Category Sports News

Macclesfield chairman Rob Smethurst says he feels like his side “won the FA Cup” with their third-round win over holders Crystal Palace on Saturday – and admitted he was “first on” as fans invaded the pitch at full-time.

The Silkmen beat their Premier League opponents 2-1 despite ranking 117 places below them, creating the biggest shock in the competition’s history in terms of difference in league position.

Paul Dawson’s header in the first half sent the home fans into dreamland, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts shocked Palace further when he delivered a second after the break.

The final whistle prompted scenes of jubilation as fans raced on to the pitch to celebrate.

“I legged it!” Smethurst told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday.

“I thought this is going to happen and I thought you know what I’m going on! I thought I need to hug my players here, I probably was first on and caused havoc.”

He added: “It was just amazing for Macclesfield. I know the lads were partying until three, four o’clock in the morning. I mean the scenes for the town and the community yesterday was just one of those experiences that I’m never going to forget.

The win was earned against a backdrop of tragedy after Silkmen forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident while travelling back from their National League North match at Bedford Town on 16 December.

The 21-year-old’s parents attended Saturday’s game and met the players in the dressing room after, with Smethurst wanting them to be involved in the post-match celebrations.

“I just grabbed them and said ‘this is your moment’,” he said.

“I took them into the dressing room. It was really emotional, we gave them Ethan’s boots which he’d been playing in but he’d left them at the club. It was a real touching moment, very upsetting.

“We’ve been through probably one of the hardest things we’ve ever been through as a football club and a community losing such a lovely lad.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were “absolutely disgraceful” and describing the Arsenal winger as an “idiot”.

“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer, Bradley has been Liverpool’s first choice right-back, starting 12 of their Premier League games this season.

Manager Arne Slot’s potential alternatives are limited with Joe Gomez as an option, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also slotted in as a full-back on occasion.

The more likely option is Jeremie Frimpong, who has been performing further forward down the right flank in recent weeks.

Northern Ireland finished third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Germany and Slovakia, but still booked a play-off spot thanks to their Nations League finish in 2024.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were “absolutely disgraceful” and describing the Arsenal winger as an “idiot”.

“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer, Bradley has been Liverpool’s first choice right-back, starting 12 of their Premier League games this season.

Manager Arne Slot’s potential alternatives are limited with Joe Gomez as an option, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also slotted in as a full-back on occasion.

The more likely option is Jeremie Frimpong, who has been performing further forward down the right flank in recent weeks.

Northern Ireland finished third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Germany and Slovakia, but still booked a play-off spot thanks to their Nations League finish in 2024.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were “absolutely disgraceful” and describing the Arsenal winger as an “idiot”.

“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer, Bradley has been Liverpool’s first choice right-back, starting 12 of their Premier League games this season.

Manager Arne Slot’s potential alternatives are limited with Joe Gomez as an option, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also slotted in as a full-back on occasion.

The more likely option is Jeremie Frimpong, who has been performing further forward down the right flank in recent weeks.

Northern Ireland finished third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Germany and Slovakia, but still booked a play-off spot thanks to their Nations League finish in 2024.

Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season after suffering a significant knee injury, involving damage to bone and ligament.

Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in stoppage time.

The injury is not related to his anterior cruciate ligament but he will have surgery in the coming days.

The full-back is also now a major doubt for the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualify.

He will miss their difficult play-off semi-final in Italy on 26 March.

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli later apologised for trying to push Bradley off the pitch when he was down injured.

Martinelli dropped the ball on his opponent before shoving him in the back in an attempt to get him off the playing surface to allow the game to continue.

Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both highly critical of Martinelli on Sky Sports, with Neville saying his actions were “absolutely disgraceful” and describing the Arsenal winger as an “idiot”.

“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment,” Martinelli posted on Instagram.

“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer, Bradley has been Liverpool’s first choice right-back, starting 12 of their Premier League games this season.

Manager Arne Slot’s potential alternatives are limited with Joe Gomez as an option, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also slotted in as a full-back on occasion.

West Ham defender Amber Tysiak is closing in on a move to German side Union Berlin.

The 25-year-old, who has made almost 50 appearances for West Ham since joining in 2023, was not involved in the squad for Sunday’s Women’s Super League game at Chelsea.

The Belgium international is under contract until 2028, so West Ham will receive a fee – believed to be £150,000 plus potential add-ons.

Union Berlin went professional in 2023 and earned back-to-back promotions to reach the Frauen-Bundesliga for the first time this year. They are ninth in the table.