January 12 – Some critics say that the FA Cup belongs to a bygone era, but when a big boy gets their nose tweaked, we’re once again reminded that it is the greatest knockout competition in world football.
On Saturday, that moment belonged to Macclesfield Town. A non-league club, reformed only in 2020, knocked out the FA Cup holders Crystal Palace with a dramatic 2–1 win that now sits at the top of the FA Cup’s biggest giant killing feats.
The Silkmen sit 117 places below Palace in the football pyramid. On paper, Palace should have walked through this tie. On the pitch, it was anything but. Paul Dawson powered the Silkmen ahead just before half-time with a header that sent the hometown ground ballistic. When Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2–0 on the hour, belief turned into something louder.
The holders eventually did find the back of the net through Yeremy Pino’s late free kick, deep into stoppage time, making the final minutes nervous, but it was too little, too late. Eight months after lifting the FA Cup for the first time in their history, the holders were out.
The final whistle prompted scenes of jubilation as fans raced on to the pitch to celebrate.
“I legged it!” said Macclesfield chairman Rob Smethurst.
“I thought, this is going to happen, and I thought, you know what, I’m going on! I thought I need to hug my players here. I probably was first on and caused havoc.”
He added, “It was just amazing for Macclesfield. I know the lads were partying until three, four o’clock in the morning. I mean, the scenes for the town and the community yesterday were just one of those experiences that I’m never going to forget.
“I was home early, believe it or not. I got myself back and watched it all over again. Amazing scenes. For me, I think we won the FA Cup yesterday.”
The upset carried extra weight for Macclesfield, still grieving the loss of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash last month while travelling back from a mid-week away fixture in the National League North. John Rooney, brother of former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, saw his side play with purpose and togetherness, paying tribute in the only way that really mattered.
Historically, it was seismic. Palace became the first Cup holders to lose to non-league opposition since, remarkably, Palace themselves did it to Wolves in 1909.
In an era of predictable outcomes and financial imbalance, the FA Cup still has the power to humble, to surprise, and to remind everyone why these games are played.
Forest get lost in the woods
Macclesfield weren’t the only giant killers. Hollywood’s favourite team Wrexham, who play in the Championship, overcame Premier League Nottingham Forest on penalties after the score was level at 3-3 after extra time.
With co-owner Ryan Reynolds watching, Wrexham raced into a 2-0 lead at half time. Forest manager Sean Dyche made three changes for the second half and eventually two late goals by Callum Hudson-Odoi took the game into extra time before Wrexham won 4-3 on penalties.
“The first half was completely unacceptable. I let the players know, and certainly some individuals will know, and they’ve got to look in the mirror at that side of things. But, the strangeness of football, I thought the players that came on in the second half were a credit, and we went on and looked like a Premier League side,” said Dyche.
“You can’t do that in the first half, completely unacceptable, to me, but also I told them to look in the mirror because that is unacceptable to the badge as well.”
Pretty good for Wrexham’s badge which just seems to be getting bigger and bigger.
Meanwhile, Exeter City were given a cold-blooded 10-1 spanking by Manchester City after having had the temerity to ask for a bigger share of the gate money from the tie to help with their financial difficulties. Double ouch.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1768209123labto1768209123ofdlr1768209123owedi1768209123sni@r1768209123etsbe1768209123w.kci1768209123n1768209123
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