Macclesfield FC have secured the league title in style, coming from behind to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bamber Bridge in front of a record-breaking crowd.
The win confirms Robbie Savage's side will compete in the
National League North next season.
As the final whistle blew, jubilant Silkmen fans flooded the pitch in celebration, marking a historic moment for the club.
A Hard-Fought Battle Ends in Glory
The match kicked off with end-to-end action, as both sides battled for the opening goal. Bamber Bridge threatened first, with Jack Baxter forcing a brilliant save from Macclesfield goalkeeper Max Dearnley in the 25th minute.
Macclesfield soon responded, with Elliott setting up Duffy, only for Bamber Bridge keeper Charlie Casper to deny him. Duffy came close again moments later, but his deflected strike was tipped wide for a corner.
With just
ten minutes left in the first half, Bamber Bridge struck first—captain Michael Potts fired home and celebrated in front of the Macclesfield supporters, adding extra fuel to an already intense encounter.
Second-Half Turnaround Sparks Celebrations
Looking to change the game, Savage turned to his bench, bringing on Rollin Menayese for Sean Etaluku. The move paid off as Laurent Mendy unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike, bringing Macclesfield level on the hour mark.
From that moment, the Silkmen dominated, relentlessly pushing forward. Their persistence paid off when Elliott reacted quickly to net his 29th goal of the season, sending the home crowd into raptures.
With the lead secured, Elliott made way for Diego De Girolamo, and Macclesfield saw out the game confidently. Despite pressing for a third goal, they settled for a well-earned victory.
As referee Ashley Royston blew the final whistle, the celebrations erupted—Macclesfield FC had clinched the title, a moment months in the making.
Robbie Savage: "My Proudest Moment in Football"
For Robbie Savage, this triumph meant more than any other achievement in his career. Despite an illustrious playing career that included captaining four Premier League teams, making nearly 350 top-flight appearances, playing at Wembley, and earning 39 international caps, he described this moment as his greatest.
Savage said:
“Macclesfield being crowned champions of the Northern Premier League was my proudest moment of all.”
It was an especially sweet victory for Savage, who admitted that many within football had been waiting for him to fail.
“For all the haters, doubters, and keyboard warriors, they have fuelled my fire and that of my players. I have answered every single person who spoke negatively about us. I have proved people wrong all my life. I am a fighter, as you have to be after being released by the biggest club in the world [Manchester United] as a youngster.”
Savage’s Journey: From Ownership to the Dugout
Savage took charge of Macclesfield last summer, stepping in after previous boss Michael Clegg finished second and lost in the play-off final. Already a part-owner of the club, which was founded in 2020, Savage took the managerial role with one clear goal—promotion.
At the start of the season, he made a bold statement:
“If I fail, I know my time will be up. I won’t be able to go back to being a director of football, sitting in the stands and judging other people if I’ve come up short. I know everything is on the line.”
His determination paid off,
but it wasn’t an easy road.
“Some of the stuff that was said when I took on the job was unpleasant, to say the least. It was a horrible summer. But I believed in this team, and I believed we would go up.”
Savage had even promised to
step down if Macclesfield failed to win promotion, vowing to take a back seat as a part-owner if the Silkmen fell short.
However, with the title now secured, Savage’s managerial future is uncertain. Club owner Robert Smethurst believes that bigger clubs could come calling.
“How long he'll stay here at Macclesfield, God only knows.”
