Celebrating Fulham FA Cup tie anniversary

MACCLESFIELD Town have announced plans to mark the 50th anniversary of a famous day in the history of the football club.

Saturday January 27th will mark 50 years since the Silkmen appeared in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first-time.

The Silkmen, who at the that time were plying their trade in the Cheshire League, made the trip to take on First Division Fulham, then managed by Sir Bobby Robson, at Craven Cottage. Around 10,000 Macclesfield fans also made the trip with the team.

Despite the vast gulf in the footballing pyramid, Macclesfield nearly caused a shock on the day. Dubious refereeing decisions ultimately proved costly as the Silkmen slipped to a creditable 4-2 defeat.

But Macclesfield had certainly done themselves justice and when the game was shown as the featured tie on ‘Match Of The Day’ that evening they gained national recognition. In the days following, the club would receive hundreds of letters from sympathetic football fans across the country offering praise for a courageous display.

Thousands of supporters would turn out to greet the heroic Silkmen side upon their return to Macclesfield and it would seem that the match certainly made an impression on Sir Bobby who wrote to Macclesfield on the 35th anniversary of the game back in 2003.

On Saturday January 27th the club will pay tribute to that great side. A number of the team from the Fulham game will be in attendance at the Moss Rose with supporters invited in to the McIlroy Suite from noon for an informal Q&A with the players in attendance. The club will also show highlights of the game and the homecoming on the screens in the McIlroy Suite.