Wayne Rooney burst with pride after seeing Crystal Palace, younger brother John Rooney’s Macclesfield dump holder, exit the FA Cup on Saturday.
Macclesfield became the first sixth division side to ever beat Premier League opponents in a 2-1 win over Moss Rose.
The 117 places separating the clubs in the English football pyramid are the most ever conquered by an underdog in the history of the FA Cup.
«I’m getting emotional,» said former England captain Wayne Rooney, who was part of the BBC commentary team.
«To see my younger brother, who has not been a manager for very long, beat a Premier League team… I am so proud. It is such an achievement. What he has achieved today is absolutely fantastic.»
The monumental achievement was all the more poignant for the Silkmen following the death of striker Ethan McLeod less than a month ago.
McLeod, 21, died while driving back from the club’s match in Bedford on December 16.
“I had a nice message from his dad last night and I had to send it to the boys or tell them before the game but I didn’t really want to put that little bit of extra pressure on them with everything we’ve been through,” John Rooney said.
«So I thought I would postpone that until after the game. We have to go to them (his parents) too. It has been a very difficult time. We all stuck through it together. It will never get easier. We still have photos in the locker rooms that never disappear.»
Published on January 10, 2026
