Roderick Returns

By Nathan Jackson
May 10 2005

One of the interviewees this season returns. Macclesfield Town fan Roderick Combes relives the best and worst moment of the season, how he reckons the Silkmen will fare against the Imps and who he would prefer to play in the final, if the Silkmen make it of course.

NAME

Roderick Combes

AGE

40

SUPPORTED MACCLESFIELD FOR

24 years

SO, THE SEASON IS ALMOST OVER, HOW WOULD RATE BRIAN HORTON'S ACHIEVEMENT OF GETTING YOU INTO THE PLAYOFFS?

It's a magnificant achievement and I liken it to the way Keith Alexander turned Lincoln around. The team spirit has been amazing this year thanks to Horton bringing in players who actually want to play for the club rather than coming in, losing, taking their money and getting on with their own business which we've gotten used to in recent years.

WHAT WAS THE BEST MEMORY OF THE ENTIRE SEASON?

The game against Rushden the other day, they never threatened us and to be honest, it was a very easy win for us despite us only scoring a single goal. The reason I picked this moment is because of the pure jubilation of the Macclesfield fans after the game had finished.

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR PLAYERS OF THE SEASON?

It's almost impossible to say Parkin. The big lad has been impressive all season long and arguably the player of the season for the whole division, not one single player has caused such a difference to a side quite like he has.

Mark Bailey is also another good one, full of passion and has a real repor with the fans. I'm suprised Keith Alexander didn't try and do more to keep him at Sincil Bank, oh well, one mans loss is another mans gain as they say.

HOW DO YOU RATE YOU CHANCES AGAINST THE IMPS?

I think only a fool would say we're going to find it easy. Lincoln are one of the best sides we played this season and the way you dismantled us the other week just shows what you can do. However, if we're playing to our full potential then we should be able to give you a very good game.

IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE FINAL, WHO WOULD YOU PREFERABLY FACE?

That's definatly a toughy, I'd probably say Southend. Both have done the double over us this season but Southend looked very shakey when you played them a few weeks ago missed out on automatic so they will go into the playoffs on very negative vibes.

FINALLY, iiF YOU WIN THE PLAYOFFS, WHICH GAME WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST?

The away games at Forest or Wednesday. It's not often a team play another team who were in the Premier league when they were in non-league.