Macclesfield F.C.

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For the previous club founded in 1874, see Macclesfield Town F.C.
For the Australian rules football club, see Macclesfield Football Club.
Macclesfield
Macclesfield F.C. logo.jpg
Full nameMacclesfield Football Club
Nickname(s)The Silkmen
Founded13 October 2020; 14 months ago (2020-10-13)
GroundLeasing.com Stadium
Capacity4,360 (2,095 seated)
ManagerDanny Whitaker
LeagueNorth West Counties League Premier Division
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Macclesfield Football Club is an association football club based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. Founded on 13 October 2020 by local businessman Robert Smethurst,[1] it is a phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town F.C., which was wound-up after a High Court ruling on 16 September 2020.[2] 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.

History[]

Macclesfield F.C. is a successor to Macclesfield Town.[3] Founded in 1874, Macclesfield Town was liquidated and expelled from the National League in 2020 because of debts of over £500,000.[4] Its assets were put up for sale, including the Moss Rose stadium on the Rightmove property website.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] He also invested in upgrading the stadium to improve the commercial viability of the new club.[8]

In May 2021, it was announced that Macclesfield would be placed in the NWCFL Premier Division for their first season.[9] 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.[10] Macclesfield entered the FA Vase for the first time in 2021–22.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] The match was suspended for several minutes late in the second half due to crowd trouble.[16] It was the first time the neighbouring towns had met in a league match since the 1964–65 season.[17]

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.[18]

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers[]

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
2021– Adidas boohooMAN

Players[]

Current squad[]

As of 20 December 2021[19]

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 Sam Ashton
— GK England ENG Elliot Cooper
— GK England ENG Ben Pierce
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Alex Bruce
— DF England ENG Tom Dean
— DF England ENG Rocco Fregapane
— DF England ENG Jacob Hanson (dual registration with F.C. United)
— DF England ENG Lee Jackson
— DF England ENG Brandon Lee
— DF England ENG Luis Morrison-Derbyshire
— DF England ENG Curtis Obeng
— DF England ENG Oliver Ryan
— DF England ENG Louis Shead
— MF   Mosopefoluwa Aderinto
— MF England ENG Leon Arnasalam
— MF England ENG Max Bardsley-Rowe
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Guyana GUY Neil Danns
— MF Portugal POR Abdul Djaló
— MF Spain ESP Sidi Sanogo Fofana (dual registration with Glossop North End)
— MF England ENG Sam Grimshaw
— MF France FRA Laurent Mendy (captain)
— MF England ENG Callum West
23 MF England ENG Danny Whitaker (player-manager)
— FW England ENG Kielen Adams
— FW England ENG James Berry-McNally (on loan from Altrincham until January 2022)
— FW England ENG Tom Clare
— FW England ENG Aaron Dwyer
— FW England ENG Tyler James
— FW England ENG Brandon Lonsdale (on loan from Blackburn Rovers Academy until 3 January 2022)
— FW Portugal POR Edy Maieco
— FW Scotland SCO Scott McGowan
— FW England ENG Elliot Rokka (on loan from Atherton Collieries until January 2022)

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 Ekow Coker (at Glossop North End until 3 February 2022)

Management[]

Managerial history[]

Dates Name Notes
2020– England Danny Whitaker Player-manager

Club records[]

As of 27 December 2021[19]

Attendances[]

  • Highest home attendance (Top 5):
4,353[a] v Winsford United, 27 December 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
3,502[b] v Congleton Town, 30 August 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
3,502[b] v Barnoldswick Town, 4 December 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
3,420 v Runcorn Town, 6 November 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
3,398 v Squires Gate, 11 December 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
  • Lowest home attendance:
402 v Cheadle Heath Nomads, 2 November 2021 – Cheshire Senior Cup First Round
  • Highest away attendance (Top 5):
942 v Northwich Victoria, 27 November 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
936 v Skelmersdale United, 13 November 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
918 v Winsford United, 3 August 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
894 v Wythenshawe Town, 9 October 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
738 v Squires Gate, 21 August 2021 – FA Cup Preliminary Round
  • Lowest away attendance:
363 v Winterton Rangers, 11 September 2021 – FA Vase First Qualifying Round

Results[]

  • Biggest home win:
4–0 v Burscough, 7 August 2021 – FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
4–0 v Litherland REMYCA, 18 September 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
  • Heaviest home defeat:
1–3 v Stockport County, 7 December 2021 – Cheshire Senior Cup Second Round
  • Biggest away win:
1–3 v Lower Breck, 29 October 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
  • Heaviest away defeat:
6–4 v Squires Gate, 21 August 2021 – FA Cup Preliminary Round
4–2 v Longridge Town, 20 September 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
2–0 v Avro, 29 September 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
  • Highest scoring draw:
4–4 v Winsford United (away), 3 August 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division
  • Highest aggregate score:
(10) 6–4 v Squires Gate (away), 21 August 2021 – FA Cup Preliminary Round

Streaks[]

  • Longest unbeaten run (All comps):
12 matches, from 2 October 2021 to 7 December 2021
  • Longest unbeaten run (League):
13 matches, from 2 October 2021 to present
  • Longest unbeaten run (Home - All comps):
13 matches, from 31 July 2021 to 7 December 2021
  • Longest unbeaten run (Home - League):
13 matches, from 31 July 2021 to present
  • Longest winning streak (Home - All comps):
11 matches, from 31 July 2021 to 6 November 2021
  • Longest scoring run:
13 matches, from 31 July 2021 to 29 September 2021

Player records[]

  • Most appearances (All comps):
27 – Aaron Dwyer, 31 July 2021 – present
  • Goals scored (All comps):
15 – Tom Clare, 31 July 2021 – present
  • Goals scored in a match:
4 – Tom Clare v Winsford United (away), 3 August 2021 – North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Cup performances[]

Preliminary Round, 2021–22[20]
First Qualifying Round, 2021–22
Second Round, 2021–22

Footnotes[]

a. ^ Sell-out crowd; capacity restricted to 4,353.
b. ^ Sell-out crowd; capacity restricted to 3,502.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Macclesfield FC". Macclesfield FC. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Macclesfield FC: Robert Smethurst takes over club as Robbie Savage joins board". BBC Sport. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "The Buildbase FA Vase Season 2021–22" (.ashx). The Football Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ^ Line-ups: Macclesfield 1–0 Burscough, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ Line-ups: Winsford United 4–4 Macclesfield, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ Line-ups: Squires Gate 6–4 Macclesfield, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  15. ^ Lineups: Macclesfield 1–0 Congleton Town, NWCFL website. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  16. ^ Robbie Savage bravely steps in to break up fight at Macclesfield game, Daily Mirror (30 August 2021). Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  17. ^ Silkmen Archives. Retrieved: 9 September 2021.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ a b c Macclesfield NWCFL.com. Retrieved: 15 November 2021.
  20. ^ Ashton, James (22 August 2021). "Squires Gate 6 Macclesfield FC 4: Record attendance witnesses an FA Cup classic". Gazette. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 53°14′34″N 02°07′38″W / 53.24278°N 2.12722°W / 53.24278; -2.12722

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