This week, Macclesfield supporter Sam is in the hotseat
This week, Macclesfield supporter Sam is in the hotseat…
Who do you support?
Macclesfield Town
How long have you supported them?
First game was in 1989, started going regularly in 1993.
Last season’s league finish?
Disappointing mid table.
What do you think of your manager?
Fantastic. He’s a club legend, been at the club since 1984, and came into an almost impossible situation. The poor start had most people accepting we were in for a rough ride with the financial situation, but the way things have turned around has been incredible. We’ve climbed the league quickly and are now only seven off the play-offs.
How has your season gone so far in comparison to your pre-season expectations/hopes?
The financial situation meant that no one really knew what to hope for. But we knew that there wasn’t going to be much money to spend. Early on we struggled and most people accepted it was part and parcel of the money issues. But everything clicked halfway through a defeat at Chester which we should have won, Connor Jennings started scoring and Whitaker and Turnbull reached fitness which was key. Now we’re unbeaten at home in 13, which will be tested when you lot come along because we rarely manage to beat you.
You’ve got JPK in your ranks, but doesn’t seem to have played much this season. Has he been injured, is there a clause in his contract etc?
There was a rumour that there was some clause or other a while ago, but nothing to back it up and he’s played since then. I think he just doesn’t quite fit into the way that John Askey wants us to play.
Your Club in the Community (CIC) plans have been put on hold. What’s the reasoning behind that?
Money. The financial situation meant that the regulator rejected it. Simple as that really.
Is there still a set amount you have to raise by the end of January/end of the season?
Everything we can I think. There’s not been much new information for a while, but now there is talk of potential takeovers so it’s all still up in the air. A figure of £150k was bandied about a while ago to be matched by people at the club, but how much of that has been covered by the cup run etc, I don’t know.
What are Macclesfield fans thoughts on Gary Simpson? Do they blame him for your relegation from L2?
There are some mixed views with some people really seeming to dislike him. The relegation season was horrific, but I’m one of the people who doesn’t blame Gary entirely for that because the injury situation was so terrible and we were losing players long term every week! We were on the brink of the play-offs not long before Christmas before things fell apart. Looking back there’s obviously things he could have done differently, but never a guarantee that anything would have worked. I’ll never forget the way he guided the club through the loss of Keith and Butch.
Top five predictions?
Luton and Cambridge have the top two sewn up and will battle to the end to see who nicks the title. Alfreton and Gateshead’s positions could be false with all the extra games they’ve played, and you’d expect Kidderminster to push back in. So the play-offs to be One of Luton/Cambridge, Kiddy, Grimsby and, because why the hell not, resurgent Macclesfield Town.
Bottom four predictions?
Hyde, obviously, and probably Dartford given their recent run. It’s pretty tight from 19th to 22nd with Woking and Lincoln five points clear. Aldershot have more about them than the table suggests because of their deduction. You can’t imagine Steve Burr not improving Chester significantly, so they will get clear. Tamworth and Southport, unless Hereford get dragged in with a deduction.
Thoughts on Lincoln City?
I hate Lincoln City! I hate playing you at home, I hate the horrible long cross-country journey to play you away. Simply because we’re almost legally not allowed to beat you. Last season was an exception with a double (I’ve only missed three games away there, both of our wins included) but that was the first time we took total points from Lincoln in well over a decade and the first win since 2006. Last season took our total number of wins against you up to eight. In 35 meetings.
Score prediction?
Your curse doesn’t quite trump our home form.. 1-1.
Random fact about your Club?
We were the first ever non-League side to beat a League side on penalties in the FA Cup.
