Historic upset in English soccer FA Cup as Macclesfield beat Crystal Palace : NPR
Goalscorers Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Paul Dawson of Macclesfield celebrate after the team’s victory following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Macclesfield and Crystal Palace at Moss Rose Ground on January 10, 2026 in Macclesfield, England.
Michael Regan/Getty ImagesEurope
hide caption
toggle caption
Michael Regan/Getty ImagesEurope
In what could be the biggest upset in the long history of English football’s FA Cup, sixth division non-league side Macclesfield FC stunned defending champions Crystal Palace with a 2-1 third round victory on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the country’s much-loved sport.
At their modest Moss Rose ground, Macclesfield – who sit 117 places below Crystal Palace in the English football pyramid – took a surprise lead shortly before half-time, when captain Paul Dawson scored.
Early in the second half, striker Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled that advantage with a calm finish, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home supporters.
Palace, who won the FA Cup for the first time in their club’s history last May, managed to take some late consolation from a Yeremy Pino free-kick, but it proved too little, too late.
The result marks the first time in 117 years that a team from outside the major domestic leagues has knocked out the reigning holders from the FA Cup – the last being Crystal Palace themselves when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1909.
Statistically, the five-division gap between the two clubs makes this the most unlikely ‘slaying of the giants’ moment in the history of the FA Cup – a competition long cherished for its democratic magic, where amateur players can, in their time, topple football’s elite.
After this victory, Macclesfield FC – nicknamed “the Silkmen” – job on social networks: “It was David who beat Goliath against all odds!” As the final whistle blew, enthusiastic Macclesfield supporters gathered on the pitch and lifted several players into the air.
For Macclesfield, a club which reformed in 2020 after its previous incarnation dissolved amid a financial crisis, the victory represented more than just footballing success for the local community.
The result comes less than a month after the tragic death of Macclesfield player Ethan McLeod, who died in a car crash while returning from a National League North match at Bedford Town. After the victory, Macclesfield manager John Rooney said of McLeod: “he’s definitely looking out for us today.”
Rooney – who is the brother of famous former England footballer Wayne – said in an interview after the match: “I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position.” He added: “I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. I couldn’t have asked for more from them and you can see the joy in them.”
On Sunday, Macclesfield FC chairman Rob Smethurst said that after the victory the victorious team had gone “partying” until the early hours of the morning and the town’s bars were “absolutely full” of dancing fans.
The victory propels Macclesfield into the fourth round of the FA Cup and will no doubt be remembered alongside the most extraordinary stories in the competition’s history – not just as a shock result, but as a moment that captured the imagination of football fans across the UK and beyond.
