As the beginning of the 2026/27 Enterprise National League North season fast approaches, we take a closer look at each of our opening five fixtures of the new campaign.
MARINE (A) – SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST – MARINE TRAVEL ARENA – 3PM
The Silkmen begin the season on Saturday 8th August with a trip to Merseyside, where they will face Marine AFC, specifically at the Marine Travel Arena, where Macclesfield have previously experienced success, most recently running out 4-2 runners in March earlier this year, courtesy of goals from Sam Heathcote, Josh Kay, Elliot Osborne and James Gale.
The two sides met for the first time since the Club’s reformation in 2023 in our inaugural season in the Northern Premier League, winning the initial meeting 2-1 at Marine thanks to goals from Tre Pemberton and now-Manager John Rooney. Macc completed the league double in March later that season, with Rooney on the scoresheet once more alongside Tunde Owolabi.
Despite taking all six points from the Mariners, they would seek and secure revenge in the most crucial meeting of all, the Northern Premier League play-off final, halting the Silkmen’s run of successive promotions on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign at the Leasing.com Stadium, Kane Drummond responded to two decisive goals from the visitors, but it wouldn’t be enough to prevent them from earning promotion to the National League North, leaving then-Michael Clegg’s Macc distraught on home turf.
Unable to overcome the home hoodoo from the previous match-up, Marine would get the better of Macc once more in the most recent 2025/26 Enterprise National League North season, Matty McDonald’s second half strike would be the difference between the two sides, with Macc disadvantaged for over 70 minutes having been reduced to ten men, with Josh Kay receiving his marching orders early on.
The Silkmen would come good against the side who have effectively become their bogey team over the last few seasons, taking maximum points in Merseyside back in March, though despite rising to 5th following the victory, it wouldn’t be enough to secure promotion to the National League, leading to a a sixth and seventh meeting in three years for the two sides. The reverse fixture is scheduled for Tuesday 8th December.
RADCLIFFE (H) – SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST – LEASING.COM STADIUM
The Silkmen’s second opponents of the new campaign are Radcliffe FC. A side who have proved difficult to overcome in seasons gone by, with Macc only having been victorious in one of our last four meetings, though notably so at the Leasing.com Stadium, where the teams initially meet once more. Goals from Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Paul Dawson would earn the points in the Club’s first outing in 2026.
The result and scorers would be matched just four days later against Premier League giants and then-Emirates FA Cup holders Crystal Palace at the same venue.
The other three meetings have gone in the favour of our first visitors to the Leasing.com Stadium, taking maximum points from Macc in the 2023/24 season in two closely fought clashes, with the dramatic occasions ending to the detriment of the Silkmen, recording 4-3 and 3-2 losses to the Boro.
Despite having briefly overturned the bragging rights on home turf, Macc would conclude their regular 2025/26 Enterprise National League North season with defeat at the Neuven Stadium, separated only by a 70th minute Rio Clegg goal. Having only faced three other teams by the time the two are reunited, Radcliffe will remain a relatively fresh memory in Macc minds as they prepare for their fifth and six meetings in three years. The reverse fixture will take place on Saturday 19th December.
SPALDING UNITED (A) – TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST – SIR HALLEY STEWART FIELD
Spalding will be our third opponents of the 2026/27 and the first of six new National League North teams for the Silkmen to face, following their promotion from the Southern Premier League via the play-offs. The two teams have met once prior in a non-competitive environment, just over two years ago in the Club’s 2024/25 pre-season campaign, resulting in heavy defeat for a youthful Macc side.
The fixture will be our second away trip of the season and first midweek game, as we head to Lincolnshire to take on the Tulips in the first of our two scheduled encounters, and will inevitably be going in search of a positive result to get off to the best possible start in the Club’s second successive season in the same division.
For many fans, players and Club officials alike, this will be our first trip to the Sir Halley Stewart Field, which we are all looking forward to and will equally welcome the Tulips back to the Leasing.com Stadium on Tuesday 9th March. Spalding are one of only three Club’s that the Silkmen are currently due to meet for both encounters on a Tuesday night this season.
BRACKLEY TOWN (H) – SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST – LEASING.COM STADIUM
Brackley are our fourth opposition and second consecutive new side that we will face during the 2026/27 campaign. Macc will return to the Leasing.com Stadium for what will be their second of another twenty three home league games in the same division.
Whilst our previous opponents Spalding are on the rise from the Southern Premier League, Brackley return from the Enterprise National League having failed to remain in the top flight of non-league at the first time of asking, finishing fourth from bottom on 40 points. Brackley will inevitably return to the National League North with a point to prove and on paper, will be one of our more challenging opponents this season.
The Clubs have only met once previously, back in 2013 in the FA Cup at the Leasing.com Stadium, where the Silkmen ran out 3-2 winners after a tense tie, which saw Macc progress to the Third Round of the famous old competition. Goals from Danny Andrew, Scott Boden and Jack Mackreth would be enough to eventually defeat the Saints.
Having met previously at the home of Macclesfield, Andy Whing’s men will travel north from Northamptonshire for their second visit to the Leasing.com Stadium on the third Saturday of the season, before the Silkmen will return the favour, making their inaugural trip to St James Park on Saturday 6th March.
DARLINGTON (A) – SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST – BLACKWELL MEADOWS
Last but no means least is Darlington, a team which many more associated with Silkmen will be more familiar with having been a regular thorn in Macc Town sides in EFL League Two between 2004 and 2010, typically sharing the spoils during that era before being reunited last season in the Enterprise National League, when John Rooney’s men took maximum points from the Quakers, running out 2-1 winners on both occasions.
Danny Elliott and D’Mani Mellor were both on target when the sides met at a similar stage of the season twelve months ago at the Leasing.com Stadium, despite a response between the two Macc strikes from Darlington’s Jack Maskell. Most recently, Macc travelled to Blackwell Meadows to complete a league double against the side from the North East, courtesy of a James Gale brace, despite another sandwiched response from Maskell.
Darlington were a promotion rival to the Silkmen throughout the 2025/26 season, predominantly in the latter stages of the campaign, though the Quakers were unable to maintain their momentum of hovering in and around the play-offs, narrowly falling short of the minimum required 7th place finish. With the Silkmen coming unstuck at the semi-final stage of the play-offs, the sides will meet twice more in the same division, the latter of which taking place back at the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday 27th February.
Tickets to both the Radcliffe and Brackley games are on sale now, along with all other home league fixtures here: https://macclesfieldfc.ticketco.events/uk/en
Away ticket information will be provided closer to the date of the fixtures.
Further instalments of in-depth looks at our 2026/27 fixture schedule will follow soon!
