MACCLESFIELD’S decision to axe John Askey has sent shockwaves through the football club.
The Silkmen assistant was given six months’ notice after his contract was terminated last week.
Askey, 41, has been the heart and soul of the Cheshire club for more than two decades.
Through thick and thin, ‘Sir John’ has always played with immense pride and has been a fantastic ambassador for the club both on and off the field.
The fans’ favourite, who made nearly 700 appearances in the blue shirt, has filled virtually every position within the club over last 22 years.
Express Sport goes back to the beginning to cover the key moments of a fabulous career.
Askey played his first game for Macclesfield in 1983 under Brian Booth. As a fresh-faced 19-year-old, he scored with his first touch in a game against Morecambe in the Northern Premier League.
The talented striker played another dozen times over the next couple of years before answering an SOS call for the Silkmen’s FA Cup clash with Hartlepool. With brother, Bob, and Steve Burr both suspended, Askey came to the rescue - scoring in a 2-1 defeat.
The Stoke-born forward had been playing for Port Vale on non-contract terms, but agreed to joined Macc on a full-time basis after this. He never looked back.
Askey was an integral part of Macc’s treble-winning side and picked up a runners-up medal in FA Trophy final defeat to Telford at Wembley 1994.
His ten-year service was rewarded with a testimonial at Moss Rose against a Manchester United side which included youngsters David Beckham and Gary Neville.
But delight turned to despair when he missed the whole of the next campaign after breaking his leg in a pre-season friendly at Winsford, an injury which threatened to end his career. The year on the sidelines prevented him from playing in the FA Trophy in 1996 when Macc recorded a famous victory against Northwich Victoria.
The veteran hitman played his final game for the club against Rochdale at the end of the 2002/03 season, signing off in spectacular style when he came on as substitute and scored before leaping into the crowd for one of the most memorable celebrations ever witnessed at Moss Rose.
By then Askey had already had his first taste of management. He was put in temporary charge in the Silkmen’s last match of the 1999/00 season at Halifax after Peter Davenport had walked out over a contract dispute.
More significantly, he spent two years in charge of the Silkmen’s successful reserve team, bringing through players such as Rickie Lambert, Danny Whitaker and Michael Welch, and leading the second string to the Avon Insurance Reserve League title for the only time in the club’s history in 2001/02.
Askey took over from David Moss in October 2003, drawing his first game in charge at Hull, and enjoyed a bright start to his managerial career, with Macc losing just once in his first eight matches, including a 4-0 thumping of Huddersfield.
Injuries to key players and George Abbey’s absence through international commitments had hampered his 27-game tenure, and Brian Horton was brought in to save the club from relegation in April, with Askey staying on as assistant.
While results may have conspired against him, Askey was responsible for several astute signings during his time as boss. Jon Parkin, Paul Harsley, Graham Potter, Steve Payne and Matt Carragher all arrived at Moss Rose and were instrumental in Macc avoiding the drop and, also, in last season’s play-off success.
