John Rooney has emerged as the FA Cup's latest giant-killing manager, guiding his Macclesfield side to a historic third-round victory over holders Crystal Palace and embracing the crucial financial rewards that come with television exposure.
The Unlikely Hero and the Financial Lifeline
The 35-year-old brother of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who was appointed manager of the National League North side last July, masterminded what is being hailed as the greatest upset in the competition's long history. For a club like Macclesfield, reborn as a phoenix entity after the collapse of Macclesfield Town, the £121,500 prize money for beating Palace is transformative.
Combined with earnings from earlier rounds against Stamford, AFC Totton, and Slough, the Silkmen have banked £258,125 from their FA Cup journey so far. A further £80,000 came from BBC broadcast fees for the Palace match, with the Premier League club graciously allowing Macclesfield to keep 100% of the gate receipts from the sold-out tie at the 5,300-seater Moss Rose.
"It's Huge For Our Club"
Speaking on The Overlap alongside Gary Neville and other football pundits, Rooney emphasised the significance of the windfall. "For teams at our level, financially it's huge for our club," he stated. "We don't really play on TV that much at this level and the last two games have been. I'm sure we'll be on it next round now as well, so that's massive."
The manager revealed that the broadcast and prize money from their past two cup games, including a tie shown on TNT Sports, have "probably covered the budget for the season." He explained that owner Rob Smethurst's strategy upon taking over included targeting a deep FA Cup run precisely for the financial boost it could provide.
Praise for Palace and Eyes on Brentford
Owner Rob Smethurst, speaking to talkSPORT, reserved special praise for Crystal Palace's sporting gesture regarding the gate money. He also outlined the paradoxical financial pressure of climbing the football pyramid. "Within football, unfortunately, the better you do and the higher you move up the leagues, the worse it actually gets financially as an owner," Smethurst noted.
The financial bonanza is set to continue. Macclesfield's reward for beating Palace is a fourth-round home tie against Premier League side Brentford on the weekend of February 14. Victory would secure another £127,000 in prize money, plus further broadcast revenue. Smethurst estimated that a lucrative away draw against a top-flight club could be worth "nearly up to a million pounds."
While Rooney admitted he'd have loved to draw Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal, he is thrilled at another chance to cause an upset. "Another Premier League side is incredible," he told ITV, as his part-time side prepares for another shot at FA Cup glory and financial security.
