Historic FA Cup Upset: Macclesfield Triumphs Against Crystal Palace

Macclesfield chairman Rob Smethurst expressed that his team felt as though they had “won the FA Cup” following their remarkable 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. He admitted to being one of the first individuals on the pitch as fans poured onto it to celebrate at full-time.

The Silkmen, who are positioned 117 places below their Premier League opponents, stunned everyone with this historic win, marking one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history based on league rankings.

In the first half, a header from Paul Dawson sent the home fans into a frenzy, followed by a second goal from Isaac Buckley-Ricketts after the break that further shocked Crystal Palace.

As the final whistle blew, jubilant scenes unfolded with fans rushing onto the field to celebrate.

“I legged it!” Smethurst recounted to BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday. “I anticipated this moment and thought, you know what, I’m going on! I felt the need to hug my players; I was probably the first one on and created a bit of chaos.”

He continued, “It was just incredible for Macclesfield. I know the players partied until three or four o’clock in the morning. The scenes in the town and community were unforgettable. Afterward, I returned home early and watched the match again. It was truly amazing. For me, it felt like we won the FA Cup yesterday.”

The victory was overshadowed by tragedy, as Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod tragically passed away in a car accident following their match against Bedford Town on December 16. The 21-year-old’s parents attended Saturday’s game and joined the players in the dressing room afterward, with Smethurst ensuring they were included in the post-match celebrations.

“I took them into the dressing room and said, ‘this is your moment,'” he shared. “It was a really emotional experience; we presented them with Ethan’s boots that he had left at the club. It was a touching moment, and it was very upsetting.

“We’ve gone through one of the toughest times as a football club and community with the loss of such a wonderful young man. It will forever be heartbreaking for us, but the lads picked themselves up, and Ethan was our twelfth man yesterday.”

Overall, this sixth-tier Macclesfield team’s victory over the FA Cup holders Crystal Palace will be remembered as a significant achievement in football history.