F.A. Cup First Round: Macclesfield Town v Southend United - Saturday, November 6th; kick-off 15.00 (To be confirmed)
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Club Info
Ground Name: Moss Rose
Capacity: 6,335 (2,599 seats)
Address:
London Road, Macclesfield, SK11 7SP
Main Telephone No: 01625 264 686
Team Nickname: The Silkmen
Year Ground Opened: 1891
Pitch Size: 100m x 60m
Shirt Sponsors: Cheshire Building Society
Home Kit Colours: Blue & White
Away Kit Colours: Black With Yellow Trim
Kit Manufacturers: Adidas
Official Web Site:
www.mtfc.co.uk
Unofficial Web Site:
Wraggs to Riches (Fans Online Network)
Ticket Prices
Seating
Adults - £14, Concessions - £10, Under-16 - £3, Under-12 - free.
Terrace
Adults - £10, Concessions - £6, Under-16 - £3, Under-12 - free.
Ground
Even with the recent developments at the ground, it is still on the smallish side, with a bit of a non league feel about it. One side is predominantly uncovered terracing, with the small seated Silk FM 'Main' Stand sitting in the middle. This type of stand, is a classic design, once common across the country, but many have since disappeared with re-development. Although it is old looking it was in fact opened in 1968. It is though unusual to see such a stand that doesn't have any supporting pillars running across the front of it.
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.
How to get there
Train
At this late stage I don't recommend the train especially at £65 return on Virgin! Hopefully they'll be some £8 singles when we return for the league game in April, except it's Easter Monday!
One for the coach or a drive but if you insist, and something late might come up, go to www.virgintrains.co.uk
And if you do let the train take the strain............Macclesfield railway station is about one and a quarter miles from the Moss Rose ground, about a 20 minute walk away.
As you leave the station, at the bottom of the station approach, turn left onto Sunderland Street and follow until the traffic lights at Park Green (War memorial and gardens).
Turn left onto Mill Lane (it is probably better to cross onto the opposite side of the road here at the traffic lights) and follow this road which becomes London Road.
Just after passing the Catholic Church on the right the ground comes into sight ahead.
You can also catch a bus up to the ground from the new bus station in the town centre.
To reach the bus station from Macclesfield railway station, cross the main road outside the station using the pedestrian crossing, turn right and then turn left by the car showroom into Waters Green and follow this road up the hill (Queen Victoria Street) to the bus station on the left.
Buses returning from the ground stop on the main road outside the railway station.
Times and Routes: Service 9 Moss Rose circular - every 30 minutes (hourly at night and on Sundays); Service 14 Langley - hourly all day and evening (no Sunday service).
Further information is available on Traveline: Tel. No. 0870 608 2608.
Go South young man from the blue blob if you plan to walk to Moss Rose
Car
Fill in the details from your home postcode to Macclesfield Town FC here for a full route plan www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp but for an edited version:
Approx. 218 miles; 3 hour 50 mts.
Leave the M6 at Junction 17 and turn onto the A534 towards Congleton. On reaching Congleton town centre follow the signs for A54 Buxton. Stay on the A54 for around 5 miles and then turn left on to the A523 towards Macclesfield. You will see the ground on your left after entering the outskirts of Macclesfield.
Mostly street parking around and behind the ground and on the A523 itself.
Coach
Expect full details from the Shrimpers Trust to be up over the next week, and for the latest news, prices and pick-up points for the supporters club coaches go here: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/travel.asp?game_id=0.
The dedicated telephone number for bookings is 07892 905338, and they will still be taking bookings at the Trust Information Stand in the Shrimpers Bar on Home Match Days.
Both www.nationalexpress.com & www.megabus.com have services from London Victoria to Manchester from £10 singles but only the former will get you back at around the same price.
Ground; Middle of bottom right, the clue's in the street name
(Ground information and stadium directions supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
Pub & Pies and laying your hat
According to those hardened drinkers at www.ciderspace.co.uk:
Macclesfield has a lot of pubs selling decent beer, far more than are listed here.
The station, and therefore Waters Green Tavern, are about a mile or so from the ground. About half a mile from Moss Rose are pubs such as the Railway View and Sun Inn, whilst the closest is now the Golden Lion.
Although in Cheshire, Macclesfield feels more like a satellite of Greater Manchester, and beers like Hydes and Robinson's (Stockport) are much in evidence.
The local micro-brewery in Macclesfield is Storm. They brew six different beers, but as a part-time enterprise with a total output of five barrels a week it's really a question of trying it when you stumble across it.
www.footballgroundguide.com tells us:
The ground is located on the outskirts of Macclesfield and therefore there is not a tremendous choice of pubs or even a handy chippy.
The site has found that you can have a drink at the 'Presidents Bar' located at the ground itself. It's free to get in and prices are reasonable and perhaps best of all you get a great view of the pitch so you can watch the teams warming up an hour before the game!
The Golden Lion is the only close pub, just under a ten minute walk from the away turnstiles. The pub is warm and friendly and there is usually a 50-50 mix of home and away supporters. It serves real ale and on matchdays they did offer Pie & Chips, plus a pint for £5, which can't be bad!
The pub also offers free parking for coaches and mini buses if arranged in advance (Tel: 01625 423763).
To find the Golden Lion, simply head down Moss Lane, which goes behind the away terrace, and then turn left at the corner of the ground and walk down behind the new stand. Keep straight on this road and you will come to the pub on the left.
If you are into your real ale then another suggestion is taking the 10 minute walk to The Railway View pub on Byrons Lane. This smallish pub has around six ales on offer including a number of guest beers. They also sell homemade pies and if the weather is good then there is a small beer garden.
To find this excellent pub follow the A523 from the ground towards Macclesfield town centre. You will pass The Albion (see below) and then at the next set of traffic lights turn right into Byrons Lane. Just go over the railway bridge and the pub is on the right.
Also recommended is The Albion on London Road going towards the town centre from the ground. The pub serves first class real ales, has a great beer garden and is welcoming towards away fans.
(Will take a closer look on what's on offer for the Preview a few days before the game.)
Staying overnight
If you require hotel accommodation in the area you could start with a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground.
They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure.
Or try Supporters Hotels, which features accommodation in the vicinty of football grounds around the UK, ideal for travelling supporters. With a comprehensive choice of Hotels, Guest Houses and B&B's some offering an on-line booking service. Most accommodation now offer generous discounts:
www.supportersaccommodation.com.
Always worth checking out Travelodge for their latest deals, sometimes as low as £9 per room yet can be a distance from the ground:
www.travelodge.co.uk.
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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)