England: Football coming back to Macclesfield next season?

28.04.2021 13:20 source: StadiumDB.com [TS]; author: Tomasz

There is light at the end of the tunnel for football in Macclesfield. New owner is investing in the phoenix club and its infrastructure so that the team can join the football competition this summer.

New name of the stadium

Macclesfield FC continues the tradition of Macclesfield Town FC, a club that was wound up in 2020 due to debts. The newly formed club plans to start at the 9th or 10th tier in the 2021/22 season. The new owner, Robert Smethurst, began rebuilding the club with an investment in the well-worn Moss Rose stadium, which he bought for £500,000 (€550,000) .

After Smethurst acquired the facility, it was renamed Leasing.com Stadium and the consulting company Emery Planning is working with the club's new management to develop solutions that best suit its needs.

Macclesfield FC stadium, Moss Rose (for commercial reasons known as Leasing.com Stadium) © Macclesfield FC

As a result of the cooperation of both entities, Cheshire East Council received an application for the construction of a new community building and for the cladding of the main stand and other buildings, which will be covered with blue, black and gray panels.

In addition, the application includes plans to expand the stadium's cafe building to transform it into a reception.

Club bets on education

As stated in the documents, the stadium needs to be ready for the beginning of the new season so works have already started. In December, the club received permission to replace the turf with a synthetic pitch, which has already been laid. In the last month of 2020, consent was also granted for works related to the modernization of lighting.

The community building will be erected on the grounds previously occupied by terracing, a supporters' pub, changing rooms and meeting room. Two classrooms are planned for BTec Macclesfield College and UCLan students.

The club signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to create an Active Science project to support primary education. In addition, the new building will include space that will be used for venue hire, a revamped supporters' pub and premises for use of the local community.

Author: Tomasz Sobura