Sam Wedgbury - Club Career - Macclesfield Town

Macclesfield Town

Following his release from Sheffield United, Wedgbury signed a one-year contract at then-League Two side Macclesfield Town on 6 July 2010. He made his debut for Macclesfield on the opening day of the 2010–11 season, starting in a 2–2 draw against Stevenage at Broadhall Way. Wedgbury made thirteen appearances during the first half of the season, before being loaned out for a month to Conference North side Altrincham in January 2011, having been out of the Macclesfield first-team for two months. Wedgbury made a goalscoring debut for Altrincham, restoring parity just before half-time as the club came from behind to defeat Hayes & Yeading at Moss Lane. He played six times during the brief loan agreement, before returning to his parent club in late February 2011. Wedgbury regained his place in the Macclesfield first-team on his return, and played regularly for the remainder of the campaign. He scored his first goal for Macclesfield in a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City on 15 March 2011, scoring with an injury-time volley from outside the area to earn the club a point. During his first season with the club, Wedgbury scored once in 26 appearances. Wedgbury's impressive performances earned him an offer of a two-year contract at the end of the season, which he ultimately signed on 10 May 2011.

The 2011–12 season was Wedgbury's breakthrough year of regular first-team football, and he impressed as he made 47 appearances, of which 45 were starting, in what was a difficult season for the club as they suffered relegation to the Conference National. Wedgbury scored once during the campaign, a low volley from George Donnelly's cross in a 2–2 draw with fellow strugglers Hereford United at Moss Rose in March 2012. He was described as "visibly distraught" following Macclesfield's 2–0 defeat to Burton Albion, the game that confirmed the club's relegation, and he stated — "It was a sad day. We feel we’ve let the fans, the club, the board, everyone down. It's the first time I’ve experienced anything like that in my career. I’m devastated. We’re truly sorry, we’ve let our loyal fans down after 15 years in the Football League and we know we’re to blame". He remained at Macclesfield for the 2012–13 season despite a mass overhaul of players over the summer, and started in the club's first game back in the Conference, which ended in a 2–1 loss to Hereford United at Edgar Street. Wedgbury was once again a regular throughout the season, making 43 appearances in all competitions. He particularly impressed during Macclesfield's FA Cup run during the season, as they defeated Cardiff City in the Third Round, before bowing out in the next round following a narrow 1–0 defeat to eventual winners, Wigan Athletic — a match in which Wedgbury's performance was described as "terrific". After Macclesfield's 2–1 victory over Cambridge United on 20 April 2013, the club's final game of the season, Wedgbury was voted as both Fans and Players' Player of the Year. During his three seasons at Macclesfield, Wedgbury made 116 appearances and scored twice.