MACCLESFIELD owner Rob Smethurst looks to be making a start on his planned Ibiza bender after his club pulled off the biggest FA Cup win in history.
Smethurst – who made his fortune through car selling app Auto Trader – bought the non league side in 2020 on Rightmove during the Covid pandemic.
And after turning the club around, their crowning moment came after dumping out FA Cup holders Palace in the Third Round.
Captain Paul Dawson put the hosts ahead before half-time – when Smethurst was already plotting his getaway celebrations.
He said to the BBC: “After a four-day bender, maybe buying a football club wasn’t too bad after all! The funny thing is, I can’t remember it.
“But look at this now. For the community and the fanbase, bringing a football club back to life and the heartbeat back to Macclesfield is incredible.
“Who knows, could we do it? It’s what dreams are made of, right?We’re enjoying today.
“We’re not expected to win. And if we do, wow. I might find myself in Ibiza by the end of the evening.”
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled Macclesfield’s lead on the hour mark and despite Yeremy Pino’s late consolation – it was too little too late.
Macclesfield – managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother John – were a record 117 places apart from Premier League Palace.
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John said: “I can’t believe it, we never thought we would be in this position. We were incredible from the first minute.
“I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads. I couldn’t have asked any more of them and you can see the joy in them.”
Brother Wayne, working as a pundit, fought back tears as he said: “It’s incredible to see my younger brother achieve this, he has not long been the manager. I am so proud of him.”
Macclesfield fans were already trying to pitch invade when they mistook referee Tim Robinson blowing for a foul throw as the end of the game.
But they did not have to wait long before Robinson did call an end to the match – confirming the historic giant killing.
Fans rushed onto the artificial 4G pitch and celebrated with the players, lifting them aloft in jubilant scenes.
Defender Sam Heathcote posed with a pint in his hand as thousands descended onto the pitch.
Captain, scorer and Man of The Match Dawson – still with a bandage on his head – was mobbed by supporters.
And he said: “I am very happy but very tired. I felt like we kept our shape really well and they didn’t make very much.
“I was surprised [with the win] like I said before, the gaffer gave us a game plan and we all stuck to it and got where we wanted to be.
“I was very calm coming into it and on the pitch. I do get in a few of them head-to-heads each week, so this head isn’t going to get that hurt.
“Macclesfield means the world to me. It’s an immense achievement. I am proud of the boys and proud of the fans. It’s a really big community club.”
Macclesfield went into the match on the back of tragedy after forward Ethan McLeod passed away following a car crash in December.
McLeod was returning from his team’s match at Bedford when he died in the collision on the M1. He was just 21.
Macclesfield dedicated the match to the late player and McLeod’s parents joined the celebrations in the dressing room where the squad belted out Adele’s Someone Like You.”
Buckley-Ricketts – whose goal decided the tie – fought back emotions while remembering his late team-mate.
He said: “I was thinking about it when the final whistle went, Ethan was here.”
Skipper Dawson added: “That was for him. A big team performance. We’ve dug in really well, and that was for Ethan.
“I haven’t really mentioned much in the changing room. I didn’t want to put the extra pressure on the lads.
“I had a nice message off his dad last night and I was like, do I send it to the lads, or do I tell them before the game?
“But I didn’t really want to put that little extra bit of pressure on them with everything we’ve been through, so I thought I’d leave that till after the game.
“It was tough. You know, his parents are here today, young Ethan, so we need to go and see them as well.
“It’s been a really tough time and we’ve all stuck together through it. It’s never, ever gonna get easier.
“We’ve still got pitchers up in the changing room. That will never go. It has been really tough.
“But Ethan, I think he’d be looking down today and he’ll be proud of us as well.”
