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 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 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
During the summer of 2023, manager Neil Danns left to take up an assistant role at Tranmere Rovers, and his assistant Mark Duffy was named as the new head coach. [26] Record goal-scorer James Berry departed for a club record fee to join National League side Chesterfield. [27] Luke Duffy joined for a record fee from Warrington Town, [28] and John Rooney, Wayne Rooney's younger brother, 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] 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 by Alex Bruce. [33] The Silkmen entered the FA Trophy in the third qualifying round; in the fourth round proper they defeated National League opposition Dorking 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 at Gateshead on 7 April. [35]
On 21 February 2024, Bruce stepped down as Macclesfield manager to take up a coaching role at Salford 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 to Marine. [39] On 17 June 2024, Clegg left his role as manager by mutual consent; [40] Robbie Savage was appointed head coach. [41] [42]
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