Football fans love a good underdog story, but what unfolded at Moss Rose on Saturday, January 10, 2026, was beyond even the wildest dreams of Macclesfield supporters. In a third-round FA Cup clash that will be talked about for generations, sixth-tier Macclesfield FC stunned reigning champions Crystal Palace 2-1, sending shockwaves through English football and rewriting the competition’s history books in the process.
It’s not every day you see a club ranked 117 places below their Premier League opponents topple the holders, but that’s exactly what John Rooney’s Macclesfield side achieved. The Silkmen, as they’re affectionately known, played host to Crystal Palace at their home ground, the Leasing.Com Stadium – still called Moss Rose by many locals – in front of a packed house of around 5,000 fans and millions more watching on BBC One. The anticipation was electric, but few could have predicted the drama that would unfold.
From the opening whistle, Macclesfield showed no signs of nerves. Manager John Rooney, younger brother of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, set his team up to believe in the impossible. That belief paid off in the first half when captain Paul Dawson rose above the Palace defense to nod home a stunning header, sending the home crowd into absolute bedlam. As lifelong fan John Clarke recalled, “When that first goal went in, it was bedlam.”
If the first goal shook Palace, the second left them reeling. Just after the hour mark, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled Macclesfield’s lead, redirecting the ball neatly into the net and sparking wild celebrations both on the pitch and in the stands. “I thought we were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners and I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads,” John Rooney beamed after the match. “I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position.”
Palace, desperate to avoid humiliation, pressed forward and finally found a lifeline in stoppage time with a well-taken free kick. But it was too little, too late. As the final whistle sounded, the Moss Rose erupted. Fans poured onto the pitch, players collapsed in joy, and the town of Macclesfield was set for a night of celebration that would last until the early hours. Club chairman Rob Smethurst later shared, “The lads were partying until 3, 4 o’clock in the morning. The bars were absolutely full, there was people dancing in Macclesfield.”
The magnitude of the upset cannot be overstated. The 117-place gap between the two clubs is the largest ever overcome in FA Cup history. For Crystal Palace, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Palace boss Oliver Glasner didn’t mince his words, lamenting his side’s lack of “pride” and “slapstick” defending. “I have no explanation for what I have seen today,” the Austrian manager said, clearly frustrated by his team’s ongoing winless streak, now stretched to nine games.
Wayne Rooney, watching from the sidelines, was visibly emotional as he witnessed his younger brother’s triumph. “To see my younger brother achieve this, he’s not long been in management. To get to the fourth round of the FA Cup and beat a Premier League team in Crystal Palace, I’m so proud of him,” Wayne told the BBC, his voice choked with pride. “It’s such an achievement what he’s done today. Absolutely superb.” The brothers shared a heartfelt embrace on the pitch, a moment that summed up the family’s pride and the enormity of the achievement.
But the United connections didn’t stop there. On the pitch for Macclesfield was Luis Lacey, brother of Manchester United’s Shea Lacey, while several Palace players, including Adam Wharton, have been linked to United in recent transfer rumors. Wayne Rooney wasn’t shy about offering his assessment of Palace’s performance, singling out Wharton and captain Guehi for criticism. “I think Wharton has been very sloppy; he’s given too many balls away. It’s them players who need to help the younger players who have come into the team. The captain Guehi, Wharton, I think they’ve been slow, complacent on the ball. I’ve been more disappointed with them than the players who have come in,” Rooney remarked.
For Macclesfield, the victory was about more than just football. The club and its fans marked the occasion with poignant tributes to their late forward Ethan McLeod, who tragically died in a car accident in December 2025. A picture of McLeod was hung between the dugouts, and a banner honoring him was placed in the stands. After the match, John Rooney met with McLeod’s parents, sharing, “I said to his parents: ‘He is definitely watching down on us today. I feel he is here with us.’ To have his mum and dad here – to come into the changing room, to come into the office. That means so much to me.”
The scenes in Macclesfield after the final whistle were the stuff of legend. Club chairman Rob Smethurst described the victory as “absolutely incredible,” adding, “The scenes were just something I’ve never experienced in my life. It was just amazing for Macclesfield.” Lifelong supporter Ellie Thomason summed up the mood, calling it a “once in a lifetime experience” and one that “everyone in the town was talking about.”
As for what comes next, Macclesfield’s cup run isn’t over yet. The Silkmen will face Woking in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 7:45 pm. The town, still buzzing from their historic win, will be hoping for another magical night under the lights.
For now, though, the story belongs to Macclesfield, their players, their manager, and their fans. Against all odds, they toppled a Premier League giant and wrote their name into FA Cup folklore. The echoes of their victory will ring out for years to come, a testament to the magic of the cup and the enduring power of belief. The Silkmen have shown the footballing world that, sometimes, David really does beat Goliath.
