Macclesfield, a sixth-tier club reborn from financial collapse, has pulled off the greatest FA Cup upset in history by league ranking, defeating holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the third round. The National League North side dedicated their victory to former forward Ethan McLeod, who died last month at age 21 in a car crash.
Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored for Macclesfield at Moss Rose stadium on Saturday afternoon. Yeremy Pino pulled one back for Palace in the 90th minute, but the phoenix club held on. The 117-place league gap between the teams marks the biggest-ever FA Cup shock by ranking difference.
Thousands of supporters flooded onto the pitch after the final whistle. The victory makes Macclesfield the first sixth-tier team to beat Premier League opposition in the FA Cup.
Dedicated to Ethan
Dawson revealed he received a message from McLeod's parents before the match but chose not to share it with teammates. «That was for him,» the captain said after the game.
«A big team performance. We've dug in really well, and that was for Ethan,» Dawson said. «I haven't really mentioned much in the changing room. I didn't want to put the extra pressure on the lads. I had a nice message off his dad last night and I was like, do I send it to the lads, or do I tell them before the game. But I didn't really want to put that little extra bit of pressure on them with everything we've been through, so I thought I'd leave that till after the game.»
McLeod joined Macclesfield in July after spending 10 years at Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy. He sat on the bench as an unused substitute in the match at Bedford Town on December 16, the day he died in a car accident.
«It's been a really tough time and we've all stuck together through it. It's never, ever gonna get easier. We've still got pictures up in the changing room. That will never go. It has been really tough. But Ethan, I think he'd be looking down today and he'll be proud of us as well,» Dawson added.
Historic upset
The defeat marks the first time FA Cup holders have lost to non-league opposition since Wolverhampton Wanderers fell to Crystal Palace in 1909 - when Palace played in the non-league Southern League.
Dawson headed home from a free kick two minutes before half-time. Buckley-Ricketts doubled the lead on the hour mark, deceiving Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez. Pino's late free kick set up a tense finish, but Macclesfield held firm.
Crystal Palace had lifted their first major trophy seven months earlier, defeating Manchester City at Wembley.
Rooney's emotional moment
Manager John Rooney, 35, took charge of his first job in management. His brother Wayne Rooney, working as a BBC pundit, became visibly emotional watching from the studio.
«I'm getting emotional here watching my younger brother achieve this,» Wayne said. «He's not long been in management and to get through to the fourth round and beat Crystal Palace, a Premier League team, I am so proud of him.»
John Rooney expressed disbelief at the result. «I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position,» he said. «We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn't be any prouder of the lads.»
Phoenix club rises
Macclesfield reformed in 2020 after the historic Macclesfield Town - formed in 1874 - collapsed in the High Court with debts exceeding £500,000. The phoenix club has achieved three promotions in four seasons to reach the sixth tier.
John Rooney had two previous spells with the club as a player before retiring last season and moving straight into coaching. His playing career spanned lower league clubs including Chester, Wrexham, Barrow, Stockport and Oldham.
The club, known as the Silkmen, currently sits 14th in the National League North. They will be ball number 30 in Monday's FA Cup fourth round draw.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
