Floodlit Pitch

Following the demise of Macclesfield Town here’s the 2nd  part of my football travels when the Macc Lads just happened to be at the game too. Alfreton Town's Impact Arena. We left off where Macclesfield Town had knocked Alfreton Town out the 2004/05 FA Cup. My next game involving Macclesfield was pre-season 2008/09 when they made the return journey to the Impact Arena in preparation for the new season. A crowd of 217 saw the Reds triumph 2-1 against their Coca Cola League 2 opponents. Alfreton manager Nicky Law had recruited well over the Summer bringing in 8 new players, the major signing being Leo Fortune-West. The best was yet to come though as Alfreton signed Liam Hearn in September and he formed a memorable and legendary partnership with Paul Clayton. Alfreton finished 3 rd  in 2008/09 and qualified for the promotion play offs for the first time, eventually losing 5-4 on aggregate to Telford United. The Reds had climbed up from the Northern Counties East League to Blue ...

Following the great news that Macclesfield FC have risen from the ashes of Macclesfield Town, whose expulsion from the National League was confirmed this week, got me thinking of a couple of memorable matches I’d seen them in. When I checked I’d actually been to 14 games involving Macclesfield Town and together we have seen in new seasons, shared historic highlights with clubs, been to new grounds together, seen some cracking cup ties and some poor ones and remembered heroes. This is my tribute to the Macc Lads. The main stand at Enfield's Southbury Road. Season opener. I first encountered Macclesfield Town when I was living in London in the 1980’s. I’d only been to a few grounds by the time I moved down to Tottenham in 1983 and decided to go and watch Enfield who I'd heard about due to their good FA Cup runs. The only other non-league club I’d been to at this point was Alfreton Town. By the start of the 1988/89 season I classed myself as an Enfield supporter and made my way fo...

The decision to refuse admission for Step 2 clubs supporters in to FA Cup games today is farcical. The most ridiculous regulation of this most ridiculous decision is that supporters of step 3 and below can attend if their club is at home but the away fans, if they are in National League North or South, cannot. Scenes like this at Potters Bar Town v Barnet in last seasons 4Q won't happen this season.   To make matters worse the decision was only announced on Tuesday while some clubs had happily sold to supporters regardless of which club they supported. The lateness of the decision gives clubs little time to put up road blocks leading in to their town or to get staff trained on what away fans tattoos to look for. Whoever drafted this rule deserves a That's Life Jobsworth award. Step 2 fans banned, That's Life. Regardless of your thoughts on what measures should be in place to combat Covid19 the fact remains that people can gather in “bubbles” for activities deemed acceptable...