Article body analysed
By WILL GRIFFEE Published: 02: 49 AEDT, 11 January 2026 | Updated: 03: 56 AEDT, 11 January 2026 52 View comments Macclesfield FC owner Rob Smethurst has promised to take his side to Ibiza to celebrate their historic FA Cup win over Crystal Palace. In one of the greatest upsets in the storied competition's history, the minnows (who are 117 places below the Premier League club in the pyramid), achieved an astonishing victory over the defending champions on Saturday afternoon. Smethurst brought the club back from the dead, buying them on Rightmove 'during a four-day bender' and was visibly emotional and overjoyed when interviewed on the pitch after full-time. Speaking to TNT Sports' Jules Breach, 48-year-old Smethurst said: 'It's unbelievable scenes. I have no words. It's the stuff of dreams! 'To see everyone run out onto the pitch shows how much it means to everyone. When I bought the club five years ago I never never would have imagined this could happen. 'I bought it from Rightmove after four days drinking, and look where we are now. Rob Smethurst promised to take his FA Cup heroes to Ibiza as a reward for their huge upset The non-league side stunned the defending champions Crystal Palace in the third round 'I've already planned the Ibiza trip already with the boys. Not right now, but definitely (at the end of the season). ' The owner went on to admit he had feared an absolute hammering by last year's FA Cup winners. 'It's Palace, an absolutely quality team, ' he added. 'I was thinking 6-0, 7-0, but I've never seen anything like this. The players were insane. 'It's a special moment for not just me, but the fans, the community, to put Macclesfield back on the map after it went under. ' The National League north club managed by Wayne Rooney's younger brother, John, overcame the odds to write an extraordinary chapter in their short history on their astroturf pitch at the Leasing. com Stadium. Paul Dawson's header in the first half had the home fans dreaming of seeing out the job before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts put them in a commanding position to the disbelief of Oliver Glasner and Co. Yeremy Pino scored a free-kick in the 90th minute but it proved to be a consolation and Macclesfield FC fans charged onto the pitch in celebration at full-time. Smethurst, who gave Daily Mail Sport a tour of the club and fascinating insight into how he rescued them, made his millions through a car logistics app. He revealed the mission at Macclesfield FC saved him from addiction and gave him a sense of community and purpose. Smethurst was visibly emotional as he spoke to TNT after the historic victory After Macclesfield - who are 14th in the National League North - secured the historic upset, Wayne Rooney was left on the verge of tears during his punditry work for BBC Sport. 'It's incredible, I am getting emotional to see my younger brother achieve this, ' Rooney said. 'He's not been long in management and to get through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and beat Crystal Palace, I am so proud of him. 'He did [look calm], I don't know how, it is such an achievement what he has done today, it is absolutely superb. ' Rooney then embraced his brother John as the Macclesfield boss joined the BBC for his post-match interview. 'I'm the same (in tears), literally, ' John said. 'I still can't believe it, I can't get my head around it. 'I thought we were incredible from the first minute, the first half we had a couple of chances, and then we took the lead. I thought we were well deserved winners. 'I thought we were incredible to a man, I couldn't be any prouder of the lads. ' The Macclesfield boss also reflected on the result coming weeks after their striker Ethan Mc Leod tragically died in a car crash on December 16. Mc Leod had been travelling home following Macclesfield's National League North match at Bedford Town. The Macclesfield fans invaded the pitch at full-time in scenes of unbridled joy Rooney revealed he had received a message from Mc Leod's father on the eve of the match, but opted against telling his side to not put additional pressure on them. He explained that the squad would spend time with Mc Leod's parents post-match with the pair having been present for the victory. Smethurst revealed Mc Leod's parents had joined the team in the dressing room post match and said their late star had been 'twelfth man who was on the pitch' with the team during the victory. 'A real special moment for Ethan's parents, they're in the changing room. 'I wanted to make sure they had that moment, because he helped us to get here. I can't thank him and his family enough for this. '
Share what you think
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mail Online.
By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual. Do you want to automatically post your Mail Online comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to Mail Online as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on Mail Online. To do this we will link your Mail Online account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.