 | |||
| Full name | Macclesfield Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Silkmen | ||
| Founded | 13 October 2020; 4 years ago (2020-10-13)[1] | ||
| Ground | Leasing.com Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,500 (2,095 seated) | ||
| Owner | Macc Football Club Limited | ||
| Chairman | Robert Smethurst | ||
| Head coach | Robbie Savage | ||
| League | Northern Premier League Premier Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Northern Premier League Premier Division, 2nd of 21 | ||
| Website | macclesfieldfc | ||
 Current season | |||
Macclesfield Football Club is anassociation football club based inMacclesfield,Cheshire, England.[2] It is aphoenix club of the formerMacclesfield Town F.C. founded in 1874, which waswound-up after aHigh Court ruling on 16 September 2020.[3] The club began their first competitive season in theNorth West Counties Premier Division, the fifth step of theNational League system (ninth tier in theEnglish football pyramid), in August 2021, and currently competes in theNorthern Premier League following two successive promotions.
Macclesfield F.C. is a successor toMacclesfield Town.[4] Founded in 1874, Macclesfield Town was liquidated and expelled from theNational League in 2020 because of debts of over £500,000.[5] Its assets were put up for sale, including theMoss Rose stadium on theRightmove property website.[6] In October 2020, the stadium and all available assets were purchased by Robert Smethurst, the owner ofStockport 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 footballerRobbie Savage as a member of the board for the new phoenix club withDanny 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 theNWCFL 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 theFA Vase for the first time in2021–22.[12]
On 31 July 2021 Macclesfield played their first competitive match, a 1–0 win at home againstBurscough 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 atWinsford United, also in the NWCFL Premier Division, with Tom Clare scoring all four Macclesfield goals.[14] On 7 August Macclesfield played their firstFA 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 rivalsCongleton 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 theFA Vase for the first time, losing 3–2 atNorthern Counties East League Premier Division sideWinterton Rangers in the first qualifying round.
Macclesfield F.C. was featured in aBBC Sport documentary film,Robbie Savage: Making Macclesfield FC, broadcast on 13 November 2021, which followed 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 theNorth West Counties Premier Division title and promotion to theNPL Division One West after a 4–0 win againstAshton 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-placedSkelmersdale United.[22]
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 midfielderNeil Danns being appointed interim manager.[24] A 3–1 win againstTrafford on 1 April 2023 saw the club crowned champions and achieve back-to-back promotions.[25]
During the summer of 2023, manager Neil Danns left to take up an assistant role atTranmere Rovers, and his assistantMark Duffy was named as the new head coach.[26] Record goal-scorerJames Berry departed for a club record fee to joinNational League sideChesterfield.[27] Luke Duffy joined for a record fee fromWarrington Town,[28] andJohn Rooney,Wayne Rooney's younger brother, returned to the Silkmen having started his career with 41 league appearances for Macclesfield Town.[29]
Macclesfield entered theFA Cup in thefirst qualifying round. Victories overWhickham,Buxton, andWarrington Rylands secured a place in the fourth qualifying round againstAlfreton Town.[30] After four defeats in five games, including a 3–1 FA Cup defeat at Alfreton,[31] Duffy was sacked as head coach on 27 October 2023,[32] and was replaced byAlex Bruce.[33] The Silkmen entered theFA Trophy in the third qualifying round; in the fourth round proper they defeatedNational League oppositionDorking Wanderers 5–0.[34] Macclesfield were the only side outside of the National League to reach the semi-finals, but were knocked out of the competition in a 2–1 defeat atGateshead on 7 April.[35]
On 21 February 2024, Bruce stepped down as Macclesfield manager to take up a coaching role atSalford City,[36][37] and was replaced by Michael Clegg, previously manager at Warrington Rylands.[38] Under Clegg, Macclesfield finished second, qualifying for the NPL play-offs, but lost the play-off final 2–1 toMarine.[39] On 17 June 2024, Clegg left his role as manager by mutual consent;[40] Robbie Savage was appointed head coach.[41][42]
| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–24 | Adidas | boohooMAN |
| 2024– | Duck and Cover |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
| Season | Player | Players' Player | Directors' Player | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 |  Neil Danns | Neil Danns |  Laurent Mendy | [44] |
| 2022–23 |  James Berry | James Berry | Luke Murphy | [45] |
| 2023–24 | John Rooney | Tre Pemberton | — | [46] |
Team management and coaching staff[edit]
| Club management and staff[edit]
|
| Name | Nationality | From | To | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win%[a] | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Whitaker | England | 13 October 2020 | 29 October 2022 | 68 | 48 | 7 | 13 | 171 | 71 | 070.59 | 1NWCFL 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 | 1NPL Division One West |
| Mark Duffy | England | 5 May 2023 | 25 October 2023 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 34 | 21 | 055.56 | |
| Neil Baker Peter Band Robbie Savage (interim) | England England Wales | 25 October 2023 | 31 October 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 100.00 | |
| Alex Bruce |  Northern Ireland | 1 November 2023 | 21 February 2024 | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 57 | 30 | 068.18 | |
| Michael Clegg | England | 22 February 2024 | 17 June 2024 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 31 | 15 | 068.75 | |
| Robbie Savage | Wales | 17 June 2024 | 43 | 32 | 6 | 5 | 111 | 37 | 074.42 |
As of 19 July 2024[48]
| Key: | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted | Relegated | Semi-finals |
|---|
| Season | League | FA Cup | Other competitions | Top scorer | Average league attendance | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Name | Goals (LG) | |||||
| 2021–22 | NWCFL Premier Division ↑ | 40 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 94 | 38 | 94 | 1st | PR | FA Vase | QR1 | 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 | QR2 | FA Trophy | R1 | James Berry | 33 (24) | 3,644[49] |
| Cheshire Senior Cup | QF | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–24 | NPL Premier Division | 40 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 84 | 47 | 77 | 2nd | QR4 | FA Trophy | SF | Alex Curran | 23 (16) | 3,302[50] |
| Cheshire Senior Cup | QF | ||||||||||||||
| League play-offs | RU | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–25 | NPL Premier Division | QR4 | FA Trophy | R3 | |||||||||||
| Cheshire Senior Cup | |||||||||||||||
Laurent Mendy, 31 July 2021 –presentJames Berry, 7 August 2021 – 22 April 2023James Berry, 2022–23James Berry,2022–23James Berry vAvro (H), 19 March 2022 –NWCFL Premier DivisionTom Clare vWinsford United (A), 3 August 2021 –NWCFL Premier Division Kane Drummond vAtherton Collieries (H), 21 November 2023 –NPL Premier DivisionLeague
Macclesfield F.C. players who have attained at least one international cap during their career.
53°14′34″N02°07′38″W / 53.24278°N 2.12722°W /53.24278; -2.12722
