Macclesfield (A) | Match Preview

It’s matchday 7 of the Enterprise National League North - and the Martyrs are on their travels to Macclesfield this evening!

Paul Michael and his team will be looking for a for a positive result and hopefully a return to winning ways following 2 straight defeats to Scarborough Athletic and King’s Lynn Town. However, the hosts have had a strong start to the season and find themselves currently 6th in the table going into this evening’s game. The silkmen are currently on a run of 2 draws and 2 wins in their last 4 games.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS – KEY STAFF

Owner: Robert Smethurst

Manager: John Rooney

Assistant Manager: Francis Jeffers

John Rooney took the role of first team manager after the departure of former Welsh international, Robbie Savage who left the Silkmen after a title-winning campaign to take on a new challenge at Forest Green Rovers in the National League. John Rooney started and ended his professional career at Macclesfield, and rejoined the silkmen in 2023 with the goal to guide Macclesfield to the National League North. He achieve his goal last season winning promotion from the Northern Premier League as champions, before then announcing his retirement from playing to take over as full-time manager of the Silkmen ahead of this seasons National League North campaign.

Assistant manager, Francis Jeffers, had an illustrious playing career spanning over 15 years including featuring for Everton, Arsenal, Rangers, Blackburn Rover, Sheffield Wednesday and others. Following his retirement from playing, he took a step into coaching at Everton U23s alongside David Unsworth. He then headed to Ipswich Town to work under Paul Cook before leaving in late 2021. Soon after he would reunite with Unsworth at Oldham Atheltic before then joining Macclesfield prior to the 2025/26 season.

Owner Robert Smethurst bought and saved Macclesfield FC in October 2020 followng the clubs liquidation due to upaid debts. His purchase marked the beginning of the clubs revival alongside a succesful first season in North West Counties Football League that season.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS – SEASON SO FAR

The Silkmen started their National League North season at home in front of a bumper crowd of over 3,000 at the Leasing.com Stadium, wehre they took a convincing 3-1 victory over Worksop Town thanks to goals from striker Danny Elliott and midfielder Paul Dawson.

Macclesfield’s only defeat so far this season came on their first away trip of the season with a 2-1 defeat to Oxford City. The silkmen made amends a game later as they travelled to Southport and took all 3 points in a narrow 2-1 victory.

In the following two games on the Bank Holiday weekend the Silkmen had a 1-1 draw against Alfreton and a 0-0 draw against Spennymoor Town.

Three days prior to tonight's fixture, Macclesfield picked up another victory against Darlington after a 89th minute winner forward D’mani Bughail-Mellor.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS – 2025/26 SQUAD

Goalkeepers – Max Dearnley, Joe Nicholson.

Defenders – Luke Matheson, Brandon Lee, Lewis Fensome, Rollin Menayse, Sam Heathcote, Luis Lacey, Josef Yarney.

Midfielders – Paul Dawson, Reagan Griffiths, Elliott Whitehouse, Carlos Dos Santos, Danny Whitehead, Luke Griffiths.

Forwards – Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, D’mani Mellor, Danny Elliott, Luke Duffy, Dontai Gabidon, Tom Clare, Sean Etaluku, Ethan Mcleod, Justin Johnson.

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 2nd September 2025

Kick Off: 19:45

Stadium: Leasing.com Stadium

Competition: Enterprise National League North

Safe journey to all Martyrs making the midweek trip, and thank you for your continued support!

Match Preview completed by Bailey Lewis.