v 
SHRIMPERS
We've certainly seen enough of the Silkmen this season, a couple of cup games, and another visit due to Moss Rose on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, nothing like a local trip when you've got a day off work, this one was to have been played last December but fell victim to the cold spell we had that month, the coldest for over 100 years!
Praise the Lord for Bilel and that last minute equaliser Friday, after home defeat against an ordinary Bury side would have been a real kick in the teeth, we came out with all guns blazing in the first half and should have taken in a goal lead at least.
Now to try and gain victory at the Hall for the first time in three months, and I believe we're do it, 2-1, goals from Sturrock Jnr. and Easton, well it is Burns Night!
Certainly six points from the next two games will make for an interesting table come 17.00 Saturday afternoon, and that's what we have to aim for.
It's like Piccadilly Circus in that middle of League Two at the moment, the play-offs are still up for grabs for a dozen sides, and I'd include Macclesfield in that, especially if they turn this game over, it should make for a competitive evening.
Bilel must be back, at centre-back though, Graham Coughlan can have a well earned rest.
Kane Ferdinand has done well but Lee Sawyer showed a couple of touches of real class when he came on Friday and should start.
He will have to show some discipline to stay wide right, however Granty and the former Chelsea youth can always swap positions at times as long as they don't leave Sean Clohessy stranded, he's been doing well on the overlap recently, we don't want to lose that offensive option.
Tough on Miguel Comminges who is not getting any reserve matches to gain full match fitness, but Lee must get the nod ahead of him, Miguel's time will come.
I hope Luggy doesn't experiment too much, I would certainly allow his boy Blair to play just off Barry Corr and not drift out too wide.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Barker, Mohsni, Gilbert, Sawyer, Easton, Grant, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Herd, Ferdinand, Coughlan, Comminges, Soares, Paterson.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Macclesfield Town returned to action in the 1-1 draw with Barnet Saturday after the death of midfielder Richard Butcher.
The Silkmen's match against Burton Albion last weekend was postponed as a mark of respect to Butcher, who died aged 29.
On what have been Butcher's 30th birthday his family attended the game and a wreath laying ceremony and a minute's applause took place before the game.
(For the full article on this moving occasion, go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edy4/
richard_butcher_remembered_by_macclesfield_town_at_barnet_
before_both_face_southend_united_624425/index.shtml)
Town boss Gary Simpson was without defensive duo Carl Tremarco and Shaun Brisley, both plagued with hip injuries, however striker Emile Sinclair was available after being out and came on for the last half-hour.
Updated Silkmen injury news here:
www.mtfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10393~2275618,00.html
Simpson last week signed left-sided defender Tony Diagne on a contract until the end of the season. The 20-year-old Frenchman, who can play at centre-half and left-back, rose through the youth ranks at Nottingham Forest.
The Silkmen did receive international clearance in time for him to be named as a substitute against the Bees where he didn't get the nod, but expect him to start Tuesday.
Meanwhile, striker Simon Yeo has returned to Moss Rose on non-contract terms until the end of the season. Yeo turned out for Town back in 2008/09 before further spells in non-league with Droylsden, Harrogate Town, and most recently New Mills.
They have picked up the same points away than at home, and have lost less on their travels, with the Blues poor home record this should be a warning.
| 15 | Stevenage | 23 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 30 | +6 | ||||
| 16 | Southend United | 24 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 30 | 30 | -1 | ||||
| 17 | Morecambe | 24 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 31 | 35 | 30 | -4 | ||||
| 18 | Bradford City | 25 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 31 | 30 | -9 | ||||
| 19 | Macclesfield Town | 23 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 27 | -8 | ||||
| 20 | Burton Albion | 21 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 25 | 25 | +2 |
Last Time Out
Away; Bury 2 Macclesfield Town 2 (played on Saturday, January 1st, 2011.)
Report: www.mtfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10393~53216,00.html
Home; Macclesfield Town 1 Barnet 1 (played on Saturday, January 22nd, 2011.)
Report: www.mtfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10393~53378,00.html
PREVIOUSLY
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REF
The man in the middle is the original man in black Mick Russell from Hertfordshire.
He gives an interview here: http://refworld.com/referee/161/1/mick-russell
His assistants are Gavin Mudge & Adrian Sannerude; The fourth official is Mike Bull.
FIXTURES
League Two
Tuesday, January 25th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Cheltenham v Lincoln City, Crewe v Bradford, Gillingham v Chesterfield, Hereford v Morecambe, 19:45 Oxford Utd v Shrewsbury, Port Vale v Barnet, Southend v Macclesfield, 19:45 Stevenage v Rotherham.
Friday, January 28th: Bury v Shrewsbury, 19:45.
Saturday, January 29th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Barnet v Southend, Chesterfield v Bradford, Crewe v Accrington Stanley, Gillingham v Aldershot, Lincoln City v Port Vale, Morecambe v Macclesfield, Oxford Utd v Cheltenham, Rotherham v Stockport.
BET
Southend (to win) - 10/11, Draw - 11/4, Macclesfield (to win) - 10/3.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
HISTORY
A football club was first formed in Macclesfield in the mid-19th century, but played rugby union rules. In 1874, the club adopted the rules of the Football Association.
Between 1874 and 1940 the club was known by a succession of names, including Macclesfield Football and Athletic Club, Hallifield F.C. and Macclesfield F.C.
When competitive football resumed after World War II, Macclesfield Town Football Club Ltd. was formed and the club gained their current name.The club joined the Cheshire County League in 1946-47, playing their first game after reformation on 31 August, 1946, a 2-0 defeat to Buxton.
The club's form in the remainder of the 1940s was largely indifferent, with the exception of a Cheshire League Challenge Cup win in 1948. The 1950s proved more successful, with four trophies in as many years from 1951-1954, including the club's first Cheshire League title in 20 years in 1953, though the team's fortunes faded in the latter half of the decade.
In March 2004, with relegation to the Conference threatening, Macclesfield turned to the experienced 55-year-old Brian Horton to take charge. Horton, whose previous manager's jobs were with Oxford United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester City, Huddersfield Town and Port Vale, reinvigorated Macclesfield. A finish of fifth for the 2004-05 season resulted in a playoff place, but the team were eliminated in the semi-finals by Lincoln City.
However, 2005-06 proved disappointing with the team failing to build on the previous season's progress, finishing an undistinguished 17th. Horton was sacked by the club in late September 2006, following a dismal start to the season in which Horton failed to secure a win in the twelve games prior to his dismissal, leaving the club bottom of the Football League.
On October 23, 2006, former Manchester United, Inter and England player Paul Ince was confirmed as Macclesfield's new player-manager. He lost his first match in charge 3-2 to Mansfield Town, and it took Macclesfield until twenty games into the season to record their first league win under Ince on December 5, 2006. This was a 1-0 win against Rochdale at the Moss Rose
The team then went on a nine match unbeaten run, which not only gave Paul Ince his first manager of the month award when he was League Two Manager of the Month for December 2006, the Silkmen also earned themselves a cup tie against champions Chelsea F.C. away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup al la Southend who had a slightly better day out three years later.
Despite their fantastic away support and performance on the day, Macclesfield Town lost 6-1. Most of this was attributed to the decision to send off Macclesfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee, after Shevchenko clearly dived and which replays have shown since to be inconclusive to merit a red card, with many believing that, in the spirit of the FA Cup, a red card was unwarranted.
The game is still talked about on the terraces of the Moss Rose, especially the goal John Murphy scored to level the score in the first half and the save made by defender and captain Dave Morley against Andriy Shevchenko in the second half. True FA Cup magic even if the result proved not to be.
They were then just able to survive after drawing 1-1 with Notts County on the final day of the 2006-07 season, after a poor run of results landed the team back in the relegation zone. This game also saw the last appearance of Paul Ince as a professional footballer.
Following the departure of Paul Ince, who left the club to become MK Dons manager earlier in the month, Ian Brightwell was announced as the new manager on 29 June 2007, with Asa Hartford as his assistant for the 2007-08 season. Macclesfield started the 2007-08 season away with a 1-1 draw to former Premier League club Bradford City and narrowly lost 1-0 to another former Premier League team Leeds United in the first round of the League Cup.
In January 2008, Chairman Rob Bickerton left the club after 7 years of services to join Shrewsbury. He was replaced by club supporter Mike Rance, with ex-player Andy Scott, founder of Bank Fashion Retail stores, as Vice-Chairman.
27 February 2008 Keith Alexander was named as manager until the end of the season, replacing Ian Brightwell who left the club immediately with his assistant Asa Hartford. The change was due to a poor run of results, which left the club 1 place and two points above the relegation places. Alexander kept the Silkmen in League 2 following a run of four wins and three draws in nine games and was awarded a new two-year contract.
On 30 November 2008, Macclesfield were drawn against Premier League giants Everton FC in the third round of the F.A Cup. Everton prevailed by a 1-0 scoreline on January 3, 2009 but Macclesfield were certainly not outclassed and even had their own chances when Nat Brown missed a seemingly simple header in front of the Star Lane End. Leon Osman's terrific strike sealed the game for the Toffees in the first half. The game was greatly appreciated by a capacity crowd of 6,332 at the Moss Rose.
On 3 March 2010, Macclesfield Town announced that manager Keith Alexander had died at the age of 53. Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003, died after arriving home from the League Two match at Notts County.
On 13 April 2010, Macclesfield Town announced Gary Simpson as manager on a two-year contract.
(For the full history of the club up to the present day, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macclesfield_Town)
