Moss Rose
Encyclopedia
Moss Rose is a multi-purpose stadium
in Macclesfield
, England
. It is currently used mostly for football
matches and is the home ground of Macclesfield Town F.C.
. The stadium holds 6,355 and was built in 1891 making it the second oldest in the Football League.
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 September 1, 1990. Later in the month, Arsenal
played at 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 (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 Moss Rose was now up to the required standards. The Silkmen beat Torquay United in their first home league match on August 9, 1997 and Moss Rose continues to host professional matches today.
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.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is currently used mostly for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and is the home ground of Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. The stadium holds 6,355 and was built in 1891 making it the second oldest in the Football League.
History
Moss Rose first hosted Football League action when Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
played home games at the stadium between moving from Sealand Road
Sealand Road
Sealand Road was the home stadium of Chester City Football Club from 1906 until 1990. Although officially known simply as The Stadium, it was more commonly referred to as Sealand Road...
to the Deva Stadium from 1990 to 1992. The first such match was a 2-1 win for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
on September 1, 1990. Later in the month, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
played at Moss Rose in a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
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
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
after the stadium requirements were tightened (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 Moss Rose was now up to the required standards. The Silkmen beat Torquay United in their first home league match on August 9, 1997 and Moss Rose continues to host professional matches today.
Structure and facilities
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
). 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.