Stadium: The Moss Rose, London Road, Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 7SP

Telephone: 01625 264 686

Club Colours: Blue & White
Nickname: The Silkmen

Official Club Website: www.mtfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Key Personnel: Manager Keith Alexander

Brief Directions By Road:
M6 junction 17 taking the A534 signposted Congleton and Macclesfield. A complicated series of roundabouts awaits in Congleton (but it is a good stop off point for a pre-match meal too) and two options become available. 1. For ease in finding the ground and a pleasant country drive follow the signs for the A54 and head out of Congleton towards Buxton. After 5 miles of leaving Congleton on this A54 road turn left onto the A523 towards Macclesfield. You will see the ground on your left upon entering the outskirts of Macclesfield. 2. From Congleton the A536 heads straight into Macclesfield but on the wrong side of town for the football ground. If you decide on this way eventually you will find Moss Road heading South out of the town and on your right.

Car Parking:
The car parking at the ground is usually restricted to officials and corporate hospitality however there is plenty of unrestricted parking in the surrounding streets. A very safe place to park is in the Lyme Green Retail Park, which is only about 300 yards South of the ground down the London Road or as I did last season on the London Road itself.

Directions By Train:
A Virgin train from London Euston should take around two and a half hours and may require a change at Stoke on Trent.Macclesfield Station is a good 30-minute walk (mile and a half) from the station. Turn left out of the station into Sunderland Street until the major crossroads at the War Memorial. Turn left into Mill Lane (A523 towards Leek) and follow the road for about a mile where it becomes Cross Street then London Road and you will find the ground on your right. It seems that my speed of walking and covering distances do differ from most people and vary to an amazing degree so I have been very conservative in my estimation of time from station to ground on this one and had it verified by a reliable source too. Remember I get distracted very easily these days and the lull of a cosy old pub or quality eating experience is virtually impossible to ignore.

The number 9 bus from Macclesfield Bus Station which is adjacent to the railway station will take you to the Moss Rose and runs every 20 minutes, fare 80p one way.A Taxi should cost no more than £6.00.

Supporters Coaches:
Coach travel to away fixtures this season is being organised by the Barnet Football Club Supporters Association. For further details about Supporters coach travel and how to book check out the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk.

Eating And Drinking Locally:
The club haven't been forthcoming with a pub close to the ground I am afraid but as always The Reckless Guide has some seriously cultured suggestions. On the A54 at Allgreave, which only involves a short detour from my route above (i.e. instead of turning left onto the A523 to the ground, carry straight on for about 5 miles), you will find the superb Rose & Crown pub built around 1800. It is I believe the highest (above sea level) pub in England - lovely surroundings, real ales and food, it doesn't get much better. However if it is just ale you are after then look no further than the Beartown Tap in Willow Street Congleton which was voted CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

The local Retail Park only offers the putrid plastic fast food rubbish that infests the world so a visit to the town centre is a best bet for a decent meal. The ground catering is the normal football fayre of Dogs, Pies and Burgers. There are no social club facilities for visiting fans at Moss Rose

Ground Description:
Home from home, welcome to a good old fashion 'home' ground. The main or London Road stand which occupies half of the touchline was erected in the mid 1960's and seats just 563. This style of grandstand, short but deep with a broad roof fascia was very popular in the north-west as the very similar main stands at Altrincham and Leek Town illustrates. The uncovered but sturdy terracing that flanks it has room for 1,000. Opposite is the 2002 latest edition to Moss Rose, The Alfred McAlpine Stand which has executive boxes behind its 1500 seats. To the left is the possibly unique Star Lane End which has the odd arrangement of a small bank of seating in front of a shallow terrace. This clever and cosy little arrangement is covered by a plain roof and was a result of the Football League insistence on a certain ratio of seating to standing accommodation when The Silkmen re-gained promotion to the League in 1997. Finally to the right is our home for the game (along with a small section of seating in the McAlpine Stand) the uncovered Silkman End terrace which has room for 1,500.

Rivals:
Altrincham and Stockport County

Admission Prices:
Terrace and Seating Adults £13.00, Concessions and Students with ID £10.00, Under 16's £5.00. According to my reports under 12's- when accompanied by an adult - have free entry to the ground!

Our Last Meeting& Memories:
Last seasons meetings with the Silkmen saw us pick up 6 points from a 3-2 at Moss Rose thanks to Ian Hendon, Barry Cogan and Nicky Bailey and a 1-0 victory at Underhill courtesy of an Adam Birchall goal.

My memory goes as far back to 1970 when as a 10 year old I watched a Barnet side including Ricky George, Les Eason, Colin Powell and the like loose 1-0 to Macc in an FA Trophy semi final played at Stoke City's old Victoria ground. Nearly 8,000 watched the game. I also recall the 1988 season when we were on a superb run of form and Mrs Reckless insisted on coming along to Underhill for her first game that season (someone has to look after the house and do the shopping), we were slaughtered 1-4!

Overnight Stay Factor:
Macclesfield Borough is known as the Peaks and Plains of Cheshire and has the very pretty Peak District National Park as one of its boundaries. The town itself is one that doesn't offer too much appeal for an Easter break I'm afraid especially as we are back to work the following day so a humble 3/10 applies.

Celebrity Watch:
Celebrity number one is ex Bee and current Macc Manager Keith Alexander. Trio was a hero of the old West Bank between 1986-1988. He scored 20 odd goals from 80 odd appearances but set up numerous more for David Sansom and Nicky Evans. The Get Me Outa Here Celebrity Jungle King (of the fake tan) David Dickenson has shares in the local solarium in nearby Bollington while Jasper Carrot's detective partner Robert Powell, who played the aforementioned Nicky Evans' son in the 1970's TV blockbuster Jesus Of Nazareth, grew up in these parts. The greatest Glam Rock band ever was Slade and their original frontman Noddy "Mind Your Nuts" Holder lives in the area. How harsh is this? 1,763 days in solitary confinement was Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy Terry Waite's punishment for having a season ticket at Moss Rose!

Thanks To:
Jude Manifold, who must have blown a 'gasket' and become 'exhausted' with my incessant E-Mails!