FA Cup Third Round: Macclesfield’s ‘huge occasion’ against Crystal Palace is tinged with sadness

It is the stuff of dreams for the lowest-seeded team remaining in the FA Cup to face the defending champions in the third round. When Macclesfield host Crystal Palace on Saturday, it will be one of the biggest days in their recent history, but it will also be tinged with sadness.

On 16 December, Silkmen striker Ethan MacLeod died in a car accident while returning from Macclesfield’s National League North match at Bedford Town.

Instead of traveling on the team bus back to Cheshire, McLeod was driving back to the Midlands after the 2-1 win in which he was an unused substitute.

The rest of the team were stopped in heavy traffic after the crash on the M1 motorway, but it wasn’t until the next day when they learned their teammate was involved.

Macclesfield’s first match was postponed following Macleod’s death, but the club has played three league matches since then.

Saturday’s FA Cup tie is a big occasion for the club, which reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town’s tenure at the High Court ended. But manager John Rooney said recent events had put things into perspective.

Ronnie took it upon himself to contact every member of the team when the news was confirmed.

“Nothing can prepare you for that,” Rooney told BBC Sport. “When you have to call each player individually and tell them, I can’t explain how I felt.

“I wanted to take ownership of that. I didn’t want people to call different players. I wanted to be the one to tell that news. I thought it was the right thing to do at that time.”

“I don’t think many managers would have to talk to players and tell them what happened with their friend. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and will ever have to do.”

A flag bearing an image of McLeod hangs between the dugouts where Rooney and his Palace counterpart Oliver Glasner will stand on Saturday, along with the words “Forever the Silk Man”, while there is a book of condolence to sign in the club bar.