Macclesfield RUFC

What Macclesfield RUFC does

Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club is a community rugby club operating from a 27-acre site at Priory Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, founded in 1874 and reconstituted in its current form in 1926. It runs four senior men's sides (1st XV through 4th XV), a Women's XV, Colts (U18), and a comprehensive Mini and Youth section from U6 to U16, with approximately 400 boys and girls registering each season. The 1st XV competes in National League 2 North/West and the Women's XV in National Challenge 3 North, with the club holding RFU affiliate status since 1878.

The club operates as a private, member-owned, not-for-profit unincorporated association with 22 listed operational personnel, governed by an Executive Committee under Chairman Bob Cooke and General Manager Andy Appleyard. It monetizes its facility and brand through seven primary revenue streams: annual memberships (player tiers from Mini through senior), club merchandise (match shirts £33-£38, socks £7, accessories), 3G floodlit astroturf hire at £55/hour, matchday hospitality lunches (£10-£50), venue and function hire via a dedicated Priory Park Venue website, sponsorship and advertising packages (with named partners including Howden, O'Neills, Kukri, Thompson Wright, MKM, Leasing.com, and Thorntons/ABInBev), and a monthly One Club Draw lottery (£5/£7/£10 subscriptions).

Distribution is single-country domestic (Cheshire), with on-site sales at Priory Park, an e-commerce shop, and direct B2B sponsorship sales. Strategic partnerships anchor player development — notably a pathway alliance with Sale Sharks (nearest Premiership club) and grassroots integration via Rugbytots for ages 2-7. The club celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024 and is currently leveraging that heritage through commemorative merchandise, lobby tile sponsorships (£100-£250), and the 150th One Club Ball (September 2025). Recent on-field performance (3rd in National League 2 North, Women's XV national runners-up) and the launch of inclusive Walking Rugby and Touch Rugby programs indicate measured commercial and participation growth within a strictly local footprint.

Name

Macclesfield RUFC

Legal name

Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club

Website

https://macclesfieldrufc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club is a community rugby club in Cheshire, England, founded in 1874. It operates four senior men's teams, a Women's XV, Colts, and a Mini & Youth section serving approximately 400 children each season, generating revenue through memberships, sponsorships, venue hire, merchandise, and matchday events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Rugby Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Community rugby club
• Rugby union programs
• Venue hire services
• Club merchandise sales
• Sports sponsorship advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Macclesfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual memberships providing access to facilities, priority booking, and member benefits including match entry and discounts.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of club merchandise including match shirts, shorts, socks, caps, and accessories through the club shop.
3. Astroturf Hire: Hourly hire of 3G floodlit astroturf pitch (60m x 40m) for rugby, football, and other sports. £55 per hour excluding VAT.
4. Matchday Lunches & Events: Hospitality packages including pre-match lunches at various price points (£10-£50) for home matches.
5. Sponsorships & Advertising: Partnership deals with local businesses including kit sponsorship, advertising boards, website advertising, and business directory listings.
6. One Club Draw: Monthly lottery draw at £5, £7, or £10 per month subscription with cash prize draws.
7. Venue Hire: Hire of club facilities including function rooms, bar, and pitches for events and private functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Macclesfield RUFC is a community rugby union football club that delivers rugby participation programs from Mini (Under 6) through senior level, including four men's XV sides, a Women's XV, Colts, and inclusive Walking and Touch Rugby. It also earns revenue from ancillary services: venue and astroturf hire, matchday hospitality, club merchandise, sponsorship and advertising packages, and a monthly fundraising lottery.

Product overview

Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club is a community rugby club offering a comprehensive range of services including senior and youth rugby programs, venue hire, merchandise, and hospitality. The club operates at Priory Park with four senior men's teams (1st XV through 4th XV), a Women's XV, Colts, and Mini & Youth sections from U6s to U16s. Additional offerings include Walking Rugby and Touch Rugby programs for inclusive participation, Match Day Lunches and Events for hospitality, Astro Turf Hire for pitch rental, Club Merchandise through the shop, The One Club Draw for fundraising, Sponsorship & Advertising opportunities, a Business Directory of partners, and 150th Anniversary merchandise and events. Membership provides access to club facilities, coaching, and match entry across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Club Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• ~400 youth registrations per season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rugby Football Union (RFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial affiliation with the governing body for rugby union in England. Provides league structure, governance frameworks, and player development pathways.
• Sport EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner that helped construct the Astroturf facility. Supports community sport development initiatives.
• Sale SharksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearest Premiership Club partnership providing pathway opportunities for youth players. Club is member of Sale Sharks 100 club benefiting from festivals and half-time tag tournaments at Premiership matches.
• Howden InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub partner providing insurance services. Listed as a key partner on the club's sponsorship page.
• O'NeillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIrish sportswear manufacturer supplying custom designed playing gear and training equipment.
• Kukri SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKit supplier for training and leisure wear as well as playing kit.
• Spiral PrintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Macclesfield printing company providing print solutions. Listed in business directory.
• Thompson WrightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChartered accountants providing financial services. Key sponsor and business directory partner.
• MKM Builders MerchantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuilding supplies merchant with sponsorship presence in business directory.
• Leasing.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCar leasing marketplace sponsor with logo placement on club materials.
• Thorntons (Budweiser/ABInBev)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrewery brand listed in business directory as sponsor.
• RugbytotsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld's favourite rugby play programme for children 2-7 years. Operates classes at the club for SE Cheshire & Staffordshire Moorlands.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sedgley Park RUFC: Greater Manchester-based community rugby club also competing in National League 2 North, with similar player pathway from mini/youth to senior XVs and comparable community-led revenue model.
• Fylde RFC: Lancashire-based amateur rugby club competing in National League 2 North with a similar full pathway from juniors to seniors and a comparable community sponsorship model.
• Harrogate RUFC: Yorkshire-based community rugby club with full mini-to-senior pathway, operating in a similar National League tier with comparable membership and sponsorship-driven revenue model.
• Lymm RFC: Cheshire-based community rugby club geographically close to Macclesfield with a similar structure of senior, colts, women's, and mini/youth sections competing at a comparable league level.
• Hull RUFC: Yorkshire-based community rugby club with multiple senior sides and mini/junior sections operating in National League rugby, with a comparable volunteer and sponsorship model.
• Caldy RFC: Merseyside-based rugby club with strong mini/youth sections and senior teams competing in National League rugby, sharing a similar community-focused, membership-driven operating model.
• Preston Grasshoppers RFC: Historic North West rugby club with multi-section setup (senior, colts, mini/youth), competing in the same National League tier with a similar volunteer-driven community club structure.

Broad incumbents

• Sale Sharks: Nearest Premiership rugby club and existing pathway partner for Macclesfield RUFC; while at a vastly different scale, it represents the aspirational talent pipeline and provides benchmark for top-tier commercial rugby operations.

Regional players

• Chester RUFC: Cheshire-based community rugby club with multi-section setup including women's and junior teams, sharing the same regional supporter base and competing in adjacent league levels.
• Wirral RUFC: Cheshire/Merseyside-based rugby club with multiple senior teams and junior sections, sharing the same regional catchment and similar community-focused operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/110699659009153
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macclesfield-rugby-union-football-club-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Macclesfield RUFC