In January 1969 the Cheshire RFU announced the recommencement of a Cup competition which would
be open to all clubs registered to the Cheshire RFU. The competition was to commence in season 1969-
70. The previous competition, the Cheshire County Challenge Cup, was first played for in season 1877-8
and was competed for annually until sadly a County meeting held in April 1891 agreed that “cup ties be
discontinued as detrimental in the long run to the true interests of football in Cheshire”. Among the clubs
to take part in the first few Cup competitions were Alderley&Macclesfield, one of JW Thorp’s clubs.
The first record of Macclesfield entering the new Cheshire Cup is not until 1971-2 season when they were
drawn against Cheshire Police. Games were played alongside the regular fixture list on a Sunday, thereby
meaning two games a weekend for many players.
In that first ever game MUFC turned in a scrappy error-strewn performance featuring an interception try
by Phil Jones, and yet another immaculate kicking display by scrum-half Geoff Leech and saw the end in
defeat, 10-16.
