficial Fan Account". Macclesfield FC Archives, Unofficial Fan Account.
  36. Attendance Tables. Northern Premier League. Retrieved: 21 April 2023
  37. "Macclesfield Secure West Division". www.thenpl.co.uk. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  38. "Macclesfield FC: Silkmen crowned champions in first season". BBC Sport. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  39. "Player Appearances". Macclesfield FC Archives, Unofficial Fan Account.
  40. "Goalscorers". Macclesfield FC Archives, Unofficial Fan Account.
  1. Win% is rounded to two decimal places

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