Updated / Tuesday, 17 Feb 2026 17:26
Brentford boss Keith Andrews insists he will never allow the FA Cup to slip down his list of priorities.
Andrews came face to face with the biggest story of this year's competition, with Monday’s fourth-round trip to giant-killers Macclesfield, the sixth-tier side who downed holders Crystal Palace in January.
The Dubliner successfully avoided another seismic shock, his side winning [1-0](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0216/1558851-brentford-do-enough-to-see-off-non-league-macclesfield/) at Moss Rose after Sam Heathcote’s own goal, and he retains full respect for a trophy that meant everything to him as a childhood fan.
"I grew up in the 80s where the FA Cup was the be all and end all, the FA Cup had a big impact in my early footballing memories," said Andrews.
"I moved to this country in 1996 at 15 years of age, when it was still really high on everyone’s agenda. I think it’s fair to say it’s dropped in some people’s agenda and priorities but it hasn’t in mine. I think it’s still a very special competition."
Brentford were taken all the way by a part-time Macclesfield side who made a mockery of the gulf between the two teams, leaving Andrews grateful for the calming influence of his captain, Nathan Collins.
"He does exactly that on a daily basis, he’s a brilliant character and a brilliant leader," he said of the Leixlip native, who also captains the Republic of Ireland.
"He’s a young captain in relative terms, but he constantly wants to learn and evolve his game, not just on the pitch but off it and everything around it."
**Watch Bodo/Glimt v Inter Milan in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs on Wednesday from 7.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player**