Macclesfield play out their first ever match as a phoenix club

Macclesfield play out their first ever match as a phoenix club on Saturday afternoon and it seems that the it was a quickly arranged one.

The Cheshire based team, who will play in the North West Counties League Premier Division along with the likes of other former Conference clubs in Northwich Victoria and Vauxhall Motors.

Macclesfield FC was founded on the 13th of October 2020 by local businessman Robert Smethurst, becoming the phoenix club of the former Macclesfield Town, which was wound-up after a High Court ruling on the 16th of September 2020.

Macclesfield Town were formed in 1874, however was liquidated and expelled from the National League in 2020 due to debts of over £500,000. Its assets were put up for sale, including the Moss Rose stadium on the Rightmove property website.

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 and Smethurst also appointed the Welsh former professional footballer Robbie Savage as a member of the board with Danny Whitaker as manager. He also invested in upgrading the stadium to improve the commercial viability of the new club.

In May 2021, it was announced that Macclesfield would be placed in the North West Counties Premier Division for their first season. 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.

A new crest, new kits, changes around the ground, and a whole lot more, the Silkmen are finally ready to get going once again. Take a look at this superb video (May 2021) showing the transformation inside and out at Moss Rose…

The 26th of June was the first game of the 2021/22 pre-season and they took on Atherton LR of the North West Counties League Division One North.

Other friendlies they have lined up include New Mills, Congleton Town, Witton Albion, Leek Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Buxton, Chester, Stockport County and FC United of Manchester.

As mentioned, Macclesfield play out their first ever match as a phoenix club, and this is how it went down…

Lineup – first half team: Steve Hodgson, Tom Stead, Kieran Kennedy, Curtis Obeng, Danny Whitaker, Rocco Fregapane, Laurent Mendy, Ryan Rogers, Edy Maieco, Sam Grimshaw, Tom Clare.

Lineup – second half team: Steve Hodgson, Josh Woodcock, Sidi Sanogo, Adam Owen, Jack Grimshaw, Curtis Mendy, Kieran Curtis, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist. (Hodgson was then replaced by a trialist ‘keeper ahead of the second period)

We have arrived ay @thesilkmen for todays friendly. Please do not travel unless you have booked in to the bar area. There is no access through the turnstiles #uptheLR pic.twitter.com/iuHzJBE3IA

— Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC (@AthertonLRFC) June 26, 2021

Commentary by @thesilkmen:

5’ | Grimshaw breaks free down the left flank, before delivering a low drive into the box which Clare could only send over the crossbar with his first time effort.

9’ | GOAL! Mendy unlocks the Atherton defence, before Clare latches onto the ball and lifts it over the visiting ‘keeper to put Macc into the ascendancy. Silkmen 1 v 0 Atherton LR

11’| GOAL! Rogers’ tantalising cross from the right is headed home from close range by Clare to double our lead. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

27’ | Both sides have had chances in the last few minutes – with Hodgson making two incredible saves in the Silkmen goal. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

38’ | Speculative efforts have dominated the last ten minutes or so – but credit to both teams, who look full of energy for an opening pre-season friendly match. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

45’ | The Silkmen lead through two Tom Clare strikes at the break. HALF – TIME: Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

Here is our side for the second-half.

Hodgson, Woodcock, Sanogo, Owen, J. Grimshaw, Mendy, Curtis, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist. pic.twitter.com/iougYGV5V5

— Macclesfield FC (@thesilkmen) June 26, 2021

53’ | Delay here as one of the Atherton players received treatment for a head injury. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

60’ | The Atherton player leaves the pitch via stretcher and we offer our best wishes and hopes of a speedy recovery to him. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

62’ | Grimshaw fires a powerful drive over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Silkmen 2 v 0 Atherton LR

67’ | GOAL. Kieran Curtis cuts in from the right, before delicately placing the ball into the far corner of the net. Silkmen 3 v 0 Atherton LR

72’ | GOAL. A long ball out of the defence is latched onto by a trialist and he calmly steers the ball over the advancing ‘keeper to hand Macc a fourth. Silkmen 4 v 0 Atherton LR

76’ | GOAL. A loose ball is seized upon by a trialist and he rounds the ‘keeper before slotting home. Silkmen 5 v 0 Atherton LR

90’ | We move into added time – which should be a fair amount given the previous injury. Silkmen 5 v 0 Atherton LR

90’ | The Silkmen begin pre-season with a 5 – 0 victory against Atherton LR. Tom Clare bagged a first half brace, which was added to by Kieran Curtis and two separate trialists. FULL – TIME: Silkmen 5 v 0 Atherton LR

Here are the match highlights from Saturday’s victory over Atherton LR. pic.twitter.com/VOuXcxasQy

— Macclesfield FC (@thesilkmen) June 28, 2021

Fans reacted as Macclesfield play out their first ever pre-season friendly match as a phoenix club…

@bradbroolk: We’re back 😉

@eamitchell27: Made my day this has. What a huge landmark after it could so easily have been all over for us. We’re on our way 💙

@chrishulme01: Fantastic first friendly for @thesilkmen today against @AthertonLRFC – two great goals from @TomClare09 to open his account 👍

@ForeverAYellow: Really great to see, strong start, great goals, good luck

Standard @KieranCurtiss that

— Dannymoss07 (@dannymoss07) June 26, 2021

Can we have the title now @nwcfl https://t.co/xnGf0x05Yr

— Andrew (@WhippyDrew) June 26, 2021