The Vauxhall Conference
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
In the Big Time
Macclesfield's first match in the GM Vauxhall Conference finished with a 1-0 win over Maidstone United. Steve Burr was the scorer on a historic day for the Silkmen.
The Silkmen achieved some good results through the season. Putting five past Northwich, beating Altrincham at home 1-0 and away 3-1 through a superb Steve Burr hat-trick, a 4-0 demolition of Runcorn and a superb home win over soon to be champions Lincoln City all stick in the mind. They struggled for form and finished the season in an unremarkable, yet respectable 11th place.
Although it was a somewhat disappointing League campaign the Silkmen hit the headlines with their exploits in the FA Cup and many people attribute the poor league form to the cup run. After sweeping aside Stalybridge and Chadderton with a five goal salvo each, the Silkmen eased past Marine and Whitby Town. They were rewarded with a home tie against Carlisle United. 2-0 down with half an hour left and the Silkmen seemed out of the competition but goals from Mick Hardman, John Askey and Graham Tobin gave the Silkmen their first League scalp in 20 years sparking ugly scenes as a group of Carlisle supporters decided to vent their anger.
Legendary Matches
The Silkmen were drawn against Rotherham in the second round and 4,500 people witnesses one of the most famous days in our history as the then old Third Division club were resoundingly beaten by four goals to nil. Steve Burr netted a hat-trick and David Grant scored a superb solo goal late in the game.
The Silkmen then travelled to Port Vale where 10,808 people saw the Silkmen match Vale blow for blow with the best chances falling the Silkmen's way with John Askey coming closest in striking the post against his former club. It was desperately cruel on Macc when Kevin Finney's late winner hit the back of the net and rewarded Port Vale with a tie at Tottenham Hotspur (which they went on to win)
Consolidation
The next few years were a bit dull after the excitement of the previous couple of seasons.
There were brief respite in Cup competitions and beating local rivals Altrincham. In 1988/89 the Club reached the FA Trophy Final at Wembley for the second time, losing 0-1 to Telford after extra time. It was a good season for the Silkmen with a very respectable 7th place finish.
1989/1990 saw the Silkmen continue their clim up the League with a fourth place finish and in the FA Cup they achieved the first round where we they were dispatched by Chester City after a replay.
In 1990/91 they again won the Cheshire Senior Cup and finished Seventh in the League. 1991/92 season was an inconsistent one for Macclesfield, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup for a record 18th time, finishing in the semi-final of the FA Trophy while losing in the FA Cup second qualifying round to Borrowash Victoria.
Penalty Triumph and Relegation Worries
In the 1992/93 season Macclesfield enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup playing nine games before being knocked out by Stockport County in the second round.
The Silkmen had claimed the scalp of Chesterfield in the first round. After a 0-0 draw at the Moss Rose the tie went to a replay at Chesterfield where a 2-2 draw sent the match to penalties. Macclesfield Town then wrote the history books in becoming the first ever non-league team to dispatch League opposition on penalties in the FA Cup. A home tie with Stockport awaited and but the Silkmen were dispatched 2-0 at a packed Moss Rose.
After three attempts, Witton Albion halted Macclesfield's progress in the FA Trophy and Warrington Town ensured the Senior Cup would not remain in the Moss Rose trophy cabinet.
Macclesfield were beaten at the semi final stage of the Drinkwise Cup by Northwich Victoria who went on to beat Wycombe in the final. For most of the second half of the season Macclesfield fought against relegation. Conference survival was only secured on the last day of the season with a 1-0 away win at champions Wycombe, while neighbours Altrincham were helping out with a 5-2 win at Farnborough. This would be the lowest League position the club would attain in their time in the Conference. Manager Peter Wragg left the club that Summer.
Start of an era
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland International, Sammy McIlroy joined Macclesfield as manager for the start of the 1993/94 season which saw the Club win the Drinkwise Cup for the first time.
In the FA Trophy they bowed out in the third round to the season's giant killers, Billingham Synthonia. Another league scalp was added to Macclesfield's collection as they beat Hartlepool United in the first round of the FA Cup. The Silkmen's giant killing act did not continue in round two, as they were narrowly defeated 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra.
In the Cheshire Senior Cup they were removed from the competition on a technicality after the second round, having thrashed Colwyn Bay 7-1 whilst the Staffordshire Senior Cup was won for the first time with a 14-1 aggregate victory over Wednesfield.
Throughout the season Macclesfield made steady progress up the Vauxhall Conference to finish a very respectable seventh.
Title Triumph (Number One)
Season 1994/95 was one of the most successful seasons in the Club's history. Although there were early exits in the FA Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup, good progress was made in the other three cup competitions entered. In fact Macclesfield went out of all these cups to the eventual winners.
In defending the Staffordshire Senior Cup, Stoke City were narrow victors at the semi final stage. It was also a semi final defeat in the Bob Lord Trophy, by Bromsgrove Rovers in extra time, which removed this trophy from the Moss Rose cabinet.
In the FA Trophy, holders and eventual winners, Woking ended Macclesfield's run and the dream of the non-league double. The icing on a tremendous season was achieved in May when Macclesfield lifted the most coveted trophy in non-league football, The Vauxhall Conference Trophy.
Macclesfield headed the table on the 5th November 1994 and never relinquished the top spot. At one point they held a 22 point lead over their nearest rivals. They set a new Conference record of 10 consecutive victories just before the New Year and when 1995 arrived they remained unbeaten in all competitions up to the 21st March. The record breaking season saw manager, Sammy McIlroy, lift a record four Manager of the Month Awards, along with Manager of the Year.
Three players also received recognition as a reflection of the team's achievement. Club Captain Neil Howarth, goalkeeper Steve Farrelly and midfield Martin McDonald were all named in the Vauxhall Conference Team of the Year. The same three players also made their England semi professional debuts bringing more honour to the Club.
There is no doubt that Season 1994/95 wrote a new chapter in the Club's history.
Wembley Winners
Success under Sammy McIlroy continued in the 1995/96 season as the Silkmen defended the Conference title.
They led the table for 13 weeks before surrendering to Stevenage Borough late in the season when cup success and fixture backlog caught up with the team, and they finally finished fourth.
Although the Club exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle they went on to the County Cup semi final, finished runners up in the League Cup and won the Championship Shield.
The greatest success of the season came in May when the Club won the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium. The famous 3-1 win over Northwich was watched live on Sky as Payne and Hemmings scored either side of a Northwich own goal. This was the second time the Club had won non-league's most treasured cup competition having been inaugural winners in 1970.
Title Triumph (Number Two)
The 1996/97 season proved to be the most successful season in the Club's 123 year history.
First round exits in the FA Cup and FA Trophy served to inspire the Silkmen in the other four competitions. Runners up positions were achieved in the Spalding Challenge Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup, whilst the Staffordshire Senior Cup returned to the Moss Rose.
Also returning to the Moss Rose trophy cabinet was the Championship Shield, which was retained under the challenge of Stevenage Borough. The Vauxhall Championship also made a welcome return.
No one would have backed Macclesfield early in the season, as problems off the field threatened the future of the Club, however everyone responded in a positive way and at the turn of the year the Silkmen set about reducing Kidderminster's 16 point lead at the top of the table and by 22 February, Macclesfield headed the table.
The feeling that it could be done was intensified by the tremendous 3-2 win at Stevenage. 2-0 with half an hor to go, John Askey had been sent off and things were looking desperate. Woody reduces the arrears before Carwyn Williams netted a penalty. Steve Wood drove the Silkmen wild in the last minutes with a spectacular free kick.
A nighmare match against Halifax was out penultimate game of the season and 1500 Silkmen made the trip. From 2-0 and 3-1 up in the game the blues managed to let the title slip and the match was eventually drawn 3-3. It would be a LONG couple of days as we awaited our final match.
They went on to win the Conference title by 5 points as we swept Kettering aside by 4-1 with Peter Davenport and Chris Byrne (3) scoring in the first half. The title was won before the end of the match as news filtered through that Kidderminster had lost to Gateshead. The celebrations began before the final whistle as promotion was achieved. All of this was achieved with the smallest playing squad in the history of the competition.
The celebrations that followed were more complete than two years earlier, when promotion to the Football League was denied due to ground criteria. This time the Championship victory was rewarded with a place in the Nationwide Football League.
Macclesfield's first match in the GM Vauxhall Conference finished with a 1-0 win over Maidstone United. Steve Burr was the scorer on a historic day for the Silkmen.
The Silkmen achieved some good results through the season. Putting five past Northwich, beating Altrincham at home 1-0 and away 3-1 through a superb Steve Burr hat-trick, a 4-0 demolition of Runcorn and a superb home win over soon to be champions Lincoln City all stick in the mind. They struggled for form and finished the season in an unremarkable, yet respectable 11th place.
Although it was a somewhat disappointing League campaign the Silkmen hit the headlines with their exploits in the FA Cup and many people attribute the poor league form to the cup run. After sweeping aside Stalybridge and Chadderton with a five goal salvo each, the Silkmen eased past Marine and Whitby Town. They were rewarded with a home tie against Carlisle United. 2-0 down with half an hour left and the Silkmen seemed out of the competition but goals from Mick Hardman, John Askey and Graham Tobin gave the Silkmen their first League scalp in 20 years sparking ugly scenes as a group of Carlisle supporters decided to vent their anger.
Legendary Matches
The Silkmen were drawn against Rotherham in the second round and 4,500 people witnesses one of the most famous days in our history as the then old Third Division club were resoundingly beaten by four goals to nil. Steve Burr netted a hat-trick and David Grant scored a superb solo goal late in the game.
The Silkmen then travelled to Port Vale where 10,808 people saw the Silkmen match Vale blow for blow with the best chances falling the Silkmen's way with John Askey coming closest in striking the post against his former club. It was desperately cruel on Macc when Kevin Finney's late winner hit the back of the net and rewarded Port Vale with a tie at Tottenham Hotspur (which they went on to win)
Consolidation
The next few years were a bit dull after the excitement of the previous couple of seasons.
There were brief respite in Cup competitions and beating local rivals Altrincham. In 1988/89 the Club reached the FA Trophy Final at Wembley for the second time, losing 0-1 to Telford after extra time. It was a good season for the Silkmen with a very respectable 7th place finish.
1989/1990 saw the Silkmen continue their clim up the League with a fourth place finish and in the FA Cup they achieved the first round where we they were dispatched by Chester City after a replay.
In 1990/91 they again won the Cheshire Senior Cup and finished Seventh in the League. 1991/92 season was an inconsistent one for Macclesfield, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup for a record 18th time, finishing in the semi-final of the FA Trophy while losing in the FA Cup second qualifying round to Borrowash Victoria.
Penalty Triumph and Relegation Worries
In the 1992/93 season Macclesfield enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup playing nine games before being knocked out by Stockport County in the second round.
The Silkmen had claimed the scalp of Chesterfield in the first round. After a 0-0 draw at the Moss Rose the tie went to a replay at Chesterfield where a 2-2 draw sent the match to penalties. Macclesfield Town then wrote the history books in becoming the first ever non-league team to dispatch League opposition on penalties in the FA Cup. A home tie with Stockport awaited and but the Silkmen were dispatched 2-0 at a packed Moss Rose.
After three attempts, Witton Albion halted Macclesfield's progress in the FA Trophy and Warrington Town ensured the Senior Cup would not remain in the Moss Rose trophy cabinet.
Macclesfield were beaten at the semi final stage of the Drinkwise Cup by Northwich Victoria who went on to beat Wycombe in the final. For most of the second half of the season Macclesfield fought against relegation. Conference survival was only secured on the last day of the season with a 1-0 away win at champions Wycombe, while neighbours Altrincham were helping out with a 5-2 win at Farnborough. This would be the lowest League position the club would attain in their time in the Conference. Manager Peter Wragg left the club that Summer.
Start of an era
The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland International, Sammy McIlroy joined Macclesfield as manager for the start of the 1993/94 season which saw the Club win the Drinkwise Cup for the first time.
In the FA Trophy they bowed out in the third round to the season's giant killers, Billingham Synthonia. Another league scalp was added to Macclesfield's collection as they beat Hartlepool United in the first round of the FA Cup. The Silkmen's giant killing act did not continue in round two, as they were narrowly defeated 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra.
In the Cheshire Senior Cup they were removed from the competition on a technicality after the second round, having thrashed Colwyn Bay 7-1 whilst the Staffordshire Senior Cup was won for the first time with a 14-1 aggregate victory over Wednesfield.
Throughout the season Macclesfield made steady progress up the Vauxhall Conference to finish a very respectable seventh.
Title Triumph (Number One)
Season 1994/95 was one of the most successful seasons in the Club's history. Although there were early exits in the FA Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup, good progress was made in the other three cup competitions entered. In fact Macclesfield went out of all these cups to the eventual winners.
In defending the Staffordshire Senior Cup, Stoke City were narrow victors at the semi final stage. It was also a semi final defeat in the Bob Lord Trophy, by Bromsgrove Rovers in extra time, which removed this trophy from the Moss Rose cabinet.
In the FA Trophy, holders and eventual winners, Woking ended Macclesfield's run and the dream of the non-league double. The icing on a tremendous season was achieved in May when Macclesfield lifted the most coveted trophy in non-league football, The Vauxhall Conference Trophy.
Macclesfield headed the table on the 5th November 1994 and never relinquished the top spot. At one point they held a 22 point lead over their nearest rivals. They set a new Conference record of 10 consecutive victories just before the New Year and when 1995 arrived they remained unbeaten in all competitions up to the 21st March. The record breaking season saw manager, Sammy McIlroy, lift a record four Manager of the Month Awards, along with Manager of the Year.
Three players also received recognition as a reflection of the team's achievement. Club Captain Neil Howarth, goalkeeper Steve Farrelly and midfield Martin McDonald were all named in the Vauxhall Conference Team of the Year. The same three players also made their England semi professional debuts bringing more honour to the Club.
There is no doubt that Season 1994/95 wrote a new chapter in the Club's history.
Wembley Winners
Success under Sammy McIlroy continued in the 1995/96 season as the Silkmen defended the Conference title.
They led the table for 13 weeks before surrendering to Stevenage Borough late in the season when cup success and fixture backlog caught up with the team, and they finally finished fourth.
Although the Club exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle they went on to the County Cup semi final, finished runners up in the League Cup and won the Championship Shield.
The greatest success of the season came in May when the Club won the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium. The famous 3-1 win over Northwich was watched live on Sky as Payne and Hemmings scored either side of a Northwich own goal. This was the second time the Club had won non-league's most treasured cup competition having been inaugural winners in 1970.
Title Triumph (Number Two)
The 1996/97 season proved to be the most successful season in the Club's 123 year history.
First round exits in the FA Cup and FA Trophy served to inspire the Silkmen in the other four competitions. Runners up positions were achieved in the Spalding Challenge Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup, whilst the Staffordshire Senior Cup returned to the Moss Rose.
Also returning to the Moss Rose trophy cabinet was the Championship Shield, which was retained under the challenge of Stevenage Borough. The Vauxhall Championship also made a welcome return.
No one would have backed Macclesfield early in the season, as problems off the field threatened the future of the Club, however everyone responded in a positive way and at the turn of the year the Silkmen set about reducing Kidderminster's 16 point lead at the top of the table and by 22 February, Macclesfield headed the table.
The feeling that it could be done was intensified by the tremendous 3-2 win at Stevenage. 2-0 with half an hor to go, John Askey had been sent off and things were looking desperate. Woody reduces the arrears before Carwyn Williams netted a penalty. Steve Wood drove the Silkmen wild in the last minutes with a spectacular free kick.
A nighmare match against Halifax was out penultimate game of the season and 1500 Silkmen made the trip. From 2-0 and 3-1 up in the game the blues managed to let the title slip and the match was eventually drawn 3-3. It would be a LONG couple of days as we awaited our final match.
They went on to win the Conference title by 5 points as we swept Kettering aside by 4-1 with Peter Davenport and Chris Byrne (3) scoring in the first half. The title was won before the end of the match as news filtered through that Kidderminster had lost to Gateshead. The celebrations began before the final whistle as promotion was achieved. All of this was achieved with the smallest playing squad in the history of the competition.
The celebrations that followed were more complete than two years earlier, when promotion to the Football League was denied due to ground criteria. This time the Championship victory was rewarded with a place in the Nationwide Football League.
