Our League Two lowdown continues with Macclesfield Town, who return to the Football League this season.
Who are ya?
The Cheshire side topped the National League last season, finishing ten points clear of second placed Tranmere, who joined the Silkmen in League Two next season via the play-offs.
They are managed by former Crawley chief Mark Yates (pictured) after John Askey left at the end of the season to join Shrewsbury Town. Yates joins after successfully keeping Solihull Moors in the National League.
Ins and Outs
Yates is now at the helm at Moss Rose and has so far brought in five players to the side ahead of their return to the league. Striker Nathan Blissett has joined the club from Plymouth Argyle, while Yates has also bolstered his attacking options with Harry Smith of Millwall and Ben Stephens from non-league Stratford Town. Defenders Jamie Grimes and Miles Welsh-Hayes join the side from Cheltenham Town and Bath City respectively.
Ex-Red Mitch Hancox is among a handful of players to leave Moss Rose, with the full back departing for MK Dons for a free transfer. Kieran Kennedy joined Shrewsbury Town for an undisclosed fee, while former Hastings United goalkeeper Shwan Jalal has joined Chesterfield after his release at the end of last season.
Back In The Big Time
Macclesfield Town’s long stay in the Football League ended in 2011/12 when they finished bottom of League Two, and were relegated along with Hereford United. They have lost just once since the end of January. Their season will kick off on the opening day with a trip to Swindon, and they will then host Grimsby a week later in what will be Moss Rose’s first Football League game since 2012.
Previous Meetings
With Macclesfield’s relegation coinciding with Crawley’s first season in the Football League, our two games that season are the only meetings between the sides. Crawley kicked off their home campaign in their debut season in the league with a 2-0 win over the Silkmen with Tyrone Barnett – a signing from the Cheshire club that summer – and Wes Thomas both scoring.
In the away fixture the following March Crawley had looked like doing the double over Macclesfield when they raced into a 2-0 lead through defenders Claude Davis and Kyle McFadzean but two late goals, including one in second half stoppage time ended the Reds’ hopes of a league double.
