Below is an article I wrote for the official matchday prrogramme v Winsford Uunted on Saturday 28th August for those who were not at the game or didn't get one...enjoy!
Macclesfield Away
It was with disappointment when the first wave of fixtures came out in August that we discovered Macclesfield away was to be on a Tuesday night. The newly formed club from the ashes of the defunct Macclesfield Town were still playing at Moss Rose, still a football league standard ground and it was hoped a large group of us would make the trip but in the end, it was three of us who were either off work or joined up later.
As the clock struck 345pm our train arrived in the driving rain to the sight of a huge poster of the band Joy Division and three pubs to choose from, not a bad start. I see a tweet from our goalie Russ Saunders who amusingly asks us if we knew the kick off wasn't until 745pm?, and was concerned we would get a bit 'tipsy' and not make the game!!. How good is that?, only in non-league football would you get that level of care and concern from a player!.
So basically, we walked round pubs in one big circle back to our starting point and got a taxi to the ground with about ten minutes to go before kick-off. We walk past Macclesfield's clubhouse, or 'hospitality suite' and with two burley bouncers on the door and it being invite only, we knew we had no chance of a 'cheeky one' before kick-off.
Entering the ground was something I'll never forget, the standing at one end was almost full as was the main stand and with an attendance of 2110 (biggest of the season) I felt goosebumps I must admit, and as Matt Barnes said in his post-match interview, this was a very special occasion, indeed it was and we took to our seats with a mixture of nerves and excitement, the adrenalin was kicking in.
The Macclesfield fans were in good voice and in the back of my mind I was dying to sing 'you've only come to see the Prestwich' but with just the three of us sat together I sit quietly and watch the game.
We lose 3-1 but boys put up a terrific display and went toe to toe with a team on a huge playing budget for long periods and it was really only the penalty for the third goal that killed the game as a contest.
We get chatting to a few Macc fans during the second half and it has to be said they were very respectful both towards the counties league and our club and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season.
The game ends and despite walking to the edge of the half way line applauding as hard as we could and a chorus of 'we love you Prestwich, we do' the players are over the other side of the pitch warming down and can't hear us and so we gave up and with the 20 minute walk back into the centre we decided to play a game of 'race you to the boozer' and I've never seen Conrad move so quick as he beats me and Simon by a country mile!.
After a couple of pints reflecting on the game, we get the 1101pm train back proving anything is possible to do a Heys away day...if you can get the time off work that is!.
Another impressive attendance of 209 in our 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Warrington Rylands last Saturday with the first 45 minutes for me, was the best we've all season and were just short of that little break or bit of luck you need sometimes to help it go our way and today we welcome Winsford United to Adie Moran Park who sit 5th in the table so another tough afternoon in store and us fans need to be at our vocal best, but if we keep showing the desire and determination we've shown in recent weeks I'm convinced it will come good and we shall embrace it when it does.