Moss Rose was once described as the kind of place from where only a misanthropist would want to send a “Wish you were here” postcard. Which isn’t the kindest description when there will be supporters of Macclesfield Town who are very fond of this unpretentious little ground. But understandable, all the same, when you take into account the strangely lopsided stands, the matchstick floodlights, the confusing lack of symmetry and the fact the roof at one end is so low down the third‑floor residents of Mulberry Court, the block of flats next door, can see on to the pitch.
A more generous description, perhaps, is that there is a lot more charm to be found at these kinds of lower-league grounds than some of the identikit bowls in out-of-town industrial estates higher up the football ladder. There is something rather endearing about the fact the pitch at Macclesfield has perimeter advertising boards for Mandarin House, a local Chinese takeaway, and the walls are lined with pictures of the team that beat Northwich Victoria to win the 1996 FA Trophy. The toast at the Silkmen Cafe is, as the menu promises, hot and buttery. The ale is served in Butch’s Bar and though the club shop – no megastore here – had a sign saying it was open, the lights were off and the door was locked when I arrived for Sol Campbell’s introductory press conference.
Written by Daniel Taylor
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/01/sol-campbell-macclesfield-bame-managers under the title “Sol Campbell makes it tricky for himself but it should not have been this hard | Daniel Taylor”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
