Welcome to the new season 2026-2027!
This week marks the delayed start of the new Community Rugby season. The heat and drought that caused the hard grounds that were the reason for the delay now seem a rather distant memory.
As we all know, last season was a very successful one for the 1st XV with them finishing 3rd in National League 2 North. For all the reasons that we have spoken about previously, our refusal of a level transfer between National League 2 North and National League 2 West resulted in our undeserved and disgraceful relegation back to Regional League 1 North West for this season. The club also experienced the significant exodus of about 25 players as a result.
That is the history, but over the summer Matt Coleridge DoR and his team have worked tirelessly to retain and recruit players to prepare for the new season. For the many of you who were supporting the team at the pre-season games against Manchester and Sheffield XV in particular, you will have been heartened by some excellent skills on display and a lot of points scored by Macclesfield too! On Saturday it all begins in earnest, as the 1st XV welcome Dronfield RUFC to Priory Park for the first time and the 2nd XV welcome old friends and rivals Sale FC to Priory Park as well. The 3rd XV will travel to Heaton Moor to open their season. It will be some achievement to field three Macclesfield teams on Saturday and this is a tribute to all the coaches, captains and team managers to make it happen given our well publicised challenges in the lead up to this season.
You can all help the players by offering your support from the stand and touchlines on Saturday to encourage them to put on a great performance, they really appreciate it. There is the Former Players Lunch before the game as well and it would be wonderful to see as many members and guests as possible to swell the numbers at Priory Park on the 1st day of the new season. Go to the website to book on.
On Sunday, the M&Y will also get into their stride with several hundred young players training and playing coached as always by some very experienced volunteer coaches, and proudly supported by many parents and guardians. As they progress through their age groups and develop their skills we hope and look forward to welcoming many of them into the senior club to represent Macclesfield in the future. There was a signing ceremony only a week ago to welcome some of the Colts transitioning into the senior club, perhaps you saw the photos. Great stuff.
Our successful Women’s team have a later start to the season, not beginning their league matches until they play Birkenhead Park away on the 11th October. This section of the club is growing and developing fast and I highly recommend a visit to watch them play, often on a Sunday. Already this year we have had a very successful and enjoyable girls schools festival put on and supported by members of the Women’s team.
Over the summer there has been a concerted effort, in particular from the Roustabouts, to smarten up the club facilities. There has been a great deal of painting and decorating around the clubhouse and the spectator area outside the Sin Bin. All the goalposts on the main pitch as well as the back pitches have had a coat of paint up to and including the crossbars, and the posts and rails around the main pitch have also had a well deserved sanding down and a coat of paint too.
Our club is a great one, with a long and illustrious history. Rugby Union is a great game and we all enjoy the part that we play in it, whether playing, volunteering or just spectating. A lot of people work very hard to make the club what it is and ensure we have the teams on the field and the facilities that we enjoy. Please play your part in ensuring 2026-2027 is another great season for the club both on as well as off the pitch. Macclesfield RUFC is a members club for the members and their guests, so lets make it a great place to come and to be.
I look forward to seeing you all during the season at Priory Park as well as supporting our teams at away matches too.
I hope you all enjoy the season !
Bob Cooke
Chairman
Macclesfield RUFC
