“Did that simply actually occur?”
Two days on from Macclesfield’s gorgeous FA Cup third-round win over Crystal Palace, the heroics are nonetheless sinking in for supervisor John Rooney.
The Silkmen – who play within the sixth tier of English soccer – produced the best shock within the competitors’s historical past with a over their Premier League opponents and the present holders.
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“Did I ever suppose we’d get the win and thru to the subsequent spherical? No, I most likely did not,” Rooney instructed BBC Breakfast.
“There was at all times that little bit of hope and, as it is the FA Cup, it throws up mad moments. I believed we have been the well-deserved winners and credit score to the lads. They have been completely excellent.”
Rooney celebrated within the bar after the sport earlier than leaving his gamers to rejoice lengthy into the evening.
He was introduced again right down to earth with an early wake-up from his kids.
“I awakened on Sunday to the youngsters waking me as much as take them to the soccer,” he mentioned. “You additionally suppose ‘did that simply actually occur?’ however then you definately’re watching movies again and stuff and it was unbelievable.
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“The scenes and the followers have been completely unbelievable – to see them on the pitch after the sport, that is how a lot it means to them.”
Rooney was a Macclesfield participant earlier than changing Robbie Savage as supervisor in July 2024.
He’s the youthful brother of England and Manchester United nice Wayne Rooney, who was a part of BBC’s protection on the Moss Rose on Saturday and was visibly emotional on the full-time whistle.
“It was a big day, particularly to have him doing the sport,” John Rooney mentioned. “To talk to him earlier than and after the sport means quite a bit.
“To have my household there as effectively, my spouse and youngsters, my little lad was truly on the pitch after the second objective. He was the child on the pitch with the gamers. I did not know till I acquired residence and watched it again. It was a surreal day.”
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There could possibly be extra particular moments to come back for Macclesfield on this cup run.
“Fingers crossed we get a superb draw tonight and get one other Premier League facet,” Rooney mentioned.
John Rooney’s son celebrated on the pitch after Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored Macclesfield’s second objective in opposition to Crystal Palace [Getty Images]
Macclesfield are the one non-league crew left within the FA Cup and can be taught their fourth-round opponents in Monday’s draw at about 18:35 GMT.
There isn’t any time for Rooney’s facet to dwell on their well-known victory, as they return to FA Trophy motion on Tuesday with a visit to Woking.
With numerous league matches postponed due to each the FA Cup run and up to date poor climate, the Silkmen have a busy run of fixtures arising with eight matches earlier than their fourth-round tie takes place.
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“We’re again to it tomorrow within the FA Trophy,” Rooney mentioned. “We’ve a very busy schedule arising. We’re Saturday-Tuesday from now till the tip of the season.”
Cup hero on Saturday, again at college on Monday
Sam Heathcote anticipated his day job to deliver a actuality verify [Getty Images]
Taking part in within the Nationwide League North, Macclesfield are part-time and defender Sam Heathcote is one in all numerous gamers with a job exterior soccer.
The 28-year-old has gone from battling with the likes of Brennan Johnson and Yeremy Pino on Saturday to returning to his day job as a PE trainer at Stamford Park Main College in Altrincham on Monday.
“Straight again to it this morning, again right down to actuality,” the centre-back instructed BBC Breakfast. “I am trying ahead to seeing the youngsters.
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“I used to be going spherical faculty final week saying ‘conceding something lower than 10 we might be proud of’ and so they have been all laughing.
“Final time a few them watched it after we performed within the second spherical in opposition to Slough and the very first thing one in all them mentioned to me was ‘you gave away a penalty’. They may discuss my yellow card as an alternative of us successful. A number of of them might be excited, bless them, particularly the older ones which are actually stepping into soccer.”
Heathcote joined the Silkmen in the summertime of 2023 and has mixed his instructing job with coaching two days every week.
He teaches kids from the ages of three to 11 and hopes beating the Eagles can encourage his pupils.
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“It would present which you can be an underdog in any story, you possibly can obtain no matter you need and issues that appear utterly inconceivable would possibly simply change into a actuality as a result of that is precisely what occurred on Saturday,” he mentioned.
“I by no means thought I would be on this place to come back again in on a Monday having received that recreation. I nonetheless cannot recover from it now, it is superb.
“I am so comfortable for everybody concerned to create this little bit of historical past. We are going to try to milk it for so long as we will, however I do know what the gaffer’s like and we might be straight again to it tomorrow evening.”