Sixth-tier Macclesfield defeated FA Cup holders Crystal Palace, securing the biggest upset of all time. This competition continues to prove itself to be the best in world football.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Paul Dawson celebrate the FA Cup win against Crystal Palace (Image: Getty Images)
During and after the season, everyone’s faith in the magic of the FA Cup will be severely tested. Ridiculous kick-off times, draws before the end of the round, a manager leading a weakened team.
But every season, this grand old rivalry brings repercussions. Every season, something happens that makes you stick to your beliefs. Last season, Crystal Palace defeated rivals Manchester City at Wembley to win their first ever major trophy.
And this season, the same Palace fans who cried tears of joy at Wembley stood and applauded Macclesfield FC players and fans after one of the FA Cup’s biggest shocks. It was a magical moment. And regardless of Macclesfield’s fate in the fourth round, it will be a fate that will stay with the part-timers forever.
Altrincham primary school teacher Sam Heathcote said: “That shouldn’t happen, right? It won’t, it really won’t.” “I didn’t expect to win and go to school on Monday. I know some kids might have been watching. They kept telling me don’t get sent off and stuff like that. Don’t give penalties. There was nothing positive! But some of them will be happy for me on Monday.”
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Heathcote, 28, initially struggled to understand how the upset had been caused, but when captain Paul Dawson clashed heads with Jaydee Cambot shortly after kick-off, he knew something special was happening.
Heathcote explained: “I think that set the tone for me. We have the same kickoff every time. Every time we play, that’s it. And he does that every week, and people who don’t come watch don’t know that.”
“That high ball, as a defender myself, I don’t want to deal with it. I want to get after it. So to get in, you know, hit somebody at the first door. For me, if I was in their locker room, I’d think… ‘Oh, these boys took a shot at it.’
But Macclesfield’s victory, one that netted him around £400,000 in prize money, was far from being orchestrated by strong tactics.
Macclesfield defied all odds to qualify for the FA Cup fourth round (Image: Getty Images)
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The National League North team was disciplined, organized, defended flawlessly and smashed through with purpose when given the chance. It was quite an effort considering most of them are actually part-timers.
Dawson, who scored the opening goal, explained: “We’re all part-time. We train twice a week. I coach the young players, the junior academy. And I work for one of Chloe Jade’s friends who own it. They make candles and diffusers. We pack them up and send them off. I was there yesterday.”
“Tuesday night I took a shovel and shoveled snow, and yesterday I took all my kids’ jerseys off. I was like Pat the mailman. It was after work. This is a community club, and we’re all united here.”
And hours after the final whistle, Dawson was still in his uniform, pouring pints for customers in the club bar. Every season, faith in the magic of the FA Cup is tested…and every season, the grand old competition responds.
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