Last Update:
September 29, 2020
On one side is the Main Stand. This stand is covered and has a raised seating area, which means that spectators have to ascend a small staircase to enter it. It has windshields to either side and runs for about a third of the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. 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. It has portions of terracing to each side and at its front. The team dugouts are also located on this side.
On the other side is the covered, single tiered Big Brand Ideas Stand Stand, which was opened in March 2001. This smart looking all seated stand with a hospitality area to its rear, has a capacity of 1,150 seats. It was originally named the McIlroy Stand after former Macclesfield Town and Manchester United player Sammy McIlroy, but has now been renamed in a corporate sponsorship deal. 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, which contains 486 seats. 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 John Askey Terrace (named after a former player and manager), 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 Bristol Street Motors Stand. The ground also has a set of unusual looking floodlights.
The Club had hoped to move to a new stadium as part of a wider project to regenerate Macclesfield Town Centre which had been backed by Cheshire East Council. These regeneration plans had included the provision of a new 7,000 capacity stadium, situated south of the town centre, just a mile away from Moss Rose. However, the scheme has lost momentum and objections raised as to whether the Council should be spending money on a stadium, so unless the Club can find the necessary financial backing, then it looks like they will be staying at Moss Rose for a while yet.
Away fans are primarily located in the open John Askey Terrace, where up to 1,500 fans can be accommodated. Additionally, 403 seats are made available in the Henshaw’s 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. Entrance to both areas is by ticket only, cash is not accepted at the turnstiles.
On my last visit, I opted for an away supporters seat in the McIlroy Stand. 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. Food inside not only includes the usual fayre of Burgers and Hot Dogs (£3), but also a selection of Pies and Pasties, from local baker Brassingtons, including Meat & Potato (£2.90), Steak & Kidney (£2.70), Cheese & Onion Pasty (£2.70) and Sausage Rolls (£2). Macclesfield is generally a good ground to visit and an enjoyable day out as well, being hassle free and friendly on both my visits.
Please note that for certain games, only the seating area will be made available to away fans. The Club are partly making this decision on the projected number of travelling fans and whether the visiting club has only seats available (and no terracing) at their own ground.
The Moss Rose ground is located on the outskirts of Macclesfield and therefore there is not a tremendous choice of pubs or even a handy chippy. Adam Hodson a visiting Stockport County fan informs me; ‘At the stadium itself, there is the Keith Alexander Bar which admits both home and away supporters. It is located in the Henshaw’s Stand next door to the Sammy Macllroy suite. Apart from alcoholic drinks, hot food is on offer too’. Jonathan Woodard a visiting Brentford fan adds; ‘The bar is 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 closest pub is the Golden Lion, which is just under a ten minute walk from the away turnstiles. I found the pub warm and friendly and I my last visit there was a 50-50 mix of home and away supporters. It serves real ale and on matchdays they offer Pie & Chips, plus a pint for £5, which can’t be bad! The pub also offers free parking for coaches and minibuses 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 I would suggest taking the ten 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. At a set of traffic lights turn right into Byrons Lane. Just go over the railway bridge and the pub is on the right. Paul Petty a visiting Colchester United fan adds; ‘I went to the Railway on Byrons Lane before (and after) the game. I am not sure if it is an annual event but I was lucky enough to hit their mini-spring beer festival. I would highly recommend the pub for both the quality of the beer and the friendliness of both the landlord and clientele. My only regret was that I didn’t book a later train back to London!.’
If arriving by train then there are a number of good real ale pubs in the town centre, including the Red Willow pub on Park Green, which is the ‘Tap’ for the local Red Willow Brewery, the Treacle Tap micropub on Sunderland Street. Also on the same street is the interesting Snow Goose pub, which is themed as an Alpine Ski Lodge. Just outside the town centre is the Park Tavern on Park Lane, which serves locally produced Bollington Ales.
If away fans are seated in the McIlroy Stand then alcohol is available inside the ground, otherwise, it is not available in the terraced end.
From the South
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.
From The North
Leave the M6 at Junction 18 and take the A54 towards Congleton. On reaching Congleton town centre follow the signs for A54 Buxton. Then as South.
Geoff Knights informs me; ‘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.
Chris Dale adds; ‘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.
Bus 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: Telephone number 0870 608 2608′.
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Remember if travelling by train then you can normally save on the cost of fares by booking in advance.
Visit the the trainline website to see how much you can save on the price of train tickets.
Click on the trainline logo below:
Home Fans
Silk FM Main Stand: Adults £22, Over 65’s £17, Under 25’s £12, Under 18’s £6, Under 12’s £3*
Henshaw’s Stand: Adults £22, Over 65’s £17, Under 25’s £12, Under 18’s £6, Under 12’s £3*
Macclesfield Audi Stand (Star Lane End): Adults £15, Over 65’s £12, Under 25’s £12, Under 18’s £6, Under 12’s £3*
Away Fans
Henshaw’s Stand (Seating): Adults £22, Over 65’s £17, Under 25’s £12, Under 18’s £6, Under 12’s £3*
Silkmen Terrace: Adults £15, Over 65’s £12, Under 25’s £12, Under 18’s £6, Under 12’s £3*
* Must be accompanied by an adult.
If you require hotel accommodation in Macclesfield then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.
Official Programme £3 (on sale within the ground).
Altrincham and Stockport County.
Macclesfield Town FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website)
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the
Level Playing Field website.
Record Attendance
9,003 v Winsford United
Cheshire Senior Cup 2nd Round, 4th February 1948
Average Attendance
2019-2020: 1,998 (League Two)
2018-2019: 2,389 (League Two)
2017-2018: 1,839 (National League)
Official Web Site:Â www.mtfc.co.uk
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Macclesfield Town v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Tuesday 18th February 2020, 7.45pm
John Aubrey (Plymouth Argyle)
Macclesfield Town v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Tuesday 18th February 2020, 7.45pm
Colin Baker (Plymouth Argyle)
Macclesfield Town v Forest Green Rovers
League Two
Saturday 25th January 2020, 3pm
Barry Ashfield (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
It was a new ground for me to tick off, plus I never seen Macclesfield Town play.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on the train. I easily found the ground from the railway station, thanks to the directions on this website.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I called into the Moss Rose Café which is located just outside the away end to have sausage butty and a cup of tea for £3, which were both nice. It was then a walk to the ticket office where I bought a ticket for the Star Land Home End. I then called into the supporters' bar which was very good and had both home and away fans inside.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Stadium?
The ground looks just okay from the outside. However, inside the ground view was very good from the Star Lane End. I stood up for about ten minutes in the rear terrace but then decided to sit down in the back row of the front seated area. In the second half, I sat in the front row and the view was still very good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was great from the Macclesfield fans behind the goal as they never stopped singing even at a goal down. The away terrace behind the opposite goal was closed for this game. The 125 Forest Green Rovers fans were seated in the modern seated stand on one side. Forest Green were 1-0 up at half time and early in the second half, the visitors should have made it two when a penalty was awarded. However, it was saved by the Macclesfield goalkeeper. The miss proved costly as Macclesfield equalised and won the game 2-1, with Gnahoua scoring a wonderful long-range volley, even though the home side had been reduced to ten men by that stage after O'Keeffe had been red-carded. It was a fantastic goal, one of the best goals I have seen this season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A very easy walk back to the railway station for my train home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very enjoyable day watching a good game of football. Although I liked Moss Rose I would probably only go back if my team drew them in the cup.
Macclesfield Town v Cambridge United
League 2
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
Edward Trafford (Cambridge)
Macclesfield Town v Mansfield Town
League 2
Saturday 16th November 2019, 3pm
Ian Cargill (Southampton fan Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
Another ground to be ticked off the list. I always enjoy a northern away day it's is a great excuse to visit a new town and have a look round.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove up on the Friday night from Southampton despite the roadworks the journey was trouble-free. We stayed at the Chadwick House Hotel. No frills but clean friendly and very reasonable. I parked at the railway station pre-match and took the 30 minute walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a good look round Macclesfield taking in the Silk Museum which is worth a visit. We had a lovely couple of pints in the Red Willow Craft Ale Bar I would highly recommend it everybody we met were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Ground?
A typical proper old-style ground. We sat in the Main Stand to stay out of the freezing drizzle. There is an open terrace as well as a seated area for the away fans and fair play to Mansfield they brought a decent turnout.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A very combative game. The 0-0 draw was a fair result, both sides were going at it with tackles flying in. Both sides lacked the final pass but an enjoyable game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problem. Took the 30 minute walk back to the station to get the car back home. I was back in Southampton at 10.30 pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really liked Macclesfield and would happily go back, really enjoying taking the time to see the place itself as well as the ground. That's me into single figures now with only 9 grounds left of the 92 to do. I can't wait for the next away day adventure.
Macclesfield Town v Mansfield Town
League 2
Saturday 16th November 2019, 3pm
Andrew Wood (Mansfield Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
I haven't been here since 1999. I attempted to go to this fixture the previous season but was thwarted by rail engineering works, so I was determined to go for a repeat visit and to see the Stags once again.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living on the South coast makes it difficult to get there and back in a day, so I booked a weekend in Stoke-on Trent (oh, the glamour!) so I only had a 20 minute train ride to Macclesfield on the Saturday. The ground is fairly easy to find once you get to Mill Lane. However, please note, that before Mill Lane becomes London Road, it becomes Cross Street. For a few hundred yards, so anyone reading the main guide may think they've taken a wrong turning, as there is a fork in the road at Mill lane (where there are 2 chippies next door to one another) and you could get confused. Quite simply, start on Mill Lane, and carry on in a straight line. A 20-25 minute walk.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
On my previous visit to Macclesfield, I didn't have much time to look around, so this time, I arrived at 10.30 am, got some breakfast, looked around the town, visited a church and the local library, then a couple of pubs. A few home fans about and everyone mingled okay. I also took the opportunity to visit the club bar, which is situated up a flight of stairs behind the Main Stand. Away fans were welcome here and made up the bulk of the custom. It was a very friendly bar and the security staff who were helpful ensuring everyone not familiar with the matchday routine knew where they were going 15 minutes from kick off. This bar was warm, spacious and served a good variety of beers and hot food, although it seemed quite busy, so if you had hot food, you really needed to secure a table so you could sit and eat it.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Stadium?
I honestly can't remember what it looked like 20 years back, so I can't say as it's improved or otherwise. As it was raining, and I don't like sitting, I paid a bargain £15 to stand on the covered home terrace. You had to buy your ticket at the ticket office, they gave you a receipt which was scanned by the person on the turnstile. The away end is a simple open terrace, not good when it's tipping down with rain. The home terrace is covered and has several rows of seats tacked to the bottom part of the area. Along one side of the pitch is what looks to be a quite nice, if rather bland seated area, with the away support given approx. half of this area. Opposite this is a quite old stand with the 'MTFC' logo and the club badge. This looks like a typical non-league stand and has bags of character. Below, and to the sides of this stand is more open terracing.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was dreadful and had 0-0 written all over it from the 1st minute, which is how it remained. Mansfield took roughly 1000 supporters but didn't make much noise, which is unusual. The Macclesfield fans were vocal in their disapproval of their current chairman. The game was played in the pouring rain, and you just wanted it to end, so poor was it. The stewards were friendly. All seemed to be either very young or very old, and looked to be cold and damp, and wanting to be anywhere other than Moss Rose. Same as me then. The food was basic. A selection of pies/pasties and sausage rolls priced at £2 -£2.90. I had a steak and onion pie which was pleasant, but nothing great. Disappointingly when I went for my second pie of the day just before half time, I was told there was no hot food left! As the crowd wasn't all that big, this shows poor organisation on the clubs part. The loos were spacious and clean.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I wasn't looking forward to the walk back to the train station as it was still raining at the end of the game. Thankfully the rain slowed down and other than getting my feet wet where I stepped in puddles I got back reasonably dry.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The only good thing about it was that the Stags didn't lose. In fairness, I was just glad the game went ahead. Macclesfield players had only just been paid their October wages, and there was some talk about another possible player strike after the previous week when Macc put out a youth team and loanees for their FA cup tie. Also, the weather wasn't great, so I could imagine a late postponement leaving me footyless. To add to this, there was a local train strike, although this only affected trains between Stoke and the West Midlands, so as I say, I was just happy to have a game to go to. There are clearly serious problems here, as Macc only produced a 20 page programme (7 pages of adverts) at £2, which had absolutely no news about what was going on (unless you counted the managers notes which told you next to nothing). About 4 out of 10 for satisfaction, for the entire day,and I'm being generous!
Macclesfield Town v Crawley Town
League 2 Saturday
7th September 2019, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral)
Macclesfield Town v Morecambe
League Two
Tuesday 20th August 2019, 7.45pm
Kevin Nash (Neutral Reading Fan)
Macclesfield Town v Exeter City
League Two
Tuesday 9th April 2019
Steve Ellis (Exeter City)
Why were you looking forward to going the Moss Rose Ground?
This was a new ground for me and by doing so I would complete visits to all of the current League 2 clubs. I had also previously travelled to watch this fixture in March, before it was called off.
How easy was your journey and finding the ground?
I travelled up on the supporters coach which dropped us off outside the away terrace.
What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
On arriving I took the 10 minute walk up to the Golden Lion pub which had a friendly atmosphere where drinks were also averagely priced. The home fans encountered seemed friendly. On returning to the ground I had to go past the away turnstiles to the away ticket office in order to purchase my ticket, programmes also are available around the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides of the Moss Rose Ground?
There are three covered stands and an open terrace which was closed for this fixture. We were housed in one end of the McIlroy Stand, which is also seated along one side of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was good but not entertaining, with Macclesfield running out as 3-2 winners. The atmosphere was good but most of the noise came from the away section. The stewards were low key and friendly. Refreshments seemed reasonably priced, cans of beer and cider starting at £3.
Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away afterwards was easy as I had the short walk back to the coach then a straight forward trip home.
Attendance: 1,588 (204 Away)
Macclesfield Town v Stevenage
League 2
Saturday 23rd March 2019, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
This game was for me to complete visits to all the 92 Premier and Football League ground, no bigger motivation required to drag myself up north for yet another game! I was also looking forward to this match as it was a great chance to build on some good results and get our first away win since January.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey there was extremely eventful, but not for the right reasons! It started off well with a 9.30am departure from the Lamex Stadium, and was going well until 11am when our coach broke down on the M1 just outside Leicester. We were waiting here for about 45 minutes when a passing coach driver (who was travelling up North to collect a party) pulled over to take us the rest of the way. That's the first time I've ever had to switch coaches on the Motorway before! We eventually reached Moss Rose for 2.20pm.
The Rear Of The Main Stand
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The only thing to do here was to get inside the ground and seal the 92! I had attempted to find the club shop to get the badge and programme but was unable to find it. The stewards didn't have a clue either which didn't help, so I ended up buying a programme inside the ground (£3) and just killing time until the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Stadium?
I quite liked the stadium on the whole. There's an open terrace behind one goal for away supporters, however, we were housed in the seats along the side of the pitch for the game. There was an unusual Main Stand opposite us and an interesting stand behind the home goal which is half seated and half terrace. I don't recall seeing a stand like that before!
The Unusual Looking Main Stand
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was frustrating. Macclesfield missed a number of goal scoring opportunities, and showed why they're in the relegation zone as they missed chance after chance! They eventually scored soon before Half Time, but somehow we got a completely undeserved equaliser straight after to get in at Half Time at 1-1. We took the lead soon after the break and then missed a great chance straight after to effectively seal the result. Ultimately we got punished for this in stoppage time, as Macclesfield scored to get a fully deserved draw. A better team would've finished us off in the first half though so I'm happy with the point!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Our coach company sent a replacement coach to collect us from the ground, but we, unfortunately, had a coach driver who didn't have a brain. He decided to go back the long way, via the M6 where we got stuck in plenty of traffic jams, finally making it back to Stevenage for just after 10pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Normally I'd be gutted about losing the win so late on, but this one day, in particular, wasn't going to be spoilt by the score. I set out at the start of the season to seal the 92, and it finally happened at Moss Rose!
Full Time: Macclesfield Town 2-2 Stevenage
My Ground Number: 133 (92/92)
The 92. Signed, Sealed and Delivered!
Macclesfield Town v Crewe Alexandra
League Two
Saturday 9th February 2019, 3pm
Matthew (Neutral)
Macclesfield Town v Port Vale
League Two
Saturday 22nd December 2018, 3pm
Adam (Port Vale)
Macclesfield Town v Crawley Town
League Two
Saturday 15th December 2018, 3pm
Geoff Thornton (Crawley Town)
Macclesfield Town v Carlisle United
League 2
Saturday 20th October 2018, 3pm
Mark (Carlisle United)
Macclesfield Town v Forest Green Rovers
League 2
Saturday 29th September 2018, 3pm
Jim Burgin (Neutral)
Macclesfield Town v Blackpool
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 29th July 2017, 3pm
Gazza (Blackpool fan)
Macclesfield Town v York City
National League
Tuesday 28th March 2017, 7.45pm
Patrick Lynch (York City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Moss Rose ground?
Being from Leeds (yes I'm a rare one, from Leeds but supporting York City) Macclesfield is one of the away grounds I can reach in one night for evening games without having to travel to York to catch the supporters bus. I don't mind going on the supporters coach but it's just a drag at the end of the night having to wait for a late night train to Leeds, often in the cold, with some of the overnight trains taking the longer route to Leeds to add to the pain.
I haven't been to Macclesfield in a long while and last time I came, the Moss Rose ground looked partly under construction with what looked like a temporary stand housing the away supporters, this being where the latest stand has been built with facilities that many away fans seem impressed with. I thought I'd pay a visit and sample the redeveloped stand. I also felt this would be a good test to see if York can survive the drop, a convincing win full of confidence and sparkle here would be a much needed boost for myself and the rest of the fans who, lets face it, have had to keep the faith under really trying circumstances.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train from Leeds changing at Manchester for the Cross Country service to Macclesfield. One thing I didn't realise is that the Northern service is a stopper that takes longer than the Cross Country services. Once in Macclesfield, because I forgot to print out the directions to the ground, I hoped a town centre map would be on display somewhere or there would be signage to Moss Rose as it is located only a mile outside the town centre. None of these were available, oh dear, time to ask someone. A helpful person gave me the right directions, but me thinking my instinct knew best, I only part followed them. I was supposed to turn at the War Memorial but having being told it's a long straight road, It didn't look long and straight so I carried on up to the next junction and saw a long straighter than the last road go off slightly to the left. I stupidly followed this road, luckily passing a sign directing cyclists to Moss Rose through a housing estate. Having realised I was heading in the wrong direction, I turned back and followed the cycle signs eventually working my way down to London Road and to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Following the rather unexpected tour of Macclesfield, I got to the ground with half an hour to spare so just got my ticket and went straight in. Didn't really see many Macclesfield fans or interact.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Moss Rose?
I was happy with the neat facilities, for a non league club they are good and like a palace compared to Bootham Crescent lol! The seats were comfy with good leg room and the pitch view was good. Macclesfield fans seemed a bit sparse however but at least it didn't affect the atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Overall we showed our better side with a solid 3-1 win. The first goal came out of nowhere which was a pleasant surprise. Our defence stood solid for much of the game getting in some much needed blocks which is a big improvement on the Southport match so I'm pleased we have improved there. At times York fans seemed to out noise the Macclesfield fans (which is how it should be) but Macclesfield fans did get going to add to the atmosphere. Stewards were friendly as well allowing fans to sit or stand where they wanted in the away area.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems, followed London Road/Cross Street down to town and turned right to the station for the 22.03 back to Manchester and 22.42 to Leeds.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I would rate Moss Rose as 9 out of 10. The only minus point, being lost for the lack of signage/town maps!
Macclesfield Town v Gateshead
National League
Tuesday 14th March 2017, 7.45pm
Callum (Gateshead fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
This was to be my second Gateshead away day in the space of a few days with being at Wrexham the previous Saturday. I was very much looking forward to the game as we had the opportunity to make it seven wins in a row against a tough opposition. Also, Moss Rose was a new ground for me to tick off.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy journey on the train up from Wolverhampton with no changes, definitely an easier journey for me than the rest of the travelling Heed. Once we got to Macclesfield, it was a simple 20 minute walk to the ground which was mainly just along one street. Moss Rose was very easy to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We didn't have much time before the game getting there about 15 minutes before kick off so we just went straight in to the ground. I didn't get the opportunity to interact with any of the Macclesfield fans so I cannot comment on them.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Moss Rose?
I am not going to lie, I quite like Moss Rose. These kinds of grounds are the best. There is very old looking Main Stand on the London road side which is brilliant. Then there's a lot of terracing which is just what you want in my opinion at this level of the game. Although the stand us away fans were in was seated, I still stood up at the back and was not told to sit by any stewards which was nice.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a very poor game if I'm honest. Although it was two good and in form sides, it was a very cagey affair. Gateshead took the lead in the 78th minute through a goal from Manny Smith however it was short lived as McCombe stepped up and headed in an equaliser in the 82nd from a set piece. I'd been saying all game, if Macclesfield were to score that it would be from a set piece as they had a height advantage. The atmosphere was alright for a crowd of 992, including 32 away fans. I had a meat and potato pie at half time which was gorgeous and a reasonable price £2.90 as well. Also in the concourse, it was nice to see a sign from Macclesfield welcoming our away fans and crediting our 330+ mile round trip. Fair play.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Just a 20 minute walk back to the railway station with no worries and we had plenty time to catch the train so no worries there. The crowd dispersed pretty quickly as well.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a nice little trip and well worth it. We had chances to win the game and keep our streak going but it just wasn't to be and I'm very happy worth picking up 19 out of 21 points over the last seven games.
Macclesfield Town v Tranmere Rovers
National League
Sunday 1st January 2017, 3pm
Gavin Hoe-Richardson (Tranmere Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
A relatively local away game over the festive period that has become a traditional one since Rovers relegation from the Football League.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
SatNav always helps and an easy journey through the Cheshire countryside admiring the scenery and performance car salerooms! Parked in the largely residential area at the back of the Moss Lane Stand.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a pint in the Golden Lion, a short walk from where we parked and ten minutes from the away terrace. The pub was packed with Tranmere fans but we got served eventually.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Ground?
Moss Rose is a traditional lower league away ground with an open terrace behind one goal and a small away fan seating section to our right. Rather odd home stand behind the other goal with seating at the front and standing terrace just behind.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Despite Tranmere Rovers fans being in the majority on the day the atmosphere wasn't helped by the lack of a roof on the away stand although we did try. Didn't hear much from the home support until their team turned around a 2-1 half time deficit into a deserved winning lead. Relatively large Police presence probably in response to the relatively large away following, no hassle on the day and stewards were a friendly lot.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems getting away. Was back to Wirral within the hour.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Easy access ground, easy free parking and friendly locals. Away fans ticket office (for pay on the day) is located on London Road in the north-east corner of the ground. Hoping that we won't be in the same division next season but if we are then we'll be back to Moss Rose, a pleasant day out.
Macclesfield Town v Chester
National League Premier
Tuesday 25th October 2016, 7.45 pm
David Williams (Chester fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
I always look forward to going to Macclesfield. Chester shared the Moss Rose ground for two seasons in one of the many disasters that have befallen the Club in the last thirty years, and it is nice to reminisce.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
That said, it has always been an awkward journey, nearly fifty miles across Cheshire on arterial roads, with many roundabouts and traffic lights. Nearer Macclesfield you get into Manchester commuter belt traffic. The National League has a tendency to schedule reasonably local matches in midweek (as distinct from very local matches that the Police like to have in broad daylight so that they can keep an eye on everyone), so it means a rush from work for a lot of people. Parking near Moss Rose is available on the lane leading to it and the estate off that, but can involve a bit of a walk.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I have some affection for Macclesfield, what with the ground share and the fact that in recent years they have been able to assemble decent teams on limited funds, but they do have organisational issues. Away fans have to queue across the car park to buy tickets prior to entry. Tonight was a mild night for Macclesfield, and the ticket office has speeded up their act, but Moss Rose is one of the (many) contenders for the coldest and wettest place in the National League, and this has in the past led to a sodden drenching even before entering the uncovered terrace to get drenched some more. This time I went into the covered seating. The stewards had fenced off a section of this, in addition to a division already there, so everyone was perhaps a little too crowded. There was also some confusion as to whether the seat numbers on the tickets really meant what they said.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Moss Rose?
The Moss Rose ground has changed for the better since I first saw it. The old Main Stand looks quite trim, and is a good focal point for the ground. Opposite is a newer stand, the length of the pitch, of which about a third houses the away fans. This is a very good development in a restricted space between pitch and road, and as well as a concourse with toilets and kiosks contains a hospitality area overlooking the pitch and the club shop. The uncovered terrace housing the away fans is to the left of this, at the end where the Moss Rose pub which gave the ground its name used to be. This really should be covered; the Pennines seem to start just across the main road behind the Main Stand, and the bitter cold and rain that come over can sometimes distract from the football.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards that I saw were young, efficient and friendly. The programme was the usual overpriced glossy that you get nowadays, with perhaps a little too much emphasis on Chester's being founded in 2010. I think Chester fans would consider them to be a continuation of that previous August body founded in the 1880s. Oddly, there was no mention of the groundshare in the nineties.
The game I found engrossing. Macclesfield looked a very good side. Chester had gone eight league games unbeaten, but were really just in the process as developing as a unit. It was interesting to look for continuing improvement. So for a nil all draw it had a lot to be said for it, though Macclesfield would have thought they should have won it. A couple of nice atmospheric touches – someone had produced a continental style photographic banner stating 'Hobson fantastico' to commemorate Chester cult hero Craig Hobson's last gasp winner in the corresponding fixture last year. Macclesfield had also put up notices thanking the Chester fans (530 out of a season's best crowd of 1922) for their ninety-six mile round trip, The announcer was also noticeably welcoming to the away fans, and wished us a safe and speedy journey back. Which it was, the Cheshire countryfolk and Manchester commuters being all tucked up safe in their beds.
Macclesfield Town v Lincoln City
National League
Saturday 27th August 2016, 3pm
Shaun Tully (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
To be honest this was plan B, after not being able to get tickets to see Leeds away at Nottingham Forest. It was a choice of Everton v Stoke or Macclesfield v Lincoln and as my son and I both have a soft spot for Macclesfield having both 'managed' the Silkmen in Football Manager all the way to the Premier League we decided to shun the prima donnas and go and head to Moss Rose. Also the fact that they were playing another promotion hopeful side left us looking forward to seeing a good game
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was the August Bank Holiday weekend and we got stuck in traffic in a village north of Macclesfield where there was some vintage car rally being held. So we only reached the ground at 2.50pm. However despite a good size crowd (1600) we found a parking space in a side street only five minutes walk away. Walked in just as they kicked off!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
See above!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Ground?
Moss Rose is a typically old stadium that has had bits added over the years. The away end consists of uncovered terracing behind the goal and covered seating in the stand to their right. The view from either is unrestricted with no pesky pillars to get in the way.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was okay, Lincoln City won 2-1 which was a fair result. The Lincoln manager was endlessly shouting instructions to his team, much to the amusement of the home fans behind him who started to add their own suggestions. Atmosphere was good, and the language less offensive than I've heard at Championship matches. Stewards were helpful and friendly however the choice of food was poor. The menu said beef, chicken and pork pies but they only had steak and kidney and no chips! And the only pastie was Cornish. No alcohol either! The pie/pastie we tried for the purpose of this research though we're both piping hot and tasty.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We didn't have a problem. We were heading north and had parked five minutes walk to the North of the ground and even though we therefore had to drive back through Macclesfield we were on the dual carriageway by 5.20pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Friendly supporters (both home and away) easy access, limited but tasty food, good seating in the Main Stand (I'm 6'2") my knees weren't hitting the seat in front and overall an enjoyable day out.
Macclesfield Town v Grimsby Town
Conference National League
Monday 28th March 2016, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Moss Rose Ground?
I have visited Moss Rose before, and found it to be a friendly and welcoming place.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Given that it was Easter Monday, I expected roads to be hectic, but the bad weather in the morning seemed to keep it relatively quiet. I chose to take the scenic route via Chesterfield and Buxton, and despite a bit of flooding and snow on the way, I arrived safely at 2pm. I managed to park in Star Lane, just round the corner from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I ate on the way, so no need to sample the local food. Locals were friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Moss Rose Ground?
Moss Rose is quite traditional. The Main Stand on one side is all seated, and has a line of boxes running along it. The home end is several rows of seats in front of several rows of terracing, then on the other side is a grandstand with the dressing rooms beneath, flanked by a couple of small terraces. The away end is on open standing terrace, which holds about 1500.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Having ended Wrexham's 9 game unbeaten run in our previous game, with one of our best performances of the season, almost 1,000 fans arrived with high hopes. But once again, consistency deserted us. We went a goal behind after 26 minutes, equalised early in the second half, but were then undone by what appeared to be a blatantly offside goal. There seemed to be a a vastly over the top police and steward presence, and apparently some of the local pubs were refusing entry to our fans, although they had admitted them on previous visits. Only one food outlet at our end, so there were big queues for food. Toilets are fine.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Absolute nightmare getting away. Despite getting back to the car quickly, I was still sitting on the main road outside the ground at almost 5.30pm. I chose to go back home via the M62, perhaps I should have gone down to the A54 and back across to Buxton. As it was, I arrived home at 8.15pm, with a quick stop for coffee at Birch Services.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Always a good day out here, with plenty of banter between the two sets of supporters, and somewhere I would happily visit again.
Macclesfield Town v Grimsby Town
Conference Premier League
Saturday March 8th, 2014, 3pm
Nathan Hill (Grimsby Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to the ground as it was one I had not done yet, and was interested to visit as, like Grimsby, Macclesfield used to be in The Football League.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on the supporters coach and had no problems with the journey. We found the ground quite easily, without any problems and were able to park right outside the away end, which was good.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had filled up on McDonalds and KFC at the services on the way so before the game, me and my 3 mates decided to take a walk around the areas surrounding the ground. In fairness, The Moss Rose is situated in not the greatest of araes, but I had no problems with any locals.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
On the outside, Moss Rose looks like a well looked after stadium, with no apparent ageing. I did notice that the turnstiles were rather old, but that was all. When I was in the traditional terraces, the view of the game was decent, being very close to the pitch. The other stands looked average with The Main Stand overlooking the stadium.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We took the lead in the 36th minute thanks to an ex-Macclesfield player, Connor Jennings. The game after that was fairly dull in parts, with many controversial decisions going in favour of the home team, including a harsh 93rd minute penalty being awarded. Scott Boden duly converted for the Silkmen, sending the travelling Mariners home with what seemed 2 points dropped. During the game, it was hard to generate an atmosphere due to the away end having no roof. However, we could hear every shout coming from the home end, fairly easily. I'm not sure whether that was due to the biting wind that day, or the way the stand is erected. I hardly noticed the stewards all game, leading to a very relaxed atmosphere, until the end, when some bitter Grimsby fans decided to rush over to the nearby Macclesfield fans, trying to provoke them. The stewards tried to deal with the 50+ Grimsby fans but struggled at times, however they did manage to prevent the trouble escalating. Facilities were poor with only one small food bar, leading to a very long queue at half-time. The menu flattered the food, as half of the food advertised was unavailable. I bought a small hot dog and a very small cup of chips, totaling £5, which was unbelievably priced for such small portions.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There wasn't too much traffic after the game, with the coach leaving smoothly, except for a few odd Macclesfield 'fans' shouting and gesturing at us, in a none too friendly manner!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the day out to Macclesfield and enjoyed the traditional terracing. However, I would recommend that anyone wishing to visit Macclesfield, that they bring their own food!
Macclesfield Town v Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Friday April 6th, 2012, 7.45pm
Myles Munsey (Neutral fan)
Reasons for visit:
This is a trip I had anticipated and organised for some time long before Macclesfield’s slide down the league. Promotion chasing Shrewsbury needed points for different reasons. A good encounter was in prospect. I needed the ground to reduce my required list for Cheshire!
Getting there:
I had arranged to stay in Macclesfield as I was visiting Brammall Lane the following day so a 25 minute walk through the town brought me directly there. The ground is easy to find and is well signposted on those brown tourist signs.
Before the game:
Owing to a number of places being closed on Good Friday a visit to the 24h Tescos to stock up on cash and sandwiches was required. At the ground I bought a programme from the club shop and engaged in friendly chat with the amicable stewards.
First impressions:
The ground was much as I expected. Modest. A world of difference from the Ricoh Arenas and St Mary’s of this world. The ground is shoehorned in by side streets, but once inside is actually quite spacious. The view of the hills would have interested me far more had it not been a soggy old night –rather a surprise after such a dry spring.
They are certainly proud of their club in Macclesfield with the MTFC logo cemented into the street outside the club shop and actually on the soap dispensers in the gents. Proper hot air hand driers in there too!
The mixed seating and standing at the Audi/Star Lane end (where I took up position) was unusual to say the least. I was not however tempted to sit as leaning on a crash barrier is something I don’t do often enough!
Looking Towards The Main Stand
The game:
This was a most entertaining encounter which despite the home side’s considerable efforts was won by the travellers 3-1. The wet surface meant the ball fizzing around and the match was played at high tempo.
Well taken goals by Collins and Wright had the Shrews in control before Mendy replied with a left-foot rocket into the top corner. A fight back was extinguished by another smart finish by Collins which wrapped things up.
There was a tremendous atmosphere in the home end which had its own resident drummer. Plenty of banter and noise for the first 80 minutes or so then Shrewsbury’s third goal left the place understandably deflated.
Getting from the ground:
Straight out, then down the hill back into town.
Overall:
For those who like the traditional football ground then Moss Rose is it -even down to the wooden turnstile booths. This is an unashamedly down to earth venue but there are a number of interesting features making the ground suitably arcane. Moss Rose I’m told is named after the pub (long demolished) that used to overlook the corner that joins the Main Stand and Silkmen End.
Friendly staff, no hassle, no frills and no prawn sandwiches! 10/10
Macclesfield Town v Bradford City
League Two
Saturday October 31st, 2009, 3pm
Matthew Firth (Bradford City fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to the game?
Well it was going to be my first away game of the season and having set my mind on this game a while before I was looking forward for an away day as I like going to different grounds. Before I got there I knew I was going to be standing which I was more than happy to do so as I've done before at Accrington and actually quite enjoy it.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was easy going on the M62 from Bradford and once you come of the motorway its not far to the ground. The ground itself was very easy to find. As I did go by car I noticed a railway station very close to the stadium and recommend it someone who maybe is coming from the south . The car parking was fantastic as we sat in the Silkman terrace we parked the car about 10 yards from the stand which in a way was unbelievable as at Valley Parade you would need to get there very early to do so and we turned up about 30 minutes before the game started.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We did'nt really get chance to get to any places in Macclesfield as we didnt really have enough time but I did notice plenty of pubs on the way down and they was also some take-aways near by. The fans them selves were fine as we had no problems but as always you have to have a bit of banter.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The best of the stands was the Alfred McAlpine stand which looked neat and modern although it not being too big it was a nice stand. The away end is what I expected, you cant really expect much from with a stand which has no seats and no roof but there was no problem as I quite enjoy stands like that. To the left of us was the Main Stand (Silk FM). It was an unusual looking stand with it not even covering half of the pitch, At the side of it and infront of this stand was a standing area which seemed to be near full but it wasn't that big of an area. Opposite us was a very unusual stand (The Star Lane HFS loans) with half of it being seated and half of it being standing. This is were the atmosphere took place from the Silkmen.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was very exciting certainly in the second half as Bradford clawed back a 2-0 Macclesfield lead at half time. The game could of easily swung Bradford's way as Evan's hit the crossbar in the dying seconds of the game. The stewards were friendly and no problem
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This too was fantastic as there was no traffic and then 5 ten minutes later your on the motorway.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a great day out and and had no problems at all. The only problem is that Bradford failed to win when they really should of won. If they are in the same league as us next season i will definitely be wanting to go again, great day out.
Macclesfield Town v Everton
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday January 3rd, 2009, 3pm
Bobby Rooney (Everton fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Well I was looking forward to the Macclesfield game for numerous reasons really. It's the magic of the cup, the fans come out in numbers and make it a tricky yet entertaining game. Since the start of the Premiership, we have had limted opportunities to enjoy terracing, this would be my 1st game back on the terrace for Everton since the ever famous loss away to Shrewsbury back in 2003, so I was excited, that with the fact i'd never been to Macclesfield before meant I could add another ground to the list.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I wouldn't say the journey was hard really, just time absorbant, leaving our local railway station at 9.30 we got to Macclesfield just shy of 12.15, but the train was easy for us to go. On getting into Macclesfield there is a variety of different Pubs and the Town Centre on the right hand side, but we thought we'd head straight to the ground and catch a pint closer up. Coming from Train is easy and I do recommend it to anyone as you turn left when leaving the station and follow the road round before eventually stumbling across the stadium, it really is well hidden. Whilst walking down, there appeared to be some street parking and some car parks, which charged £5.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
On the way to the stadium we basically went from the town centre, there were plenty of pubs and a few fast food e.g. pizza shops and Chippy's. We didn't stop there as we were hoping for some resources nearer to the stadium. We went into a pub called the Three Crowns, situated on a bottleneck, as we were collecting tickets off a friend, they served a variety of beer and £2.30 for a Draught lager was what we paid.
As we got nearer to the ground, we saw a Co-op and a small Café which sells hot beverages (£1.00), Savoury goods (1.00), cakes and Soup, I bought a cornish pasty and it was delicious, I again would recommend going there. The home fans were very friendly and they had a bit of banter with us before hand and were quite helpful.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is what I expected it to be like, not very modern and compact. But the pitch was really narrow and small, but very close to the stands suggesting that there wopuld be a better atmosphere. There appeared to be 2 more modern looking stands, the Alfred Mc Alpine stand and the Silkman Terrace (away end). The other 2 looked a little old, but rather unique addition to the Star Lane end, was that it is half seats and terrace, I liked the idea. Overall, not the best of grounds, but Macclesfield don't need anything bigger and it has character unlike many modern stadums.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was dominated by Everton, but it was no walk in the park, Macclesfield should have been 2-0 up before Leon Osman scored for Everton. Our end was quite good from where I was stood, but perhaps it may have been quieter to the Macclesfield fans, as I felt that at times they generated more noise, but not very often. Macclesfield perhaps could of and probably should of secured a draw in the last second after holding us out for another 45 minutes, but Tim Howard saved us, and we were were through. They do sell the famous Chicken Balti Pie (£2.40). The stewards were also very friendly, we had a bit of a talk with them about the game and they were more than helpful, Macclesfield should be proud. I didn't use the toilets so I cannot comment.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Leaving the ground is pretty easy, with it being a sell out 6,000 it was still 25,000 less than a regualr goodison crowd and their average attendance is 1700, so I wouldn't worry about that.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Managed to get home at 7.45 just in time to watch it again on the telly and that summed up my day. Went perfectly, had a good laugh, got to see the Blues win away (again!) and another cup run perhaps. The surroundings made the atmosphere better and there was always a kick to it, and I would recommend a trip to Moss Rose to anyone, friendliest place I've been.