In a small dressing room at Manchester Metropolitan University's Platt Lane complex, the focus is absolute. Macclesfield's manager, John Rooney, and his assistant, former Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers, are deep in planning. Their final training session before a historic FA Cup third-round tie is being mapped out on scraps of paper. The mood is serious, but lightens instantly as kit man Ged Coyne arrives, his traditional plastic bag of supermarket treats in hand.
From Ashes to FA Cup Spotlight
This is no ordinary cup run. Macclesfield are the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition, plying their trade in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football. They are a phoenix club, reborn after Macclesfield Town collapsed under debts exceeding £500,000 in 2020. Backed by owner Rob Smethurst, the new entity has achieved three promotions in four seasons.
For player-turned-manager Rooney, the occasion is deeply personal. His playing career began and ended at Moss Rose. He was about to return as a player last July when Robbie Savage's departure created a managerial vacancy. Rooney took a call from Smethurst in the gym and was leading training 48 hours later, immediately retiring from playing to avoid any conflict. "I'm very, very proud to stand on the touchline for a team that gave me a chance as a player," he says, recalling his own third-round appearance as a substitute against Everton in 2009.
A Part-Time Squad's Big Day
The preparations for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, live on BBC One and TNT Sports, are a world away from those of their Premier League opponents. Snow forced a late switch to a university facility, where staff reminded Jeffers the pitch was booked by someone else at midday. The part-time squad, featuring a property developer, academy coaches, a podcast host, a Love Island winner, a gym owner and a lawyer, knows this is a career highlight.
The club's community spirit was on display earlier in the week, when scores of volunteers worked late to ensure a league match against Radcliffe could go ahead on Tuesday. Forward Danny Elliot encapsulates the feeling: "People have worked tirelessly... It's a football club that puts its arms around the players and the community."
The financial windfall is significant. With Crystal Palace waiving 45% of gate receipts, Smethurst estimates the tie will generate around £400,000, excluding the £121,500 prize money for the winners. The club even spent £6,000 renting protective covers for their home pitch to guard against the weather.
Ticket Scramble and a Tragic Absence
Demand for the 5,300 tickets at Moss Rose was immense. After allocating seats to season-ticket holders, Palace fans, sponsors, and staff, only about 800 remained. An estimated 2,500 people queued for up to five hours in freezing conditions, with some disappointed fans abusing club staff. Smethurst admits, "We probably could have handled it a bit better... We'll learn from it."
The occasion will be bittersweet. The squad will be without 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who scored in the second qualifying round win over Atherton Laburnum Rovers but tragically died in a car accident in mid-December. His image remains draped from the main stand. "He will remain in our hearts," says Elliot. "He was a very special person."
As training concludes, players are fitted with new outfits from sponsor Duck and Cover for their TV appearance. Goalkeeper Max Dearnley double-checks his recovery with the physio, terrified of missing out. The excitement is palpable. For this community-owned club, Saturday's match against the FA Cup holders is the reward for a journey that began in the extra preliminary round and a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.
