Over the past few weeks supporters have been nominating the individuals they wanted to be added to the Silkmen Website 'Hall of Fame' and it's no surprise that Sammy McIllroy was by far and away the most popular name put forward.

He joins Wilf Hall and John Askey as the third member of this illustrious group of people who have made a significant contribution to the cause of the football club.

The feeling for our former manager is typified in this quote from supporter Peter Lloyd  who described him as, "

"A manager who took us to where we are now. He was a great motivator and with Gill Prescott's invaluable assistance brought us many good players and success at the highest level in the clubs' history."

McIlroy, who presided over the club during it's most successful spell, during the mid to late nineties, is the manager responsible for the Silkmen's promotion to the Football League.

The former Northern Ireland international joined the Silkmen in the summer of 1993 following the departure of Peter Wragg. Despite his first match not going entirely to plan, with a 5-1 defeat at Bath City, the Silkmen finished that first season in a very respectable seventh position.

That season also saw the first silverware of Sammy's time at the club as the Drinkwise Cup was brought to the club. Witton were beaten in the first round followed by Runcorn, Halifax and Northwich on the way to a two legged final against Yeovil. The trophy was all but won in the first leg with the Silkmen winning 4-1. the formality of the second leg finished 0-0. That season the Silkmen also won the Staffordshire Senior Cup with a 10-0 win over Wednesfield with an all-but meaningless second leg delayed until the start of the following season that was won 4-0.

1994/5 saw Sammy guiding Macclesfield Town to an unprecedented Vauxhall Conference championship which included a then Conference record of 10 consecutive victories for the Silkmen. The title was secured without kicking a ball as second placed Woking lost a midweek game-in-hand. The Silkmen lifted the trophy at the Moss Rose in front of over 2,000 supporters. But the celebrations were muted as the Silkmen were to be denied promotion to the Football League for ground reasons.

The 1995/6 defence of the League title began with a 3-2 home win over Woking, a score which would be repeated in September as the Silkmen lifted the Conference Championship Shield for the first time. Whilst the League campaign saw another excellent fourth placed finish, which included a 7-0 win against Halifax, the story of the season came in the FA Trophy. Runcorn, Purfleet, Sudbury Town and Gresley Rovers were put to the sword before a two legged semi final against Lee Trundle's Chorley. Marc Coates and Phil Power added to an own goal to win the first leg 3-1 before Neil Sorvel's strike in the away game secured the trip to Wembley to face Northwich Victoria.

That famous afternoon saw a goal from Steve Payne, another own-goal and a spectacular solo effort from Tony Hemmings in a 3-1 win as the Trophy was lifted for the first time since the inaugural victory in 1970. Northwich's goal came from Carwyn Williams, who would play a big part in the Silkmen's success the following season.

And so promotion to the Football League was still the dream, and this was finally achieved the following season in 1996/7. Kettering bookended the season and were beaten 2-0 on the opening day. That season also saw the Championship Shield retained with a win over Conference Champions Stevenage.

It would be a running battle with Stevenage and Kidderminster all season for the coveted top spot. The Harriers seemed to have the upper hand in head-to-head matches with wins in both the League at the Moss Rose and FA Trophy at Aggborough (the away League game finishing 0-0) . However, their League win in December 1996 would be the final home defeat for the Season in almost two years.

There was an almost crushing blow midway through the campaign with the death of popular Silkmen chairman Arthur Jones, but it seemed to galvanise the squad who wanted to achieve Arthur's dream of League football in Macclesfield.

The sharp end of the season saw one of the most fondly remembered games of the club's history. In a top of the table clash between Macclesfield and Stevenage, Boro stormed into a two goal lead. The game looked lost when John Askey was sent off with half an hour to go.

But fate was on our side and Steve Wood poked home from close range before Carwyn Williams scored from the spot. The day was to be Woody's though-ball and he curled an exquisite free kick home to win the game 3-2. The result took Stevenage out of the title race and was reportedly a crushing blow to the morale of Kidderminster Harriers.

The title was almost win at Halifax the Wednesday before the end of the season but the Silkmen were pegged back from two goals ahead to take the League in to the last day.

No one at the game will forget the worry at going a goal down, the elation of Peter Davenport's equaliser a minute later and the incredible Chris Byrne hat-trick which saw the Silkmen 4-1 up by half time. The Silkmen had kicked-off 15 minutes late, and news filtered through that Kidderminster had been beaten 3-0 at Gateshead, giving the title to the Silkmen. A pitch invasion to see the Silkmen lift the trophy came at the final whistle and the Silkmen were finally in the Football League.

A few days later there was a chance to celebrate on home turf as the Staffordshire Senior Cup final's first leg saw a 2-1 win over Bilston Town. A 2-2 draw in the second leg gave the Silkmen the trophy.

As any Macclesfield Town supporter will tell you, the first League game came at home to Torquay United in 1997/8 and was won 2-1 thanks to goals from Efe Sodje and Richard Landon. The home form would be the key to the Silkmen's eventual promotion.

The Moss Rose proved an impenetrable fortress with the 23 League matches yielding an undefeated 19 wins and four draws. The Star Lane End was an intimidating prospect for visitors, with only a handful of opposition goals coming at that end. A side almost entirely created from non-League football had passed straight through the division.

Key victories at the crucial end of the season came against title-winners Notts County and play-off hopefuls Barnet whilst away form home the hit and miss away form saw vital wins at Peterborough and Cardiff City. A second consecutive promotion was eventually secured in front of a packed Moss Rose against Chester City with an end-to-end 3-2 win. That season also saw Sammy's only Cheshire Senior Cup win with a 2-0 win over Runcorn.

But the following year, 1998/9 proved a division too far for the Silkmen. A home defeat to Fulham ended the almost-two-year unbeaten record on the opening day of the season and set the stall for a difficult campaign. Despite picking up 44 points, (the second highest bottom-placed tally in the last decade) in a division including the likes of Fulham, Reading, Stoke and Burnley saw the Silkmen finishing bottom of the division. But not until after the almost unbelievable prospect of Macclesfield Town playing League matches against Manchester City and, at home at least, being thoroughly deserving of a draw.

Sammy had often attracted envious glances from other clubs in the Football League, but it would be a move out of the Club system that would eventually see him leaving the Moss Rose.

With almost 90 matches for Northern Ireland in his playing career, it was no surprise that he was keen to take up the opportunity to replace Lawrie McMenemy in the Manager's chair. His final game was an emotional affair against Cheltenham in January of 2000. But the visitors spoiled the party with a 2-1 win ironically ending the most successful spell in the club's history as it had begun, with a defeat.

Sammy has returned to the Moss Rose since, with Northern Ireland for a friendly match, and more recently as a part of the Silkmen Legends side who faced the A-Line Allstars.

Sammy McIlroy Macclesfield Town Honours:

1993/4: Drinkwise Cup, Staffordshire Senior Cup

1994/5: GM Vauxhall Conference Winners

1995/6: FA Trophy, Championship Shield

1996/7: GM Vauxhall Conference Winners, Championship Shield, Staffordshire Senior Cup.

1997/8: Third Division Runner-up, Championship Shield, Cheshire Senior Cup.