Macc are back and it’s just pitch perfect

IT’S a proud weekend for everyone concerned at reborn Macclesfield FC – our first game on the newly-laid 4G pitch.

My Under-15 grassroots side welcomes the opposition to a revamped Leasing.com Stadium

(right), and all the hard work – which, thankfully, was allowed to continue during lockdown – will now bear fruit.

Owner Rob Smethurst’s vision – an amazing facility for the local community – is starting to become a reality. And first-team recruitment for next season, which falls under my remit as director of football operations, is already underway.

After an unbelievably difficult year for everyone, in football and beyond, I have to admit this does feel like an Easter resurrection.

FOR any father, watching your son pull on the shirt to represent his country is an invincible moment of pride.

Even if you have to watch him peering over the fence and socially-distanced in the car park.

I had the privilege of seeing my lad

Charlie don the red shirt of Wales in their Under-18 international against

England in Cardiff the other day.

After missing a penalty on the stroke of half-time, Wales eventually went down 2-0 and

England’s massive strength in depth – including highly-rated Aston

Villa youngster Louie Barry, Manchester United prospect Shola Shoretire and Manchester City’s Liam Delap – told in the end.

I’ve been able to follow Charlie’s progress as a scholar at Manchester United on MUTV, but for a dad to see his son pull on the jersey of his national team is something else.

When I’m following games for BT Sport, or discussing football on the BBC Radio airwaves on 606, I’m doing my job as a pundit.

But when I watch my boy play for United U or Wales (left), I’m just another dad bursting with pride.