Sam Heathcote, the Macclesfield defender and primary school teacher, saw his dream of facing boyhood club Manchester United ended after their FA Cup exit. The Silkmen pulled off the biggest upset in FA Cup history by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday, but hopes of a fourth-round tie against United evaporated when the Premier League side exited the competition.
Heathcote, 28, was at the heart of Macclesfield's defence for the historic win. The central defender, who also teaches at Stamford Park Primary School in Altrincham, returned to the classroom on Monday morning after a weekend of glory. His father, Graham, scored a penalty for Altrincham against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1981, and Sam had hoped to emulate that feat against United.
"He said the only thing that could have potentially pipped it was if I played against United. So that's who I want in the next round. I'd love to score at Anfield, don't get me wrong," Heathcote said. Despite the disappointment, he remains upbeat about the achievement.
Heathcote described the reality as "weird" and still surreal. "I think it has sunk in, but I also still can't quite believe that it's happened – it's like a big dream over the weekend," he added. He plans to enjoy the experience, acknowledging that it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a non-league player.
Full-back Lewis Fensome was quickly brought back to earth, cleaning at his gym, while most of the Macclesfield squad returned to their regular jobs on Monday. Heathcote will continue to savour the moment, taking on new experiences like interviews before returning to normality.
