Moss Rose first hosted Football League action when Chester City played home games at the stadium, between moving from Sealand Road to the Deva Stadium, from 1990 to 1992. The first such match was a 2-1 win for Exeter City on 1 September 1990. Later in the month, Arsenal played at Moss Rose in a Football League Cup tie, winning 1-0. Macclesfield were a non-league side at the time and fixtures were arranged so Chester were at home when Macclesfield were away and vice versa. The Moss Rose pitch was having to contend with more than 50 first-team matches a season from the two sides. Despite hosting Football League matches in this period, Macclesfield were denied entry to the Football League in 1995 after winning the Football Conference after the stadium requirements were tightened. A reciprocal offer by Chester to allow Macclesfield to play at the Deva Stadium while the necessary improvements were made was also rejected by the league. Macclesfield were champions again two years later, and the ground was now up to the required standards. Macclesfield beat Torquay United in their first home league match on 9 August 1997.
Structure and facilities
The ground consists of four stands. The Silk FM stand runs along the east side of the pitch. It is usually given over entirely to home supporters, unless the travelling support is particularly large, in which case the northern end houses some away fans. There is terracing along the entire length of the pitch, with a small stand at the back of the terracing. The Macclesfield Audi Stand is to the left of the Silk FM stand, and is used by the home support. On the west side is the Henshaw's Stand. This is all-seated and covered, and houses home supporters, and a small number of travelling fans. At the north end is the Silkmen Terrace, an open terrace for away fans. Unfortunately, as Macclesfield is often struck by wet weather, this can make for an uncomfortable spectating experience for visiting fans. There are plans to introduce some seating at the back of the Silkmen End and build a leisure complex and hotel behind it, but currently the finances required to do this do not exist.
