Who could Macclesfield FC draw in FA Cup fourth round? Dream ties for National League giant killers

Macclesfield FC completed what is statistically the greatest upset in FA Cup history on Saturday at Moss Rose, beating current holders Crystal Palace 2-1. The Silkmen sit 117 places below the Eagles and are currently 14th in National League North, making it a competition record.

Just over 5,300 fans saw the club that, not even six years ago, were dissolved and have now built its way back up, thanks in part to the owner, local businessman Robert Smethurst, who bought the club on Rightmove following an extremely intoxicated trip to Ibiza.

Since then, the club has skyrocketed back up the football leagues with the renovated Moss Rose perfectly displaying how far the club has risen.   

 

Saturday's triumph was another chapter in what has been a tumultuous season for Macclesfield thus far, from Robbie Savage departing before the campaign started after securing them promotion to the sixth tier, to the tragic loss of 21-year-old striker Ethan McLeod last month in a car accident.

But now, with John Rooney, brother of Everton and Manchester United legend Wayne, who retired from playing to take up the position left by Savage's departure, the team, along with the whole town of Macclesfield, will be eagerly awaiting tonight's Fourth Round draw. 

Whilst 14-time winners of the competition, Arsenal, or current FIFA Club World Cup Champions Chelsea, may seem like the dream draw for the Cheshire-based team, there are actually a few others in the hat that Macclesfield could be hoping for. 

Manchester CityMichael Steele/Getty Images

Despite their thrashing of Exeter City 10-1 in the third round, Rooney and his team would love the chance to knock out a team as prestigious and strong as Manchester City. 

The opportunity to welcome Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland and co to Moss Rose in the battle down the M60 would be one impossible to pass on. 

This would also be the first time the clubs faced each other since they were in the same division in the 1998/99 season in the old Division Two, now League One.

Both games went the way of the of City that season, and the clubs have not come close to facing each other since, as they have taken almost polar opposite trajectories, but through the magic of the FA Cup, could we see a meeting between clubs we haven't seen in 27 years? 

Liverpool Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

This one would be personal for Macclesfield manager John Rooney, a scouser through and through and a Toffee at heart, a trip to Anfield or bringing Arne Slot's team to Moss Rose almost seems too perfect. 

After seeing his older brother Wayne at the game and unable to hide his emotions and pride afterwards, a fourth round tie with the red side of Merseyside and eight-time winners of the competition could be the perfect script for the next round. 

This does depend on whether Liverpool make it past Barnsley on Monday night. 

Fulham Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images

This may seem like a rogue shout; however, Macclesfield's first ever appearance in the third round, when they were Macclesfield Town, came in 1968 at Craven Cottage, who brushed them aside 4-2. 

Of course, they would have to be careful of Fulham's starman Harry Wilson, who has started to draw attention from the bigger clubs across the country with 11 goal contributions in 20 games this season. 

However, now they have made it over the hurdle of the third round and with one London team on their list of Premier League scalps, why not another and a bit of revenge against the Cottagers? 

Port Vale 

Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

The team that previously held the record for the biggest upset in FA cup history. However, Port Vale were on the losing end of that when Chasetown of the Southern Division One defeated the League One side in 2007. 

Having parted ways with their manager of just under two years, Darren Moore, on December 28, and with Jon Brady, formerly of Northampton, now at the helm, could Macclesfield jump on the opportunity of a lack of cohesion and synergy that sometimes comes with new leadership?

Of course they would love another Premier League club, but also having a greater opportunity to reach the fifth round would be appealing to Macclesfield, and Port Vale would provide just that.

The Valiants squeezed through the third round with a 1-0 win over Fleetwood, but wouldn't relish facing the National League North side and their uncomfortable 4G pitch. 

The gap of 108 places was a record until Macclesfield smashed it this weekend just gone, and with their history of being upset in the cup and the Silkmen on a roll, could this be an easier draw to see Macclesfield go even further in the cup? 

Grimsby Town

The lowest sitting team left in the competition aside from Macclesfield, if there was a 'favourable' draw, it would be this one. 

Currently sitting 12th in League Two and requiring an 86th-minute winner to beat National League South side Weston-super-Mare 3-2, if there was a game they were most likely to win, ignoring all blind optimism and hope of a massive upset again, it would be against the Mariners.      

However, Grimsby are no strangers to upset, having knocked out Manchester United in the second round of the EFL cup 12-11 on penalties earlier this season under the management of David Artell, who's been with the club since 2023 and scored against Macclesfield when he played for Mansfield in a 3-2 win in the 2003/04 season.