An amateur team discovers the magic of English football, Macclesfield, September 2023
The very first football trip of The Football Travel Agency
We believe a football trip is much more than ninety minutes of football. It is the stories that emerge during the trip, the encounters, the unique places and the shared experiences that turn a football weekend into a memory for life.
The trip at a glance
- Occasion
- The very first TFTA trip
- Group
- An amateur football team
- Destination
- Macclesfield, England
- Highlight
- FA Cup qualifier, Macclesfield FC against Warrington Rylands
- Date
- Late September 2023
- Result
- Macclesfield FC won 2-1
Every company has a first client. For The Football Travel Agency that was late September 2023, when an amateur football team chose a fully hosted football weekend in England. The aim was clear: to share an unforgettable football experience, work on team spirit and stay within a set budget.
From the first contact we took the whole organisation off their hands. Flights, train journeys, transfers, accommodation, activities and match tickets were carefully aligned. That way the team could focus on what really mattered: enjoying it together.
Getting there: from Schiphol to Macclesfield
On Friday 29 September 2023 the group left Schiphol for Manchester. After arriving, the team travelled on by train to Macclesfield, where they checked into a comfortable and affordable hotel in the centre. Thanks to the central location, the stadium, restaurants, pubs and the train station were all within walking distance.
Training on the main pitch
The weekend began with something special. Thanks to The Football Travel Agency’s contacts, the team was able to train on the main pitch of Macclesfield FC, at the Moss Rose ground. For any football lover it is a special feeling to stand on the pitch where the first team normally plays.
After training, the team was received in the club’s boardroom. During an informal briefing the programme was talked through, and then everyone had dinner together in the stadium.
The evening was about relaxing. The team visited a local pool bar, where they played hard and laughed plenty. Later, some returned to the hotel while others explored the pubs and the centre of Macclesfield.
Saturday: footgolf and an FA Cup night
Saturday brought another sporting activity. By private minibus the team travelled to Bollington for a competitive round of footgolf. The mix of competition, humour and relaxation created a great atmosphere.
Later that afternoon came the highlight of the weekend: the FA Cup qualifier between Macclesfield FC and Warrington Rylands. The group ate together in the stadium beforehand, then soaked up the English football atmosphere. Some chose a spot among the passionate supporters on the terraces, others experienced the match from the hospitality area.
Macclesfield FC won 2-1, which completed the mood. Afterwards the team had the chance to meet players and members of the technical staff. Photos were taken and there was plenty of talk about a fine afternoon of football.
Sunday: stadium tour and home
On Sunday the group travelled by train to Manchester for a full stadium tour of the Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City. With a guide, the team went behind the scenes, from the dressing rooms and the players’ tunnel to the dugouts and the press room.
After the tour there was time to visit the centre of Manchester, before a transfer took the group to the airport. Early in the evening everyone arrived back at Schiphol, with a phone full of photos and an even stronger team spirit.
Where it all began
This first football trip meant more than a successful weekend. It was the start of The Football Travel Agency and the foundation of what the company still stands for today: complete football trips where every detail is arranged.
The Football Travel Agency. Beyond the Match.
Looking for something like this for your own group?
Tell us which match you have in mind, how many of you are travelling and what the occasion is. We will research the options and send a bespoke proposal.
