Macclesfield Town Achieves Historic FA Cup Upset

In 2020, Macclesfield Town rose from the ashes following the winding up of the original club by the High Court due to debts exceeding £500,000. The newly reformed club delivered an astonishing upset against Crystal Palace, who were aiming to defend their first major trophy.

Under the leadership of manager John Rooney, brother of former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney, Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime. Dawson scored a header shortly after receiving treatment for a head injury sustained during a collision with Palace defender Jaydee Canvot.

The lowest-ranked team remaining in the FA Cup doubled their advantage when forward Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a former youth player for Manchester City, reacted quickly to convert a deflected ball past goalkeeper Walter Benitez in the 61st minute.

As the match neared its conclusion, Palace created a tense finish when Yeremy Pino curled a stunning free-kick past Macclesfield’s goalkeeper Max Dearnley in the 90th minute. However, the sixth-tier hosts managed to hold on, achieving one of the most significant upsets in the history of the world’s oldest football competition.

This victory marked the first time a non-league team has defeated FA Cup holders since Crystal Palace themselves beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1908-09 season. The triumph was especially poignant as it took place in front of the family of Ethan McLeod, a teammate who tragically lost his life in a car accident while returning from a match on December 16.

In an emotional post-match interview, Dawson paid tribute to McLeod, sharing that he received a good-luck message from McLeod’s parents before the match. “That was for him,” Dawson stated, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. “We’ve dug in really well, and that was for Ethan.”

Macclesfield’s manager, John Rooney, who transitioned from playing to coaching in the summer, also honored McLeod after the game. He expressed the significance of having McLeod’s parents in attendance and acknowledged the emotional weight of the situation. “Ethan was a special lad and a special talent,” Rooney remarked.

Macclesfield will learn their opponents for the fourth round of the FA Cup when the draw takes place on January 12 at 6:35 PM GMT. Following this pivotal victory, club owner Robert Smethurst shared that he had purchased the team five years ago from Rightmove after a four-day drinking spree. “It’s unbelievable scenes. I have no words. It’s the stuff of dreams!” he exclaimed, reflecting on the unexpected success.

As the club sits 14th in the National League N/S table, Smethurst humorously noted that plans for a celebratory trip to Ibiza with the team are already in the works for the end of the season.