The fixtures are coming…
Key dates for your diary
Fixture release day is one of the most anticipated dates in the football calendar as the new season edges closer. The 2025-26 campaign will commence on Saturday 9 August and the National League will officially unveil its fixture list on Wednesday 9 July – four weeks from today (11th June).
Following their Northern Premier League title triumph, Macclesfield FC are eyeing another promotion bid up in the National League North. Here’s a quick guide as to what Silkmen fans can expect, from the teams we’ll be facing to our shortest and longest away trips.
How is the National League fixture list compiled?
Once the season has finished and the composition of each division is known, the League sends a fixture questionnaire to all clubs where they are asked a number of questions, such as whether they would like to nominate certain days not to be at home.
Clubs are also asked to provide details such as their longest and shortest journeys and their preference for who they play over the Easter and Christmas periods – and any team who they wish to be scheduled opposite to.
When all requests have been gathered, they are sent to an IT company who run the fixture compiling software. Once the draft fixture list has been generated, the League then holds a meeting with the IT company to identify any potential issues and ultimately finalise the fixture list schedule.
What other factors does the League take into account when compiling fixtures?
Aside from club requests, the League also have a responsibility to ensure clubs and fans are not disadvantaged by their fixtures. Local derbies and high-profile games are, where possible, scheduled on the best days possible.
To maximise gate receipt revenue, Macc are likely to seek preferential dates to play the likes of local rivals Buxton and Chester over Christmas / New Year and the Easter period, for example.
For context, last season Chester played Marine on Boxing Day and Easter Monday and Southport on New Year’s day and Good Friday. Meanwhile, Buxton faced Alfreton on Boxing Day and Easter Monday and Chorley on Good Friday. The Bucks didn’t have a fixture on New Year’s day this year.
Travel for midweek fixtures is also considered to try and minimise the distance clubs and their supporters have to travel. However, sometimes this can be unavoidable.
How likely are fixtures to be amended once they are released?
Postponements due to bad weather, abandonments and cup clashes are inevitable which will therefore lead to more midweek games than initially scheduled. Clubs work together to find mutual dates for a rearrangement before applying to the League who will approve (or reject) requests on a case-by-case basis.
In a 46-game National League North season spread over 39 calendar weeks, Macc can expect to play at least a quarter of their league fixtures on a Tuesday night. But based on postponements / re-arrangements this could be more. Taking a look at last season’s play-off teams, Chorley and Kidderminster played 14 matches on a Tuesday, Buxton played 12 and Chester 11.
When you consider that NLN games will also take place on the August bank holiday Monday, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday, the Silkmen can expect to play around 30 of their 46 league fixtures on a Saturday next season. But of course, we also have FA Trophy and FA Cup games to look forward to on Saturdays!
Who are Macclesfield’s shortest and longest away trips next season?
Shortest away trips (in miles, single trip):
Buxton 9
Curzon Ashton 17
Radcliffe 24
Longest away trips (in miles, single trip)
South Shields 122
Merthyr Town 116
King’s Lynn Town 111
Here’s the full breakdown of our away trips, from the shortest to the longest:
Buxton 9
Curzon Ashton 17
Radcliffe 24
Alfreton and Chester 33
Chorley 34
Marine 40
AFC Telford 41
Worksop 42
Southport 44
AFC Fylde 49
Kidderminster 60
Leamington 73
Hereford 84
Peterborough Sports 91
Darlington 94
Scarborough 99 (calculated on the distance to Bridlington Town AFC, where Scarborough will play their home games next season)
Spennymoor 103
Bedford 106
Oxford City 109
King’s Lynn Town 111
Merthyr Town 116
South Shields 122
Macclesfield FC - key league dates for your diary
Fixtures released: Wednesday 9 July
Opening day: Saturday 9 August
Closing day: Saturday 25 April
Promotion play-off final: Saturday 9 May / Sunday 10 May
Cup competitions
FA Cup second qualifying round (Macc are likely to enter at this stage): early September
FA Cup third qualifying round: mid September
FA Cup fourth qualifying round: late September
FA Cup first round proper: weekend of 1-2 November
FA Trophy first round: Saturday 25 October
FA Trophy 2nd round: Saturday 15 November (Macc are likely to enter at this stage)
FA Trophy 3rd round: Saturday 6 December
Macclesfield FC pre-season friendlies:
Saturday 12 July: Mansfield Town h
Tuesday 15 July: Newcastle Town a
Saturday 19 July: Halifax Town h
Tuesday 22 July: Connor’s Quay h
Saturday 25 July: The New Saints h
Saturday 2 August: Derby County h