Match: v Macclesfield Town - Coca-Cola League Two

Date: Tuesday, October 19th, 2004

Result: Macclesfield 1 Cambridge United 1

THE JOURNEY

Departure Time: 1.30pm

Arrival at Ground: We left early enough to enjoy relatively a relatively straightforward journey as far as the other end of the M6 Toll. There was even time to check out the new Norton Canes services on the Toll Road which are, judging by the prices, managed by Dick Turpin - although there was no sign of his horse in the staff car park.

Although the traffic was a bit sticky on the M6 after the toll section, and we took a bit of a wrong turn in Congleton, we were still at the ground just after 5.15pm. This arrival time apparently took the stewards by surprise as it was another half hour before anyone turned up to tell me where to park.

AT THE GROUND

The Ground: There had been one major change to the Moss Rose since our visits last season; the floodlighting has been upgraded, so there was no real excuse for anyone missing the key pieces of action on the immaculate pitch.

The excellent playing surface is in keeping with the stand that runs along one side of the pitch. This is still new enough to look it, and the lights from the executive boxes that ran along its back helped to even further illuminate the scene.

The main home area has covered terrace uniquely behind half a dozen rows of seats, while the away end, behind the other goal, has terracing resolutely exposed to the elements.

The other side of the ground contains mainly terracing with an old stand stuck in the middle. This stand, whose roof is seemingly held together by rust, houses the press and directors boxes.

A visit to the Moss Rose cannot pass without mention of the p.a. system. Early arrivals were regaled with his latest Elvis Presley CD, and when the tannoy man spoke it was in a leaden monotone which made his announcement of the Macclesfield goal scorer as 'Marvellous Matthew Tipton' all the more incongruous. Full marks though for coming up with Handel's Zadok the Priest as run out music. Although the occasion may not have had the same pomp and circumstance as George II's coronation for which it had been written, it somehow seemed most appropriate.

United Fans: Made all the noise in the first half, but were subdued after the equaliser until the final five minutes or so. They also seem to have developed a dislike for small towns in the West Midlands... or were they referring to a different Tipton?

View from Away End: United fans got a particularly good view of Barras' attempt to remove Jermaine Easter's leg towards the end of the match.

Home Fans: I'm not entirely sure there were any at the match. Oh, hang on, now you mention it I do remember one shout of 'Come on Silkmen' shortly after their goal.

Stewards: When they finally turned up they were very helpful; in fact Dave and Gordon have voted Shani on the press gate as the most helpful steward in the League!

Programme: At £2.50 for 68 pages, the 'Moss Rose Review' is up there with the best in the division. With plenty to read, very little filler, an innovative front cover and a good design the only question is how can they maintain a programme of this quality on what must be a very small print run?

Food/Drink: Not cheap, but welcomingly hot and tasty on a chilly evening.

State of Toilets: My early arrival in the ground meant that a kindly steward had to unlock the toilets in the main stand for me, so I suppose I'd better not be too critical - after all, they were okay as long as you remembered not to inhale!

Those in the away section were actually better, provided you didn't want to wash your hands afterwards.

AFTERWARDS

The Journey Home: Being handed a midweek trip to Macclesfield is surely proof that the Football League fixtures computer has a wicked sense of humour. Still, coming back at that time of night did at least mean that the roads were nice and clear.

Mileage: 336.8 miles

Total Distance for Season: 2,097 miles

Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray and Gordon McMillan