Macclesfield v Grimsby Preview

Who are they?

Since being formed in 1874, Macclesfield have played under a number of different club names, including Macclesfield Football and Athletic Club, Hallifield F.C. and the current Macclesfield Town F.C. Much of their history has been spent playing non-league football, and their last promotion to League Two came in 1997. The following season saw continued success under manager Sammy Mcilroy, as the Silkmen finished 2nd in the table to win promotion to the current League One. The success had proved a step too far for the club, and immediate relegation followed with the side finishing the season bottom of the league. Mcilroy soon left the club to become Northern Ireland manager and a number of different managers attempted but failed to repeat the clubs success under the Irishman. In March 2004, the experienced Brian Horton took over a struggling League Two Macclesfield side, amazingly he kept them up and the following season they finished 5th losing in the play-off semi final to Lincoln City. The 2005-6 season proved a disappointment, as the club struggled to come to terms with the loss of many key players, and Horton was sacked in September 2005 having failed to win in 12 games. Former England midfielder Paul Ince took on Horton’s role and with the addition of some new players managed to keep the Silkmen up, and a day out at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Paul Ince was then snapped up by MK Dons to become their new manager, and would eventually lead them to promotion. Ian Brightwell took over for an unsuccessful eight-month stint before ex-Town striker Keith Alexander took the manager’s job in February 2008. Last season the club finished League Two in 20th place, with 47 points.

Ex-England, Inter Milan and Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince made his final appearance in football for Macclesfield when in May 2007 he played the final 5 minutes of the home game against Notts County. Current Southampton goal machine Rickie Lambert signed for Macclesfield from Blackpool in 2001, playing 44 games and scoring eight goals. Former midfielder Chris Priest, who has since retired, scored the final goal Football League goal of the last millennium when playing for Macclesfield.

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Town travelled to Macclesfield for a cold Tuesday night affair, having not lost in any of their last ten games. Danny North added to his growing reputation when he capitalised on a defensive error to lob home keeper Johnny Brain from 20 yards after just five minutes. The game saw few chances before young striker Gareth Evans volleyed in from close range on 79 minutes. With the game heading for a draw, Town midfielder Jamie Clarke secured the win with a stunning 20 yard volley. The Town defence stood firm to hold on to the three points and move Town to within sight of the play-off positions. Oh how far away those days seem now...

Hamza Bencherif. The Algerian midfielder was born in Paris in 1988, and began his career with Nottingham Forest. He failed to make a first team appearance for the club, and was loaned to Lincoln City in 2007 where he made 12 appearances and scored one goal. A further two fruitless years with Forest saw him released in the summer and he was snapped up by Macclesfield, since then he has made 15 appearances and scored five goals. Bencherif has seven caps for the Algerian under 20s side and is tipped for full honours for the country that produced Zinedine Zidane, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema. The young midfielder is full of energy, and has an eye for goal, something that wouldn't go amiss in Town’s current midfield.

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Head to Head

The two clubs never met before 2004, and since then the record has been very equally shared. In the ten games they've played, Macclesfield have won three and Town have won two. Town have only won one of the last seven and Macclesfield have only lost once in that time. The clubs met on the final day of last season when all 22 players seemed to already be on the beach, a dire 0-0 ensued.

P 10 W2 D5 L3 F 10 A 11

Head-to-Head (70th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 0 Macclesfield 0 (Sat 02nd May 2009)

A fairly meaningless end of season game.

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