Macclesfield FC are delighted to have retained the services of Club Captain Paul Dawson for the foreseeable future!
Having led the team to the Enterprise National League North play-off semi-finals and the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, a contender for the Silkmen’s golden boot and regular feature in the middle of the park, it was a straight forward decision for both parties to extend Paul’s contract beyond the end of the 2025/26 season.
Since signing for the Silkmen in the summer of 2023, Paul has played a prominent part in the Club’s recent success, acquiring the match day Captaincy at the beginning of the 2024/25 season having presented indisputable leadership skills in his initial twelve months with the Club and at his previous club Bamber Bridge, where he also donned the armband.
After playing alongside Manager John Rooney in the previous two seasons, his former midfield partner put his full trust in Dawson to remain as Skipper for the 2025/26 season and has represented Macclesfield FC excellently, both on and off the pitch, and is entirely deserving of his new deal, signed in the last seven days.
With 33 goals in 135 appearances in blue, Paul has often led from the front, regularly providing both goals and assists predominantly from the centre of midfield, though also from numerous positions requiring temporary cover, which Dawson has fulfilled brilliantly, offering extensive versatility to each Manager he has played under, particularly for Rooney this season, evident with having featured in the vast majority of games and scoring 15 goals across four competitions.
Dawson memorably scored the first goal in what is now widely regarded as the biggest ever Emirates FA Cup upset, rising highest to head home against holders Crystal Palace at the Leasing.com Stadium in January, a moment which epitomised everything that our Captain stands for, presenting a fearless attitude to winning each and every dual and deservingly reaping the rewards on that particular occasion.
Paul also supported management team John Rooney, Francis Jeffers and Ant Curran through one of the darkest periods in the Club’s history following the loss of Ethan McLeod. Similarly to how Rooney, Jeffers and Curran held the group together during such an devastating time, Dawson was ever present in supporting his seniors and team mates, soon guiding them back to representing Ethan in the best possible way.
Dawson too has played a major part in the Silkmen’s return to form after the turn of the year, leading them from 15th to 4th in the Enterprise National League North in such a short space of time. Whilst the culmination of the 2025/26 season wasn’t quite as everyone associated with the Club would’ve hoped for, Dawson along with everyone in the dressing room’s full focus is on achieving promotion to the Enterprise National League next season, which the Club couldn’t be more confident of achieving as a competitive force in the upcoming 2026/27 season.
We’d like to congratulate Paul on being rewarded with a fully deserved new contract and are delighted to have him on board for the foreseeable future.
