Saga of the Silkmen: calm before the storm in Macclesfield as Brentford await

A frieze along the passenger bridge at Macclesfield railway station lists milestones: "1874, Macclesfield Town established" and "1979, Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures released". Local humour has it that for 105 years nothing happened in Macclesfield; "Macc’s Macc," say those who know of a place where change is for ever slow.

Once a bustling market town, Macclesfield now shows signs of the high street’s decline, though the Treacle Market still claims to be the region’s "biggest monthly event". Football cleaves to the town’s heart. Macclesfield FC’s shock FA Cup win over Crystal Palace has shone welcome light on the club’s heritage, yet a stroll through the cobbles finds scant outward hype; the Macclesfield Express confines any excitement to its website and slim weekly edition.

Outside the Old Millstone a banner proclaims "We are the champions" in memory of Macclesfield Town’s 2017-18 National League title, but that club died in October 2020.

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