Find Us Keepers

Five shot-stoppers who could become Macc's new no.1

In the aftermath of the play-off final loss to Marine, the two Rob’s (Savage and Smethurst) stressed the need for a settled playing squad for the 2024/25 season. However, Macc’s Retained List suggests that stability will not be prioritised over change in pursuit of improvements on the pitch - evidenced none more so than the club’s approach to recruiting goalkeepers, which has resembled a game of musical chairs at times.

Last Thursday’s announcement means that Macc’s goalkeeping department will undergo yet another overhaul this summer following the release of Ollie Byrne, Conor O’Keefe and Danny Taberner. The departures of Taberner (who failed to make a single appearance after joining from Clitheroe in March), and O’Keefe (who fell out of favour after displacing Max Johnstone) were predictable. But the decision to release Byrne, who finished the season as our no.1 after leaving Altrincham, was perhaps more surprising. Byrne, with National League pedigree behind him, performed well overall during his eight game spell but ultimately not well enough to be kept on.

Bad recruitment or bad luck?

In total, seven keepers were on Macc’s books at various stages last season. Permanent additions Max Johnstone and Conor O’Keefe were recruited after spells playing overseas (in the United Arab Emirates and Sweden respectively) but were soon cast aside.

Loan signing Dylan Berry from Norwich did make the goalkeeping jersey his own, only to be recalled by his parent club after 20 appearances in February. Joe Hilton (pictured), another loanee from a Championship club (Blackburn), did impress in only conceding three goals in six games between the sticks. Sadly, Joe’s loan was abruptly cut short after he suffered an injury against Ashton which ruled him out for six to eight weeks. Having returned to fitness, Macc boss Michael Clegg may try and tempt Hilton back to the Leasing.com stadium to pick up where he left off. Although the Blackburn youngster has 12 months left on his contract and is likely to have ambitions to play at a higher level next season.

With Hilton sidelined, more goalkeeping reinforcements were needed. In came Ollie Byrne and Danny Taberner, joining Manchester United Academy keeper Tom Wooster who had signed on loan in February until the end of the season. Neither Taberner or Wooster played a single minute as Byrne cemented his place as Macc’s number one.

Did you know?

·       Since reforming, Macc have signed 20 goalkeepers in three seasons with five players failing to make a solitary appearance for the Silkmen

·       According to the excellent @SilkmenStats on X (give them a follow!), no goalkeeper has made more than 27 league appearances for Macclesfield FC

·       Sam Ashton (31 apps) and successful loanees Marcelo Pitaluga (25 apps) and Whyll Stanway (21 apps) have commanded most time in goal for Macc

Could these keepers be on our radar for next season?

*NB disclaimer – the following five goalkeepers are merely suggestions from me as players Macc could be looking at. I’m in no way ‘ITK’ or have any insights into Michael Clegg’s summer shopping list! But it will be interesting to see whether ‘Cleggy’ opts for youth or experience in goal next season.

Tony Thompson

Thompson is well known to Macc fans having played over 150 games for Altrincham. The 29 year-old was in goal for the side which sealed promotion back to the National League, keeping a clean sheet in Alty’s triumph over Boston in the National League North play-off final in 2020.

Following Altrincham’s decision to move to a full-time playing squad in 2022, Thompson elected to move on. He joined Warrington Town, keeping 15 clean sheets during their promotion to the National League North in 2023. But Thompson most famously hit the headlines after being sent off for reacting to a fan who urinated in his water bottle during an FA Trophy tie versus Guiseley.

After failing to receive assurances that he would remain Town’s undisputed number one, Thompson left Warrington weeks into last season to link up with Bootle in the Northern Premier League Division One West. There he became a regular starter as Bootle finished fourth, eventually losing in the play-off semi against Prescot Cables who went on to clinch promotion to the National League North.

Not the biggest keeper at 6ft, Thompson is nevertheless a commanding and experienced presence between the sticks. Macc’s daytime training model may be a barrier to any potential approach, however.

Joe Cracknell

Cracknell has recently become a free agent after deciding to leave Scarborough Athletic in the National League North in pursuit of first-team football. The experienced keeper, who turns 30 next month, played over 100 games for the Seadogs and received a tribute from Scarborough manager Jonathan Greening who said: “We love Crackers and really wanted him to stay and compete for the number 1 shirt, but we fully understand his desire to play regularly.”

Prior to joining Scarborough, Cracknell gained Football League experience during four years at Harrogate Town after originally being part of Hull City’s academy set-up as a youngster. Upon his release by Harrogate at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, manager Simon Weaver commented:

“Joe Cracknell has been great since he joined this club. He’s never been a moment’s problem, he’s a brilliant lad, always trains properly, an absolute pleasure to work with. And, he did really well for us during the last few games of the season, he made some very good saves.”

Like Tony Thompson, Cracknell isn’t the biggest at 6ft, but his attitude is likely to appeal to many step 2 and 3 clubs. But can he transition from perennial number two to a commanding number one?

Elliott Taylor

Taylor is a goalkeeper on the way up who has been receiving stellar reviews lower down the non-league pyramid. He was the hero for Harborough Town as they booked their place in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division play-off final, saving two penalties in the shoot-out as The Bees emerged 4-2 winners. Taylor then kept a clean sheet in the play-off final as Harborough defeated Anstey to play in the seventh tier of English football for the first time in the club’s history.

Taylor has been instrumental in Harborough recording their second promotion in three years, keeping goal for a side that conceded just 24 goals in 38 league games last season. Previously at Nuneaton, Taylor struggled to make the breakthrough at first-team level. But during his time at Harborough, the 6ft4 stopper has blossomed with regular football and was voted by fans as step 5 goalkeeper of the year.

Tempting Taylor further north could prove tricky though. The 26 year-old appears settled in the Leicestershire area and runs his own landscaping business.

Jordan Amissah

German born Amissah was a youth product of Borussia Dortmund before moving to England in 2021 to join Sheffield United’s U21’s squad. The 6ft 6 giant is an imposing figure in goal and played 24 times in loan spells at National League North level with Guiseley and Spennymoor Town in the 2021-22 season.

It was at Spennymoor where the 22-year-old particularly caught the eye, saving three penalties in an 18-game spell for the Moors. But to date Amissah’s football league experience has been restricted to a second-half substitute appearance for Sheffield United at Luton and an unsuccessful loan move to league one Burton Albion, where he played only three games conceding six goals.

As the Blades prepare for life back in the Championship following a disastrous Premier League relegation, manager Chris Wilder will clear the decks to make way for fresh faces. Amissah, whose contract is up in the summer, is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements. The young goalkeeper won’t be short of suitors at National League level, but Macc could possibly persuade him to drop down a level to get his career back on track.

Dan Langley

Like Jordan Amissah, Langley is another young goalkeeper with a towering 6ft 7 frame who has spent time on loan at Spennymoor. The former Newcastle United academy graduate has recently completed a loan spell at Scunthorpe United from Oldham, but only made the bench for both clubs.

Whilst at Newcastle, Langley played 12 times for Gateshead in 2022 following the Heeds return to the National League, before dropping down to join Spennymoor in the National League North making a further 13 appearances.

Following his release by Newcastle, the 23 year-old had an unsuccessful trial at Carlisle United and subsequently ended up at Blyth Spartans at the start of last season on a non-contract basis. After initially beginning the campaign for the Spartans, Langley was snapped up by National League Oldham in November who then loaned him back to Blyth where he played a total of 15 times for the club who were relegated from the National League North.

Upon his return to Boundary Park, Oldham loaned Langley to Scunthorpe to act as understudy to current Iron keeper Ross Fitzsimons for the remainder of the season. It’s fair to say that Langley needs a regular home to kickstart his career – could he become Macc’s number one?

Which goalkeepers do you think Macc should target? Have your say in the comments box below.