v 
Tend not to hold grudges against players for their attitudes on the pitch, regardless of whether it’s against Macclesfield or not. We all known things can get rather heated (don’t talk to me about the Wycombe game!) However, if they make their feelings known publicly afterwards then there is the tendency to hate their guts. On a more personal level, I do hold a grudge against Cheltenham Town’s Jeff Goulding. When he was playing for Bournemouth, he scored a late late equaliser in a Monday night game against Notts County, that goal cost me £112 on a weekend accumulator. It hurts to this day.
Best away fans/ground in your league?
I’m sure when they come to the Moss Rose on August 27, AFC Wimbledon will bring a prominent and passionate number of fans, so delighted their back in the league after the club was taken away from them when it moved to Milton Keynes. I’ve often enjoyed the atmosphere of a night midweek game in the cold weather, it is the definition of proper football spectating. In any ground, though the Don Valley Stadium would have to be an exception, I’m sure even Rotherham fans will testify.
Which teams do you really want to beat this season?
Would say this is probably going to be the same answer from nearly all of the League 2 clubs fans. Crawley Town, it’s not so much the money they have to burn but that their manager Steve Evans is not exactly a role model, to understate the matter.
Finally, where do you honestly think you will finish?
Between 12th and 18th at best, I find it rather difficult to determine. (15th at the moment!)
Matt Hamshaw
| 4 | Morecambe | 15 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 15 | 26 | +16 | ||||
| 5 | Oxford United | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 13 | 26 | +10 | ||||
| 6 | Cheltenham Town | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 16 | 26 | +5 | ||||
| 7 | Swindon Town | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 15 | 25 | +10 | ||||
| 8 | Port Vale | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 22 | 25 | +9 | ||||
| 9 | Gillingham | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 19 | 24 | +7 | ||||
| 10 | Macclesfield Town | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 14 | 24 | +5 | ||||
| 11 | Burton Albion | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 23 | +2 | ||||
| 12 | AFC Wimbledon | 15 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 30 | 23 | -5 | ||||
| At Macclesfield (8) | At Southend Utd. (8) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Macclesfield | 2 | 25.00 | Southend Utd. | 7 | 87.50 | |
| Southend Utd. | 3 | 37.50 | Macclesfield | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Draws | 3 | 37.50 | Draws | 1 | 12.50 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Macclesfield | 8 | 1.00 | Southend Utd. | 17 | 2.13 | |
| Southend Utd. | 9 | 1.13 | Macclesfield | 5 | 0.63 | |
| On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (16 matches) | |||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Macclesfield | 0 | 0.00 | Macclesfield | 2 | 12.50 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 10 | 62.50 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 4 | 25.00 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Macclesfield | 0 | 0.00 | Macclesfield | 13 | 0.81 | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 26 | 1.63 | |
| Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Aggregate | 5 | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Macclesfield | 2010/2011 |
| Highest Macclesfield score: | 2 | Macclesfield | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | 2002/2003 |
| Highest Southend Utd. score: | 4 | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Macclesfield | 2010/2011 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/2011 | Mon 25 Apr | Macclesfield | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Two |
| Tue 25 Jan | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Macclesfield | League Two | |
| Tue 16 Nov | Southend Utd. | 2 - 2 | Macclesfield | F.A. Cup | |
| after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1, Macclesfield Town won 5-3 on penalties | |||||
| Sat 06 Nov | Macclesfield | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| 2004/2005 | Tue 19 Apr | Macclesfield | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Two |
| Mon 30 Aug | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Macclesfield | League Two | |
| 2003/2004 | Sat 28 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Macclesfield | League Division Three |
| Sat 25 Oct | Macclesfield | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Division Three | |
| 2002/2003 | Sat 01 Mar | Macclesfield | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League Division Three |
| Sat 14 Sep | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Macclesfield | League Division Three | |
| 2001/2002 | Sat 20 Apr | Macclesfield | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Division Three |
| Fri 09 Nov | Southend Utd. | 3 - 0 | Macclesfield | League Division Three | |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 21 Apr | Macclesfield | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Division Three |
| Sat 04 Nov | Southend Utd. | 3 - 1 | Macclesfield | League Division Three | |
| 1999/2000 | Fri 03 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Macclesfield | League Division Three |
| Sat 11 Sep | Macclesfield | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League Division Three | |
On the other side is the covered, single tiered Alfred McAlpine Stand, which was opened in March 2001. This smart looking all seated stand with a hospitality area to its rear, has greatly improved the overall look of the ground.
The Star Lane End is a relatively new covered stand, that is a strange mix of seating and terracing. Strange and unusual in having a terrace area behind the seating area. Apparently seating was added to the terrace in this way, so that the Club could fulfil the then Football League's rules concerning the number of seats that a Club ground needed to be admitted into the Football League.
Opposite is the open terraced Silkman End, which is given to away supporters. In one corner of the ground there is a basic looking electric scoreboard which sits on top of the Police Control Box, next to the Star Lane End. The ground also a set of unusual looking floodlights.
Away fans are primarily located in the open Silkman End, where up to 1,500 fans can be accommodated. Additionally, 403 seats are made available in the new Alfred McAlpine Stand, which sits at one side of the pitch. The seating may well be a better bet, as this stand is covered and the facilities new.
Oddly you gain access to this relatively new stand by going through a rather old looking turnstile. However, once inside you should be impressed with the excellent facilities on offer. From your seat you can also enjoy the views of the rolling countryside stretching away behind the Main Stand. The view of the playing action and the atmosphere within the ground are both pretty good, with some enjoyable banter between the two sets of supporters.
Macclesfield is generally a good ground to visit and an enjoyable day out as well, being hassle free and friendly on both my visits.
For certain games, only the seating area will be made available to away fans.
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.
| 15 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 36 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 37 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 59 | 73 | 55 | -14 |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macclesfield_Town)