English football is in shock. This Saturday, the humble Macclesfield, a sixth-tier club, pulled off a fairytale upset, knocking out holders Crystal Palace (2-1) in the third round of the FA Cup.
After the final whistle at the small Leasing Stadium, the atmosphere was electric with celebration. The amateur team's captain shared a truly bizarre story with BBC microphones, alongside his manager, John Rooney, brother of Wayne Rooney.
“It’s an extraordinary achievement. I’m proud of the lads, the fans, everyone. You could see and hear what it means to all these people behind us. It’s a true community club,” the midfielder, who played with a bandaged head and scored the opening goal, began.
“The gaffer called me on Tuesday. He gave me a telling-off because I was on the tractor clearing snow from the pitch,” Dawson revealed, before Rooney interjected: “We had a game, and I came here to check the pitch conditions with my assistant. Suddenly, we see my captain, who was supposed to play that night, on a tractor removing snow from the pitch. So, I told him to go home and rest. That’s amateur football for you. Today, he was fantastic.”
Celebrations to the Sound of Adele
In the changing room, after their historic feat, the Macclesfield squad celebrated to the sound of Adele, singing “Someone Like You” loudly and in unison.