Pre-season friendlies are an ironic part of the football calendar. We spend eight weeks moaning about being starved of action (circumvented in part by this year’s World Cup) and begrudgingly attempt to fill the void in our Saturday afternoons.
Then the friendlies finally arrive and we remember they lack intensity and have the atmosphere of a library with a pitch in the middle. But for the 393 who attended the Silkmen’s opening friendly win over Hyde there was plenty to talk about and enjoy.
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· Three goals (all from Macclesfield’s emerging talent squad)
· Six new signings and a clean sheet for keeper Christian Dibble
· Trialists galore
· Josh Kay ‘undercover’
· Retrospective suspensions
Perhaps the 3-0 scoreline flattered Macclesfield against a Hyde team managed by former Silkmen boss, Michael Clegg. The Northern Premier League visitors went close to taking the lead in the first half only to be denied by the legs of Dibble, and struck the bar when 1-0 down before conceding two late goals.
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Watching ‘Trialist no.23’ enter the field was a bit like seeing your best mate turn up at a fancy dress party wearing sunglasses. No one was fooled. No.23 looked suspiciously like Josh Kay. Maybe. Definitely.
So why the cloak of anonymity?
As per football friendly folklore, the true identities of trialists don’t have to be made public until players have officially signed. Understandably at this time of year clubs prefer to conduct their public scouting under a veil of secrecy.
But in Kay’s case there’s an elephant in the room. The former Silkmen loanee’s sending off after the full-time whistle against Chorley in March prompted an FA investigation due to Kay allegedly biting a Chorley player. But worse, the former Oldham midfielder landed himself in hot water for another incident in Macclesfield’s 2-1 win away at Darlington in March.
The full details of Kay’s charges are listed on the FA’s website as below, published on 3 July.
INCIDENT OF MISCONDUCT - NON-STANDARD CASE - Mr Joshua Kay, Macclesfield FC
Macclesfield FC vs Chorley FC National League - North 07 March 2026
Breach of FA Rule E1.1 - It is alleged that following the conclusion of the fixture you acted contrary to the Laws of the Game by biting an opponent.
Plea: Accept by paper hearing
DECISION: • 8 Match suspension
The Commission imposed a total suspension of eight (8) matches. However, the Members noted the standard on-field sanction for S2 Violent Conduct, and accordingly deducted three (3) matches from the total suspension. The Participant is therefore suspended with immediate effect from all domestic club football until Macclesfield FC have completed five (5) First Team Competitive Matches (Category 3) in approved competitions. • £700 Fine
INCIDENT OF MISCONDUCT - NON-STANDARD CASE Mr Joshua Kay, Macclesfield FC Darlington FC VS Macclesfield FC National League - North 03 March 2026
Breach of FA Rule E1.1 - It is alleged that in/or around the 18th minute, you acted in an improper manner and/or used violent conduct, contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
Plea: Accept by paper hearing
DECISION: • 5 Match suspension • The fine in this charge is reflected in the sanction imposed in the case 69169, with both matters having been considered and determined in their totality.
In plain English
Josh Kay has been handed a five-game ban (reduced from eight) for his transgressions against Chorley and Darlington. The player is suspended until Macclesfield have completed five first-team matches, which effectively takes us until the end of August.
Where the plot lines remain blurred is because Kay is presumably not a Macclesfield FC player currently, otherwise he wouldn’t have been announced as a ‘trialist’. The club may just be allowing Josh to train with us to stay match sharp, who knows?
To add further complications, Kay was withdrawn half an hour into Saturday’s game against Hyde after appearing to sustain an injury, or a ‘niggle’ of some sorts after contesting a ball which resulted in a Macclesfield corner. In frustration, Kay kicked the corner flag and subsequently disappeared down the tunnel after being substituted. Hopefully it was just precautionary for Josh.
Clearly, there’s a talented and hard-working player in Josh Kay who gave us some fine moments on occasion. But sadly there’s also a ticking timebomb in him too. Another ban (this time 5 games) on the back of Kay being sent off three times last season against Marine, Bedford and the aforementioned Chorley. I haven’t done the maths, but through injury and suspension I estimate that Kay was unavailable for around 14 matches last season!
It remains to be seen where Kay will end up next season, but presumably the Silkmen are in pole position if they are prepared to stick with him and vice versa.
A ban for Dawson too?
This is my last moan before we talk about the good stuff from the Hyde friendly! It would appear that captain Paul Dawson will begin the season with a retrospective two-match ban for an incident in Macclesfield’s FA Trophy defeat against Woking way back in January!
INCIDENT OF MISCONDUCT – NON-STANDARD CASE Mr. Paul Dawson, Player, Macclesfield FC
Macclesfield FC vs Woking FC FA Challenge Trophy 20 January 2026
Breach of FA Rule E3.1- It is alleged that in/around the tunnel area during half time of the above fixture, you acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the Match Official.
Plea: Admit/Paper
Decision: - £200 fine - 2 match suspension
What isn’t clear (at least to me), is whether Dawson has already served this ban last season. But given the date of the FA’s meeting was 30 June when this charge was handed out, I’m assuming not and that Dawson will miss the opening two games of the 2026-27 campaign.
6 new signings – which new boys caught the eye?
On a more positive note, it was great to see all six new signings catch the eye against Hyde. Here’s a brief summary.
· Christian Dibble (goalkeeper) – a vocal leader who was a presence in goal. He was assertive in communicating to the back four and produced a great save with his legs at 0-0 when the first half trialist centre half was caught out by a ball over the top
· Amar Dyer (right back) – quick, positive and keen to get forward to join the attack
· Lincoln McFayden (left back) – rapid and athletic
· George Wilson (midfield) – grew into the first half, appears to take a decent set piece
· Fin Shrimpton (midfield) – energetic, linked play well
· Jonathan Ustabasi (left wing) – menacing, direct with a blistering turn of pace. Likely to be a big fan’s favourite with his crowd pleasing style. Had the ball in the net just after we took the lead, but was adjudged to have committed a foul and the goal was ruled out
Which trialists impressed?
Four trialists stood out in particular. The striker (wearing no.9) in the first half (pictured below) was quick, ran the channels well and played in Theo Chapman for an excellent opening in the first half which Chapman should have converted.
As ever no.9’s identity wasn’t revealed, but some eagle-eyed observers have suggested he is Adan George, a 23-year-old striker who scored 9 league goals for Telford last season, including in the Bucks’ 3-0 win over Macc in March. George is believed to have a contract offer on the table from Telford, but has opted to explore other opportunities.
Trialist no.9 of the first half was eclipsed by the Trialist wearing no.9 of the second half, who bagged two goals and was a constant threat in the penalty area with decent hold-up play.
His first goal was an excellent hooked finish to give Macclesfield the lead on 54 minutes, where he turned and smacked the ball into the roof of the net. His second saw him show a good striker’s instinct to charge down a clearance from Hyde’s keeper and then tap the ball into the empty net.
Some fans have speculated that trialist number 9 could be Jordan Hodkin, a member of the Silkmen’s emerging talent squad who was on Crewe Alexandra’s books as a youngster. If so, Hodkin had spells at Nantwich and Bamber Bridge last season, and on the evidence of Saturday looks an exciting forward prospect.
Macc’s third goal on the stroke of full-time was a beauty scored by the Trialist wearing the no.7 shirt who curled in from 25 yards. The club’s official social media channels have since revealed the player’s identity to be Sam Elliott, one of the standout players in Macclesfield’s youth academy who spent time on loan at Winsford United last season.
And finally, trialist no.5 who played the second half alongside Paul Dawson at centre half produced an assured display. Perhaps not the tallest central defender, however he read the game well, was calm in possession and appeared two-footed.
It will be interesting to see how many of the trialists on view against Hyde return in Saturday’s friendly against Cheadle Town (also at home).
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Thanks Ben. Interesting reading as ever.