Sixth-tier Macclesfield might lay declare to having produced the best shock within the FA Cup’s 155-year historical past.
The Nationwide League North facet on Saturday regardless of being ranked 117 league locations beneath the Premier League membership.
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That makes it the most important shock within the competitors’s historical past by way of distinction in league place.
However the place would you place it among the many largest surprises in soccer’s oldest cup competitors?
Now we have listed 10 of the most important upsets of all time beneath so that you can rank – in fact, it’s not an exhaustive checklist, and you may depart your ideas within the feedback as properly.
Macclesfield 2-1 Crystal Palace (third spherical, 2026)
Regardless of being 117 league locations beneath their opponents, Macclesfield completely deserved to win.
Paul Dawson’s good header within the first half despatched the house followers delirious, earlier than Isaac Buckley-Ricketts prodded in a second after the break.
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Yeremy Pino arrange a nervous end for the hosts when he fired house a free-kick in stoppage time, however Macclesfield held out.
Palace arrived in Cheshire with an injury-hit squad and with out a win in eight video games, however few anticipated them to lose lower than eight months after beating Manchester Metropolis within the 2024-25 FA Cup last.
The victory is made much more outstanding by the truth that this iteration of Macclesfield was solely began taking part in in 2021-22.
The membership is the successor of Macclesfield City, who had been liquidated and expelled from the Nationwide League in 2020 due to large money owed.
It was an , workers and followers – they’ve been mourning the loss of life ahead Ethan McLeod, who died on 16 December in a automotive accident whereas travelling again from their Nationwide League North match at Bedford City.
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Bournemouth 2-0 Manchester United (third spherical, 1984)
When Bournemouth had been drawn to face FA Cup holders Manchester United within the third spherical in 1984, few individuals gave the struggling Third Division facet a lot probability of inflicting an upset.
However led by younger and inexperienced boss Harry Redknapp, the Cherries produced one of many largest shocks within the match’s historical past. Bournemouth matched United for an hour earlier than 5 dramatic minutes introduced objectives from Milton Graham and Ian Thompson, and gave them a 2-0 lead.
Regardless of boasting a star-studded facet that included England captain Bryan Robson, United couldn’t deny Bournemouth a well-known victory.
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“It was an out-of-body expertise and a kind of moments the place you do one thing however do not realise till years later how necessary the purpose was,” stated Thompson.
Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle (third spherical, 2011)
League Two Stevenage, having fun with their first season of league soccer, beat Premier League Newcastle with a dominant efficiency.
The underdogs loved extra of the possession and extra of the photographs at hand their opponents their largest cup upset since they had been defeated by non-league Hereford in 1972 – extra on that shortly.
Stacy Lengthy’s deflected strike gave Stevenage the lead, earlier than Michael Bostwick added a second. Cheick Tiote’s dismissal didn’t assist Newcastle’s trigger and regardless that Joey Barton pulled one again, Peter Winn sealed a well-known victory.
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Defeat for Alan Pardew’s facet meant they turned solely the fourth top-flight crew for the reason that formation of the Premier League to lose to fourth-tier opposition.
Shrewsbury 2-1 Everton (third spherical, 2003)
It was absolutely written within the stars that Shrewsbury, managed by Everton’s most profitable captain Kevin Ratcliffe, would trigger an upset towards his former membership.
Everton had been pushing for a spot in Europe and boasted a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney amongst their ranks, however had been dominated by a Shrewsbury facet 80 locations beneath them within the pyramid.
Shrewsbury’s 34-year-old captain Nigel Jemson opened the scoring with a shocking free-kick after which, after Niclas Alexandersson equalised, the veteran struck once more with a header to ship the Shrews into the fourth spherical.
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They’d have received by extra had been it not for the heroics of Everton goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Plymouth 1-0 Liverpool (fourth spherical, 2025)
Arne Slot made 10 modifications to his Liverpool facet after they’d received an EFL Cup semi-final of their earlier sport – and so they had been made to pay.
Eight minutes after the interval, the Pilgrims had been awarded a penalty after Harvey Elliott’s handball and Ryan Hardie drilled house from the spot in emphatic style.
Hardie virtually added a second shortly afterwards when his shot was turned on to the submit by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The underside membership within the Championship held on, with Conor Hazard making essential late saves, to beat a crew who would go on to win the Premier League title.
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Chelsea 2-4 Bradford Metropolis (fourth spherical, 2015)
Bradford ranked 49 locations beneath their opponents as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to tackle Chelsea, who at that time had been high of the Premier League.
Gary Cahill and Ramires netted to place the hosts 2-0 up and provides Chelsea agency management of the fourth-round tie.
Bradford had different concepts, although, as Jon Stead pulled one again earlier than Filipe Morais side-footed in an equaliser.
Andy Halliday then blasted the Bantams forward earlier than Mark Yeats slotted a fourth to inflict a shock defeat on Jose Mourinho’s facet.
Oldham 3-2 Liverpool (fourth spherical, 2013)
Premier League giants Liverpool had ample power at Boundary Park, with Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all beginning.
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League One hosts Oldham had been within the midst of monetary issues however produced a spirited show towards the percentages, with Matt Smith nodding in a Youssouf M’Changama cross to open the scoring.
Suarez levelled, however Smith quickly took benefit of an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones earlier than Reece Wabara netted a back-post header to provide the Latics a 3-1 lead.
Joe Allen volleyed house to drag one again and Liverpool introduced on Steven Gerrard, nevertheless it was not sufficient to keep away from defeat.
Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (third spherical, 1992)
Arsenal had been reigning First Division champions and second within the high flight. Wrexham had completed the earlier season backside of the Fourth Division.
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The Gunners made the journey to Wales as agency favourites and had been simply 10 minutes from securing a spot within the fourth spherical after Alan Smith’s first-half opener.
However Mickey Thomas despatched a 25-yard free kick previous David Seaman earlier than Steve Watkin’s strike earned victory for Wrexham simply two minutes later.
Sutton 2-1 Coventry (third spherical, 1989)
Sutton United had a memorable cup run in 2016-17, beating three EFL groups – together with Leeds United – earlier than shedding to Arsenal within the fifth spherical.
They’ve additionally produced one of many largest shocks of all time.
The non-league facet took on a Coventry crew who had been then within the First Division and had received the FA Cup in 1987.
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The part-time facet upset the percentages at house, with Matthew Hanlan volleying house the winner simply earlier than the hour mark.
Hereford 2-1 Newcastle (third spherical, 1972)
High-flight Newcastle had been overwhelmed within the third spherical of the FA Cup by non-league opposition after they took on Hereford United in 1972.
Hereford took the tie to a replay after a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, however Newcastle appeared destined to make it to the fourth spherical because of a late purpose by Malcolm McDonald within the rematch.
Nonetheless, the non-leaguers had different concepts and Ronnie Radford popped as much as rating probably the most well-known 30-yard purpose in FA Cup historical past to take the sport into additional time.
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Substitute Ricky George scored the winner – amid scenes of untamed celebration at Edgar Avenue – as Hereford turned the primary non-league membership to defeat a First Division facet since 1949.