Floodlit Pitch

We left our travels involving Macclesfield Town in the pre-season of 2011/12 when the Macc lads beat Buxton in the Keith Alexander Memorial Cup but went on to be relegated out of the Football League that season. A floodlit Moss Rose in 2004/05 I must apologise as I left off stating there were 4 more games involving Macclesfield Town when in fact there are 5, so think of it as a bonus game. Our next meeting, with Macc, now an Alliance League/Conference/Skrill Premier (delete as applicable) club, was the final game of the 2013/14 season at Alfreton Town. Previous games between the two clubs had been while Macc were the higher ranked club but Alfreton were now on a par and finishing off what was their best ever season in the football pyramid. Alfreton had been top, very briefly, and were strong contenders for at least a play-off place.  An administrative error saw 3 points deducted, this, along with injuries to key players saw the season fizzle out and Alfreton finished 11 th , Macclesf

English football has lost another of its best loved heroes with the sad news that Nobby Stiles passed away on 30 th October. A World Cup Winner in 1966 Stiles was described by Alf Ramsey as one of 5 World Class players in that team.   Stiles spent the bulk of his career at Manchester United but will forever be remembered for his little dance after becoming a World Champion with England. Nobby’s victory dance while clutching the Jules Rimet is not just recalled by those lucky enough to witness our nations’ greatest sporting achievement but by those of us who missed that particular chapter and revel in the history of our sport. Stiles was aware of his place in football folklore when he recalled that kids of his Grandchildren’s age recognised him as “that fella who danced around Wembley”, no doubt helped by Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds “3 Lions” video. "In a way, you end up belonging to everyone" he stated. Which is why his passing will be mourned by all generat