And Paralympic gold
Macclesfield Town winning promotion back to the Football League.
The Silkmen sealed the deal with victory away to Eastleigh confirming them as champions of the National League.
Promotion followed an incredible year, with then manager John Askey able to call on just a handful of players at the start of the season, following a mass exodus after an FA Trophy defeat at Wembley.
Former chairman Mike Rance described the side’s achievements as being among the greatest sporting stories and have put the town back on the map. TRAGEDY struck in May when dad-to-be Ian Schofield was killed in a knife attack.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested following the incident in Upton Priory and was found guilty of manslaughter later in the year.
Paying tribute to 37-year-old Mr Schofield, who was known as ‘Legz’, his family said: “Ian will forever be in our hearts.
“The family would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and support.” POLICE announced there would be a new eye in the sky above Macclesfield as they and the fire service trialled the use of drones.
The emergency services teamed up to invest in a drone fitted with a powerful digital camera and thermal imaging camera.
They said it will help them search for missing people, assist with public order events, identify heat sources in fires, spot cannabis farms and help assess road traffic collisions.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane, said: “The drone will only be used for a specific purpose on operations, and not for general surveillance.” MORE than 4,000 people supped over 17,000 pints at the 24th Macclesfield Beer Festival.
The event was held at Macclesfield Rugby Club and for 2018 also had a gin bar, which was said to be a big success.
Since it began the festival has raised more than £200,000 for charity and this year’s worthy cause to benefit was Space4Autism. JUST weeks after leading Macclesfield Town to promotion, club manager and legend John Askey left the Moss Rose.
Askey, seen as the Silkmen’s greatest ever servant after a 34-year spell, went to manage League One Shrewsbury.
He went with the best wishes of the fans, who knew him affectionately as ‘Sir John’.
Rob Trafford, editor of Star Lane End website, said: “I don’t think anyone could have galvanised the fans to get behind the team and the club like he did last season.” AFTER more than 45 years of helping Macclesfield youngsters across the road a lollipop lady was rewarded in the Queen’s birthday honours.
Pam Pearson, 79, was given a British Empire Medal for her decades of work on the school run.
She is the lollipop lady outside Parkroyal Community School and despite approaching 80 said she had no plans to retire.
Pam said: “It keeps me busy and it’s great exercise. It helps maintain my health.” TEN days of art, music, theatre, talks, walks and comedy got off to a spectacular start as Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival began.
It started with a parade, which for 2018 had a roots/routes theme and contained more than 600 people.
Artistic director John Hartshorn said: “There were thousands on the streets watching the parade and there was a genuine carnival atmosphere.”
Part two next week