Macclesfield recorded a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday, but Rob Smethurst spoke about how he bought the non-league club as the holders were eliminated.
Rob Smethurst buys Macclesfield in 2020 after four days of hesitation! (Image: Getty Images)
Rob Smethurst basked in the glory of his shock 2-1 FA Cup win over Crystal Palace as he recalled his decision to buy Macclesfield FC after four agonizing days in Ibiza.
On Saturday afternoon, Silkman hosted the current FA Cup holders and it was a real treat for them. There are approximately 117 places between the two clubs in English football, and despite going into the match as major underdogs, it was the National League North side that reigned supreme against their Premier League opponents.
Paul Dawson nodded home to give the non-league side the lead just before half-time, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled Macclesfield’s advantage midway through the second period. Jeremy Pino pulled one back in stoppage time, but his goal was little more than a consolation as the Eagles crashed out of the competition.
read more: FA Cup holders Crystal Palace clash with non-league side Macclesfield in a huge upsetread more: What was the biggest upset in FA Cup history after Macclesfield beat Crystal Palace?
The club, which reached the fourth round of the FA Cup as a result of the win, is in the exact opposite situation to when Smethurst took over in 2020, when the club went bankrupt and was put up for sale in a right-handed move. Speaking to TNT Sports about how he came to own Macclesfield FC, Smethurst said:
“Seeing all the Mack fans running on the pitch not only shows you how much it means to everyone, but for me, when I bought this club five years ago, I never imagined something like this would happen today.
“I bought it from Rightmove after drinking it for four days, but I don’t really remember buying it. And look where we are now.”
Macclesfield defeated Crystal Palace 2-1. (Image: PA)
Smethurst added that he is already planning a trip to Ibiza with his team to mark the occasion. He added: “It’s unbelievable. I think I’ve already started planning a trip to Ibiza with the kids.”
He added: “It was the first time in a million years (I’ve seen something like that happen). Crystal Palace were a really high quality team and in my head I thought we might lose 6-0, 7-0. But I’ve never seen a game like that. The players were insane.”
Macclesfield Town went into liquidation in 2020 and the club’s Moss Rose Stadium was listed on Rightmove for £500,000. Silkman was also expelled from the National League just four days before the start of the season.
The Rightmove listing says: “It is the obligation of the purchaser to undertake the work and costs of assigning and/or transferring the website, IP address, email address, telephone number and trading style. It is the obligation of the purchaser to negotiate and negotiate with the various football authorities until a satisfactory conclusion is reached.”
Macclesfield listed on Rightmove (Image: Rightmove/Christie & Co)
“At this time, the seller has not offered any book debt or future ‘parachute payments’ within the scope of goodwill. For the sale of the entire football club, we are inviting written offers in excess of £500,000. All offers must be accompanied by evidence of funding.”
Smethurst, who made his fortune in a car dealership, ultimately saved the club and helped it climb the EFL pyramid over the next few years. He also received help from Robbie Savage, as he knew little about football at the time.
Mr Savage initially told Mr Smethurst that buying the club was “the stupidest thing he had ever done”, but he was happy to step in and help. He told the BBC in 2021: “I think every day whether it was a good idea.
“Every day there’s another problem. But at the end of the day, when we see the first team win, or when we see the kids smiling on the pitch, or when we see people enjoying the bar or the gym that we built, we can look with pride.”
Macclesfield FC also achieved promotion to the sixth tier of football last season. Fans were pictured celebrating with the players on the pitch at Leasing.com Stadium, with some of the stars being lifted into the air by enthusiastic supporters as the win over Palace was a day they will never forget.
The Silkmen will find out their fate in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday 12 January, when the next draw takes place.
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