This week I spoke with @silkmenarmy to get a bit of info ahead of Saturday’s game.
Hows has your season been so far?
On the pitch decent, we have a young vibrant team who wear their heart on their sleeve and are capable of matching most teams. Off the field shambolic, the players and staff were effectively on strike for the last two weeks to force through a sale of the club after being paid late every month for the last year. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel on that front.
Best Player?
Jay Harris, an old head in the middle of the park, his understanding of the game is second to none and he brings the young lads together. A crucial cog in the wheel.
Worst Player?
That is a harsh question, we’re light up front so expect more goals from Joe Ironside, Jacob Blyth and Virgil Gomis but the effort is there and they link the play well so worst player would be unfair.
Favourite Macclesfield Player ever?
The magical Matthew Tipton, our leading football league goalscorer, had three spells at the club such is his legendary status, could score from anywhere, I remember a hat-trick against Rochdale that blew my mind when I was younger. Outstanding
What exactly is going on at the club with all the financial issues?
Basically the players are consistently paid late and they’ve had enough. The owner Amar seems to have totally stopped caring about the club, any money we’ve made in recent years from player sales or cup successes he’s pocketed for himself. False promises are made to staff and players, it forced Sir John Askey out and the current crop have had enough. Threw the FA Cup game v Kingstonian to hurt Amar’s pocket and refused to play against Crewe to try and force the sale to local businessman Joe Sealey. If we play this game it’s a sign that things could be about to change.
Ex-Saddler Theo Vassell is amongst your ranks, what are your thoughts on him?
Theo Vassell is a tank. Our best player for the first couple of months, very smart. No idea why Port vale let him go, fears no opponent. Kissed the badge when we beat Vale, rumours he’s on his way to Salford but if he’s playing your strikers will know about it
Predictions for the weekend?
If its our legit team and they’re on it I genuinely predict a Silkmen win. We won at your place in the league cup last season and FA Cup a couple of years before. Did well at Oldham and Salford in recent weeks. 1-0 Macc – Osadebe
Finally, one random fact about your club?
We were the first ever non-league team to beat a league team on penalties in the FA Cup when we defeated Chesterfield in 1992 with Steve Farrelly saving three penalties in a win at Saltergate.
We’ve also won every penalty shoot out we’ve been in against another professional club, something like 12/12 only slightly blemished by a loss to Newcastle u23’s but that doesn’t count right..?
Thanks to the Silkmen army for answering these questions. We wish them all the luck for the rest of the season, after 5pm on Saturday. We all hope that the club don’t suffer the fate of others that have had financial problems recently.