'Macclesfield's FA cup triumph will last for ever'

Macclesfield fans were still shaking their heads in disbelief 72 hours after their team of part-timers made FA Cup history by beating current holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the third round.

Ardent supporter Mark Sharpley, 49, summed up what many fans felt, saying: "It was unbelievable if you had told me we were going to win I would have looked at you very curiously."

The co-host of the The National League Lowdown Podcast added "Somebody said that when these players are long gone, this story will still be told".

He added: "I was walking towards exit when I saw our manager John Rooney [brother of ex-England star Wayne] as he was returning to the dressing room after a TV interview.

"I just said 'we did it' and we looked at each other gave each other a big hug. I could see his eyes were red with having a bit of a cry," said Sharpley.

"You can fantasise abut these days but when it comes true you don't know what do do with yourself," he said.

Sharpley attended his first game in 1986, using tickets his father had been given by his employer, the Macclesfield Umbro factory where the kit worn by England's 1966 World Cup winning team was made.

Sharpley added that victory over Palace "means everything to the town", especially as the club's predecessor, Macclesfield Town, went bust six years ago.

Another fan still trying to process the 2-1 victory was Jonathan Smart, 62, who has followed the club since the 1980s.

He said: "This is such a great community club. For us, Saturday was amazing. It was always going to be a great day, but you saw after a few minutes that Palace were not going to dominate, and they thought we would run out of steam

"I knew we were a very fit side, despite the fact we only train twice a week. The win was unexpected but as the game went on it, wasn't a surprise that we won.

"Adam Wharton plays for England but he looked like he should be playing in the North West Counties League."

"There was definite cup fever last week in the town and I think it will be there again," he added.

Match day secretary Janey Parish said she caught the Macclesfield bug when her daughter began playing for the women's team.

She said: "I just love it. I don't think I have comprehended what happened on Saturday yet. I'm a bit gutted we've got to do it all again because of the work involved for everybody. The office staff will probably need therapy.

"It is amazing. My phone still hasn't stopped pinging from family and others."

Albanian-born chip shop owner Eric Meta, 32, said he had been a Man Utd follower since he was eight, but he was glad for the people of his adopted home.

Meta, who has lived in Macclesfield for more than a decade, said: "It is good to see Macclesfield doing well, even though they are doing better than United in the FA Cup."

Back at the club, fan-turned-director Brigg Simpson was still reliving a "surreal" day.

"It was really bizarre. I was actually sat behind Wayne Rooney.

"Words can't describe how good it was.

"The draw could have been better, but at least it wasn't Grimsby or Mansfield away.

"We are at home again and they play Arsenal on the Thursday of that week, so you never know."

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