Moss Rose
 Silk FM Main Stand in 2006. | |
| Full name | Moss Rose Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | London Road Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 7SP |
| Capacity | 6,355 (2,599 seated) |
| Field size | 100m x 60m |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1891 |
| Opened | 1891 |
| Tenants | |
Macclesfield Town (1891–present) Chester City (1990–1992) | |
The Moss Rose is a multi-purpose stadium in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It is currently used primarily for football matches and is the home ground of Macclesfield Town F.C.. The stadium holds 6,355[1] and was built in 1891, making it one of the oldest grounds in the Football League.
Contents
1 History
2 Structure and facilities
3 Future
4 References
5 External links
History
The Moss Rose first hosted Football League action when Chester City played home games at the stadium between moving from Sealand Road to the Deva Stadium from 1990 to 1992. The first such match was a 2-1 win for Exeter City on 1 September 1990. Later in the month, Arsenal played at the Moss Rose in a Football League Cup tie, winning 1-0. Macclesfield were a non-league side at the time and fixtures were arranged so Chester were at home when Macclesfield were away and vice versa. The Moss Rose pitch was having to contend with more than 50 first-team matches a season from the two sides.
Despite hosting Football League matches in this period, Macclesfield were denied entry to the Football League in 1995 after winning the Football Conference after the stadium requirements were tightened[2] (a reciprocal offer by Chester to allow Macclesfield to play at the Deva Stadium while the necessary improvements were made was also rejected by the league). Macclesfield were champions again two years later and the Moss Rose was now up to the required standards. The Silkmen beat Torquay United in their first home league match on 9 August 1997 and the Moss Rose continues to host professional matches today.
Structure and facilities
Alfred McAlpine Stand in 2006.
The ground consists of four stands. The Silk FM stand (traditionally known as the London Road or Main stand) runs along one side of the pitch. It is usually given over entirely to home supporters, unless the travelling support is particularly large, in which case the right-hand side of this stand houses some away fans. There is terracing along the entire length of the pitch, with a small stand at the back of the terracing. The Macclesfield Audi Stand (traditionally known as the Star Lane End) is to the left of the Silk FM stand, and is used by the home support. Opposite the Silk FM stand is the Henshaw's Stand (originally known as the McAlpine stand, named after the architects that also designed the ground of Huddersfield Town). This is all-seated and covered, and houses home supporters, and a small number of travelling fans. At the opposite end to the Macclesfield Audi Stand is the Silkmen Terrace, which is an open terrace and is given to away fans. Unfortunately, as Macclesfield is often struck by wet weather, this can make for an uncomfortable spectating experience for visiting fans. There are plans to introduce some seating at the back of the Silkmen End and build a leisure complex and hotel behind it, but currently the finances required to do this do not exist.
Future
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moss Rose. |
In August 2007 the club announced initial talks about moving to a purpose built home on the nearby South Macclesfield Development Area. This would see the club moving a little over a mile to the south west of its current location. The plans continued to develop and in September 2010 the local council announced that 65% of people questioned as a part of a public consultation process were behind a new stadium in the South Macclesfield Development Area.
References
^
Football Ground Guide
^ BBC h2g2 The Football Conference
External links
- Moss Rose pictures
Coordinates: 53°14′34.01″N 02°07′37.69″W / 53.2427806°N 2.1271361°W / 53.2427806; -2.1271361
