The man who masterminded Macclesfield Town’s promotion to the Football League has urged fans to get behind the club as they battle for survival.
The Silkmen are currently second from bottom in League Two and have just seven games to try to stay up, with only three of those at the Moss Rose.
The Express is today launching a campaign urging everybody in the town to ‘Back Macc’ by coming out and supporting the team.
Sammy McIllroy, the man who managed their historic promotion in 1997 says he, more than most, hopes they can pull it off.
"Macclesfield will be in my heart for the rest of my days," he said. "And all I want is for them to stay up, it’s as simple as that. Hopefully they can do it.
"I had a lot of great times there to get them into the league and also into now what’s now League One.
"We had two promotions, it was fantastic. The players and my staff worked so hard.
"Those days are never to be forgotten."
Macc were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 123 years in 1997 and have been there ever since.
That sparked wild celebrations in the town with an open-topped bus parading the team through the streets.
They had achieved the feat three years earlier in 1994, but were denied promotion as Moss Rose did not meet the league’s requirements.
Sammy says it is even more crucial they now stay up because of the quality of the opposition in the league below them.
"The hardest thing is getting back up again because the Conference is so competitive," he said. "But there are seven games left and all to play for."
He stressed how important it is that fans and the town turn out to give the team the best chance in the remaining fixtures.
"The fans have got to ask themselves if they want a Football League club or not?
"If they do they need to go along and support them and get behind them."
The town has a history of getting behind the team for huge games.
When the Silkmen played Chelsea in the FA Cup in 2007 the club sold more than 5,000 tickets in double-quick time.
And the Moss Rose was packed to the rafters for this season’s cup clash with Premier League Bolton in which Macc claimed a famous draw. Bosses are now hoping for the same level of support in the side’s remaining league games.
Their next match is away to Gillingham on Saturday.Their next home game is against Shrewsbury on Good Friday, April 6. Kick-off at 7:45pm. Tickets cost £16 for adults and £12 concessions for seats, £12 and £9 concessions for standing (£2 more on the day).
For details and to buy tickets go to www.mtfc.co.uk , go to the stadium ticket office or call 01625 264686.
