ON THIS DAY: 31ST JULY 2021

31 Jul 2026

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On this day in 2021, the Silkmen re-embarked on their incredible journey as Macclesfield FC, facing Burscough in our first game back at the Leasing.com Stadium in the North West Counties Premier Division.

After what was simply the unthinkable, to have returned with such pride and hope at the beginning of a new era is a day all associated with Macclesfield FC will never forget.

Then Manager and Silkmen legend Danny Whitaker returned to the hallowed turf in Macc colours once more as Player / Manager, featuring in the starting XI which was as follows:

Ben Pierce; Curtis Obeng, Ekow Coker, Kieran Kennedy, Aaron Fleming; Leon Arnasalam, Sidi Fofana Sanogo, Danny Whitaker, Laurent Mendy, Aaron Dwyer; Tom Clare.

The difference between the sides on that historic afternoon would be a single Leon Arnasalam strike just sixteen minutes in to the encounter, slotting home from close range to score the first ever Macclesfield FC goal, and guide them to their first ever victory, adding their first three points on the board.

Relive the day via our first BBC documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93PzVY-ex4o

The remainder of the season would similarly go down in the history books, culminating in promotion to the Northern Premier League Division West at the first time of asking, winning the league by a distance, wrapping up the title in mid-March with a 4-0 victory over Ashton Athletic, doubling up as the first Club in all 9 divisions of English football to secure promotion before concluding our inaugural season on 2nd April, fifteen points clear of second place Skelmersdale United.

What do you remember most about that first game back as Macclesfield FC?

To jog your memory, here’s the best action images from that unbelievable day!

 

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