When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Neil Danns' playing career seemed over.
The Tranmere Rovers midfielder, like many EFL players on a one-year deal, saw his footballing future plunge into doubt after the League One season was curtailed. It was unclear when clubs outside of the top two divisions would resume playing - and how many of them would survive the crisis.
One club that didn't stay afloat were Macclesfield Town, who were dissolved in September 2020 to end more than a century of history. Fast forward 19 months, however, and Macclesfield are league champions thanks in part to Danns' 21 goals this season.
It's been an incredible journey for the Cheshire club, who reformed in October 2020 under the stewardship of local businessman Robert Smethurst and Mirror Football columnist Robbie Savage. Macclesfield have just completed their first competitive campaign, winning the North West Counties Premier Division by 15 points. It's their first step on the way back to the EFL.
Danny Whitaker's team lifted the title after bringing in several ex-EFL stars, including defender Curtis Obeng, midfielder Mark Duffy and winger Alex Kiwomya. Their most successful signing was Danns, who was named the Players' Player of the Year.
"If I'm being honest, I definitely didn't expect to score 21 goals," Danns, 39, tells Mirror Football . "I felt I'd be able to offer the team something. I didn't really want to be playing in the Conference or travelling around unless it was going to be in the league, so I just thought Macclesfield seemed like a really good project. I knew Robbie before I signed there - it just made sense.
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"I expected to score a few goals because I'd played at a higher level, and I still feel fit enough. I've always scored goals from midfield during my career - I think I've got over 100 goals now - so I did expect to score goals, but definitely not 21! So that was unbelievable for me and I'm just happy to help the team."
Smethurst and Savage deserve plenty of praise for the job they've done. Macclesfield have regularly attracted crowds of more than 4,000 to Moss Rose this season, an incredible achievement for a ninth-tier club. They've also renovated the historic ground, turning it into a community hub for supporters to enjoy throughout the year.
"They haven't just bought the club and carried on where it was left. They've changed the whole place - the feel of the club, the experience for the fans. When I saw the fans [attend in such large numbers], it didn't surprise me at all because they've done a fantastic job.
"It was one of the main reasons why I signed, at this age. On a Saturday, you play football to get that buzz. I went to watch one of their games before I signed, and I could just see the atmosphere around the place."
Danns has enjoyed a long career in English football, representing 16 clubs – including Leicester, Crystal Palace and Bolton – and playing in each of the top four divisions. He’s made more than 600 appearances in club football and won four promotions.
The midfielder’s impressive form for Macclesfield earned him a recall to the Guyana squad for the friendlies against Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. He scored in both games and is set to play in next month’s CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Haiti, Bermuda and Montserrat.
Danns was re-added to the Guyana squad by manager Jamaal Shabazz, who was re-appointed as manager last year. "Once he took over again, he gave me a call and just asked how I was feeling. Did I still think I could offer anything?
"Me being me, I'd of never of said yes if I didn't feel I could offer anything. It was brilliant to be back around it and I’m flying out next month for the CONCACAF Nations League… I’m really looking forward to it."
And Danns, who’s signed a one-year contract extension with Macclesfield, is hoping to continue playing for Guyana as long as possible. "I feel privileged to be part of it.
"I've had some amazing times at international level: qualifying for our first ever Gold Cup three years ago in the USA and playing against the likes of Panama, United States and Trinidad [& Tobago] in our group. I ended up scoring three in three in those games. It’s given me so much.
"As long as I can offer something [then I’ll keep playing]... if I can't offer anything then I don't want to be a burden on the team."
Although Danns' career has continued amid the pandemic, many players were forced to call it a day. On why that happened, Danns added: "I think a lot of it was to do with the actual clubs, as well [as the players]. Finances were tight for everyone – some clubs couldn't offer the sort of deals that they could before Covid for obvious reasons.
"It was just a weird time for – not just the game – but the whole world. Other people probably learnt new skills, branched out and realised there's other things they can do. For most of us, football has always been a constant every year with no real long-term breaks.
"But then you get a year break, and you start feeling there's other things to do, other back-up plans you can use. No one knew how long Covid was going to last, so some people might have thought they couldn't gamble with football not being there.
"I was 37 when it started, so I'd been planning for the last five or six years. I never expected to go this long but thankfully my body has allowed me to. I've always gone year on year since the age of 35.
"But I've always had back up plans and other avenues, so for me I just went with the flow - got involved in my own little bits and bobs - and started planning for the future. When football came back, I just carried on playing. But I've also achieved my coaching badges and stuff like that. I was working in Liverpool's academy, so I always had other options."
On his coaching role at Liverpool, Danns continued: "Just working with the talent and seeing the next generation that's coming through is unbelievable. It's a completely different academy system to when I was coming through... it's more detailed.
"It's like relearning because it's been a long time since I was at that age. My son also plays for Liverpool. He turned 16 this year and he goes in full time at the end of this school year, so just being around to help him and all that sort of stuff has been brilliant."
Danns is interested in moving into coaching when his playing career comes to an end, yet he’s in no rush to hang up his boots.
"I never pin everything on football because it's about getting opportunities. Sometimes there's a lot of luck involved, meeting the right people. But it's something I'm definitely heading towards and, if the opportunity arrives, then 100 per cent - it's something I'd like to do.
"In this day and age, everyone knows you've got to have a strategy if it doesn't work out in football. I'm comfortable in the position I'm in. I've had a decent enough career, financially, to be able to afford myself the time and being able to do something I enjoy - rather than being forced into other avenues."
Whatever comes next for Danns, one thing is for sure – his legacy at Macclesfield is confirmed. Savage and the supporters will never forget the role he played in rebuilding the fallen club… and there’s still time for Danns to achieve even more at Moss Rose.
