Macclesfield FC caused the biggest upset in FA Cup history last month and now they are out to repeat the dose against Brentford on Monday.
John Rooney
John Rooney has already guided Macclesfield to the biggest shock in FA Cup history
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John Rooney has just finished an answer talking about how Macclesfield's FA Cup heroics this season have put the club on the world map, when the next hand goes up in the bar at the Leasing.com Stadium. It's a journalist from France's daily sports newspaper L'Equipe. It couldn't be any more on the nose.
The story of the rebirth of Macclesfield FC, how owner Rob Smethurst bought them on Rightmove after a four-day bender, and Wayne Rooney's brother pulled off the biggest giant-killing in cup history, is pulling the world's media into the Cheshire town 16 miles south of Manchester.
An FA Cup journey that started on September 14 in the second qualifying round against Atherton LR will get its seventh chapter on Monday night, when Brentford follow in the footsteps of their Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and Keith Andrews looks to do what Oliver Glasner couldn't.
That 2-1 win against Palace saw Macclesfield bridge a 117-place gap to beat the Premier League outfit, but rather than allowing a cup run to affect their league form, they have won five of their six National League North games since to cement a position in the play-off places.
"Since the Crystal Palace game, we’ve been in really good form," said Rooney. "It was a concern as to how we can keep them level-headed.
"There has been a lot of media attention around, for myself and the players, but it’s something the lads have taken in their stride. It’s new to me as well; I’ve enjoyed doing it, and I think it will help me in my managerial career long-term."
The 35-year-old Liverpudlian, who will be cheered on by brother Wayne again on Monday, is in the first year of a managerial career he hopes will be successful. He was a player at Macclesfield when Robbie Savage took over as boss in the summer of 2024 and when Savage left to take over at Forest Green Rovers, he told Smethurst he was ready to hang up his boots and take his place in the dugout.
"When Sav took over, I was putting my hand in then, but he wanted to have a go himself," said Rooney. "When Sav left, I spoke to Rob and told him I would be willing to take over the team, it’s something I really want to go into and something I had spoken to Rob about.
"At first, we were speaking about losing me as a player, he was asking would I still play or not play? I didn’t think it was right to play, I didn’t think it was fair on the lads."
Rooney credits Smethurst with putting Macclesfield back on the map as they try and climb the pyramid, with promotion to the National League the "bread and butter" this season. The manager showed his motivational skills by urging his players, many of who have experience of Premier League academies, to believe in themselves ahead of facing Palace, insisting the gap in talent wouldn't be as big as they might fear.
Brentford will be forewarned, however, and Rooney is aware plenty of people will be tuning in, in this country and beyond, expecting to see another upset.
"We’re still massive underdogs," he said. "There will be a lot more eyes on us, expecting an upset like there was in the Palace game. But that’s testament to the club, players and staff who have done everything behind the scenes to make the day possible.
"Over the last couple of years, you’ve seen the club go into liquidation. Rob has taken over and he’s put the club back on the map. The past couple of years have been incredible, pushing back up the pyramid and we want to continue that.
"But on that day, we had media from all over the world, the FA Cup is a worldwide tournament, so outside the UK people know Macclesfield Football Club now."
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