Campbell feels Macclesfield has ‘had to climb mountains’ for survival

Posted Sunday, May 05, 2019 by PA

Sol Campbell heaped praise on his survivors after pulling off Macclesfield’s great escape with a 1-1 draw over Cambridge.

Town were seven points adrift in Sky Bet League Two and seemingly bereft of hope when Campbell arrived at Moss Rose in November.

Slowly the club has inched its way to safety despite numerous issues such as players’ wages going unpaid, before finally avoiding the drop on the final day of the season.

Needing a draw to secure their safety and relegate Notts County, Town fell behind to a goal from former Silkmen trainee Paul Lewis late in the first half.

Shortly into the second period, just as stewards and players were clearing glass from a bottle thrown on to the pitch from the crowd, news filtered through that County had taken the lead at Swindon.

But Elliott Durrell, so often his side’s saviour this term, drilled in an equaliser that made Swindon’s own leveller, and two further goals that condemned the Magpies to the drop, irrelevant.

“At times we’ve had to climb mountains,” said the rookie manager.

“It’s been frustrating with the scenarios off the field but they have responded, they’ve dug in, they’ve always tried to play football, they’ve showed tenacity under pressure, a will to win and they’ve shown great character.

“Not many clubs around the world could have got out of that scenario. I’m proud of the lads and their achievement.”

Campbell admits his time at the League Two minnows has been a learning curve that has greyed one or two of his hairs a little.

As he prepares for a first full season at the helm, he says he will be better for the experiences of this term.

“It’s brilliant we’ve not been relegated, which was on the cards for a hell of a long time,” added Campbell.

“This is great getting through it, because everyone was losing their heads but sticking to the plan. There was a lot of pressure on me, too.

“I don’t think anyone wanted to take on the job when I took over but I took it and put everything into it – my heart, my soul and my spirit.

“I have been committed to it, because that’s what you have to do in football, but it’s football, I love it and I love everything about it, it’s my life.”

Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood, a former team-mate of Campbell’s at Spurs, feels his side played their part in putting on a professional performance.

“We tried to be as normal as possible,” he said. “We were more relaxed than they were, obviously. Us scoring the first goal means there couldn’t be an accusation that we didn’t have an attempt.

“Credit to them, they were 1-0 down and the other team (Notts County) were 1-0 up but they didn’t lose their heads, so much so you have to give credit to their group.

“We didn’t have enough in the second half to be pleased with ourselves, they had more control.”