This is the first ever meeting between Macclesfield and Brentford – the Bees last faced a non-league side in 2018-19, needing a replay to beat Barnet at the fourth round stage.
This is Brentford’s first ever FA Cup match as a top-flight side against a non-league opponent. At the fourth round stage, top-flight teams have progressed from 26 of 28 ties against non-league sides; the exceptions are Sunderland against Yeovil in 1948-49 and Norwich against Luton in 2012-13.
Macclesfield knocked out Premier League side Crystal Palace in the third round – the last non-league team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season was Millwall in 1913-14.
Brentford have reached the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 2021-22, when they lost 4-1 to Everton. In their last 19 seasons, the Bees have only reached the fifth round once, doing so in 2018-19.
Macclesfield have won their first three matches in the FA Cup (first round onwards) – the last team to win their first four games in the competition were Rangers in the 1886-87 season, the only season they competed in the English FA Cup. Since 1925-26, no side has ever reached the fifth round in their debut season in the competition.