TWO ETIHAD NEIGHBOURS LOOKING TO MAKE SOME NOISE AND RISE FROM ASHES
IT WASN’T so long ago that Macclesfield Town and Bury were taking on Manchester City as equals on the field of play.
But with the Etihad giants on the verge of another Premier League title, their fellow NorthWest clubs have more basic matters on their mind – like when they will next kick a ball in anger.
Financial woes saw Bury expelled by the EFL in 2019 and Macclesfield expelled by the National League last October – both pushed out by a system that fails to protect institutions that are the heartbeat of their communities.
But the fightback is on. Even if the two rebranded ‘phoenix’ clubs are having to restart life in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) – six steps from the Football League – there is optimism in the air.
Andy Worth, chairperson of the Silkmen Supporters Trust said: “If you had asked me seven months ago, then I would have told you that Macclesfield’s supporters were heartbroken and frustrated.
“The past few months have been almost like a fairy-tale journey. Local businessman Rob Smethurst has taken over the club and we’ve also seen Robbie Savage come in as director of football – there’s a real feeling that we’re on the verge of something special.
“I’ve even got Man City fans telling me that they’re fed up
with the Premier League and they’ll be getting themselves to Moss Road instead.
“By the time next season starts the place will be rocking.”
Lining up alongside them in the NWCFL will be Bury, a club who famously won at Maine Road in their last meeting with soon-to-be-crowned champions City in February 1998.
Marcel de Matas, a Bury FC fan for the past 35 years, is hoping that he and the club’s band of volunteers can deliver a revival rebranded as Bury AFC.
De Matas said: “We had started to build momentum this season and were top of the league on Boxing Day,” he says. “Clearly the Covid restrictions have put paid to that.
“People look back on Bury FC with great fondness, so there’s a degree of sadness, but it’s mixed with a real hope that we can get back up there.”