Crowd violence mars Silkmen derby match Macc chief Robbie acts as peacemaker
DIRECTOR of football Robbie Savage was forced to go into the crowd as peacemaker when violence broke out at a Macclesfield FC game.
Trouble flared as the Silkmen faced neighbours Congleton Town on Monday, August 30, at what was the Moss Rose and is now called the Leasing. com Stadium.
Footage caught fans clashing shortly after yellow smoke bombs were let off. It also showed Robbie Savage going across the pitch and getting into the stand to urge fans to stop the trouble and calm down.
The club is now liaising with Cheshire Police over the incident and efforts are being made to ‘identify those responsible’.
Other footage also shows players stood in front of the stand after the game as the trouble continues to flare with several attempting to address the crowd following the match.
Fans have expressed their shock at the scenes.
Giles Gaddum said: “The fighting was unexpected and uncalled for. Both the club owner and Robbie Savage, went into the stand to help the stewards and stop the altercation and showed amazing dedication to the club.
“The club is a family club and proud to be one.
“I have never seen scrapping there before.”
Another spectator said: “At first supporters were just throwing cans, and there were smoke bombs about 20 minutes before it kicked off.
“Then they all just kind of rushed each other.”
And another added: “I’ve been going to watch Macc since 1987 and I’ve never seen such disgraceful scenes. Who’s decision was in not to segregate today?
“Where was the police presence? Very naive of the club not to expect that there would be some mindless idiots out to cause trouble today.”
It is the first time the two sides have met since Macclesfield FC was established last year after its predecessor Macclesfield Town was expelled from the National League.
A sell-out crowd of 3,502 was in attendance at the North West Counties League game, which Macclesfield won the game 1-0 thanks to a 56th-minute goal from James Berry-McNally.
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “Officers were made aware of disorder at around 4.50pm on Monday, August 30.
“Police swiftly attended the scene and a dispersal order was put in place in the area. There were no further reports of disorder.
“No arrests have been made at this stage. Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and officers are working to identify those responsible.”
A spokesman for Macclesfield FC said the club was liaising with the police about the incident so it would be inappropriate to comment further.
But a spokesman for Robbie Savage was quoted as saying he was ‘keen to break up the small selection of fans who were being aggressive to ensure the game finished without any violence’.