Macclesfield chairman Rob Smethurst said the club’s shock FA Cup win over Crystal Palace felt like they had “won the FA Cup”, admitting he was among the first to run on the pitch when the final whistle blew.
Non-league Macclesfield, ranked 117 places below Premier League holders Palace, pulled off a stunning 2-1 third-round victory – one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history. Paul Dawson headed the Silkmen in front in the first half, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored again after the break to seal the famous win.
As fans flooded the pitch in celebration, Smethurst said he could not hold back. “I just ran on. I wanted to hug the players,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “The scenes for the town and the community were unbelievable. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
The emotional win came just weeks after tragedy struck the club, with forward Ethan McLeod dying in a car accident in December. His parents were at the game and joined the players afterwards in the dressing room.
Smethurst said the moment was deeply moving, adding that despite the heartbreak, the team showed incredible spirit. “We’ve been through so much as a club, but the lads picked themselves up. Ethan was our 12th man out there.”
