Sammy McIlroy's summer signings were Phil Morgan, 'keeper, strikers Graeme Tomlinson (formerly of Manchester United), Dominic Barclay and Steve Brown together with Rae Ingram who had impressed at the end of the previous season whilst on loan. Cec Edey moved to Hyde United and the ever popular Maltese Falcon, Phil Power made the move Altrincham.

The opening match of the season was against Kevin Keegan's multi million pound valued Fulham in complete contrast to the Macclesfield side which had cost in the region of £100,000. A single goal by John Salako gave Fulham victory ending the Silkmen's nineteen month unbeaten home league run. Then followed three matches in eight days against Stoke City, two in the Worthington Cup (see below) and one in the League which Stoke won 2-0. The scene was set for a season long battle for survival with the side completing August in 23^rd position.

The first goal in the higher League was scored by Steve Wood in the away defeat at Wrexham early in September but only days later,at Oldham Athletic, the first win of the season was achieved with Steve Wood scoring the winning goal. The next match saw the visit of Manchester City to the Moss Rose and it took a late Shaun Goater goal to give the visitors victory in from of a crowd of 6381. There were further victories against Reading and against another "big" club, Burnley, by 2-1 lifting the team to 20^th position.

Only one match was lost in November moving the side up to 19^th position which was to be highest place achieved throughout the season but with two draws and two defeats in December meant that the Silkmen completed the year 23^rd position.

However, there was better overall fortune in Cup competitions. A 3-2 aggregate win over Stoke City in the Worthington Cup included a 3-1 victory in the first leg at the Moss Rose when Stoke born John Askey scored twice, but there was a disastrous exit against Birmingham in the second round when the aggregate score was 9-0.Wrexham were the first round victors by a single goal in the Auto Windscreens Shield but the FA Cup saw the Silkmen progress to the third round.A pulsating match at the Moss Rose in the first round saw non-League Slough Town take a two goal lead but two late goals by Graeme Tomlinson and Efe Sodje gave the Silkmen a replay. After 14 minutes in the replay, the score was level at 1-1 and remained so at both full and extra time with Macclesfield eventually winning 9-8 on penalties. An eleven minute Graeme Tomlinson hat-trick in the second round saw Macclesfield triumph 4-1 over Cambridge United but Coventry City proved to be too strong in the third round, comprehensively winning 7-0.

The New Year started with four consecutive defeats but February saw the first and only double of the season when Oldham were beaten again, on this occasion by a single goal. Then came the visit to Maine Road where City won by 2-0 in front of a crowd of 31086, at that time the highest crowd a Macclesfield team had ever played in front of. Other results did not go the Silkman's way, often losing by a single goal, leaving them in 24^th position. However, wins against Colchester United, Northampton Town, Preston North End, Chesterfield, York City and Luton Town gave supporters hope but with other results going against the team, they finished in bottom position and were relegated for the first time ever in their history.