Some people just don’t get sport; others of us lap it up – for any number of reasons. Among other things, I love its unpredictability. ‘Form’ is just so fickle; what’s expected can so quickly and easily be turned on its head. Is there such a thing as ‘a certainty’?
The latest example is Macclesfield’s FA Cup third round 2-1 win over Crystal Palace over the weekend just gone. Nine months ago I was in London at the time of the Cup final between Palace and Manchester United. I mentioned it in a series I wrote on the Almanac at that time.
Palace’s win was a huge upset and probably the greatest day in the club’s history.
Fast forward to Saturday, just nine months later. Palace, the defending Cup holders, are 117 places higher than Macclesfield on the overall tables in English football. Third round result? Macclesfield 2 Palace 1. Arguably the greatest upset in the storied history of the Cup. I won’t go into the details – research it for yourselves.
As much as I felt for those Palace fans on the Tube last May, and as much as I was thrilled for them when the final whistle eventually blew that day, I can’t help but feel equally (possibly more) elated for Macclesfield FC, ‘The Silkmen’, today. What a chapter in their history which, in recent years, has been one of dire struggle.
And it played out on their very humble home ground, Moss Rose, which has a capacity of under 6000.
Think about what this means for their community, for the aspirations of the local kids, for their players and managerial staff.
And think about how and why sport provides purpose and meaning for those at the grass roots.
To borrow and paraphrase (yet again) my rugby league colleague Prop by the Sea, ‘you gotta love sport’.
But please also spare a thought for Palace fans who must be … well, choose whatever term you thinks works best.
Feel free to add further examples that have impacted you.
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A former teacher with a (very) modest sporting CV enjoying his retirement years. A Queenslander through and through, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, McWilliam’s Cream Apera and a glass or three of wine. Footy Almanac’s Thursday online editor who moonlights as a hobby editor.
That’s a massive upset IJH.
Another immediately comes to mind: Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool. Blueboy (Merv Collins) wrote about it here at the Almanac: https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-soccer-pilgrims-final-progress/
Incredible upset just insane – it is where soccer is a incredible game couldn’t happen in footy
Great stuff. I am an ardent listener to the weekly European Nights podcast episodes on the Men in Blazers (great name) football network. Roger Bennet (Everton but based in US) and Rory Smith (Liverpool – ex New York Times now Observer football writer) are witty and erudite interlocutors.
Sometimes they talk Premier League but the best episodes are when European Champions League/Europa League/Conference League games are on. They do a weekly preview of the main games in the Champions League but always have a highlight game from the two lower Europa and Conference leagues. Each episode finishes with the best thing Rory has eaten or dined at in the obscure locations of smaller European cities. They talk as much about the mad history of gangster club owners; past triumphs and humiliations; and the famous players from the Premier League now superannuating in obscure leagues. Have you ever wanted to know where/who Bodo Glimt are?
Anyway that’s a long way of saying Crystal Palace are now flying high in the third tier European Conference League. Rory thinks they are good things to trump Rayo Vallecano; Rakow Czestochowa, Strasbourg, Fiorentina or Rijeka for the title.
Last week they discussed how English teams first qualifying for Europe struggle with squad depth and the rigours of playing midweek in Europe than at home on weekends. Citing Crystal Palace’s poor domestic form compared to last season, while excelling in Europe. Particularly in January when the schedule of multiple competitions is crowded with games. Top teams play second stringers and blood kids in the FA Cup.
The Conference League winner gets A$18M and automatic qualification for the second tier Europa League next season.
The FA Cup Winner gets A$5M. It and the League Cup are very much fourth order priorities for Premier League sides these days, despite our nostalgia for its glory days.
Good on Macclesfield, but I suspect the Crystal Palace manager is relieved. Follow the money.
Regards, Grinch.
Shakespeare would have loved sport.
One comes to mind. 1976 Stawell Gift final. Neil King almost unbackable favourite. Ran 11.9 in his heat. Everyone else was about 12.1. Wobbled a bit in his semi but still ran 12.00. Was leading the final by miles – then froze. AR Pollock ran him down. Extraordinary drama.
Thanks for your post, IJH.
Dips’ reference to the 1976 Stawell Gift final reminds me of possibly the greatest performance in the Gift’s history – the 1975 Gift won off scratch by Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa from Madagascar in 12.0. Can’t recall how much of an upset this was, exactly, but jeez what a performance to be the first bloke in the long history of the event to win off this mark – and on rain-affected going to boot! And I actually attended this race as a thirteen-year-old (and still have the program).
Some nice musings here, IJH.
This was a massive upset, I couldn’t believe it when reading about it the morning after.
Of course, the FA Cup lends itself to upsets of this nature – and in a manner that could never occur in Australian Rules.
Exactly 50 years ago ~ how does Mark Edmondson (rank 212) defeating John Newcombe in the Aust Open final in 1976 after beating top seed Ken Rosewall in the semis rate for an historic upset?
IJH
rugby league upsets: the 1969 grand final: Balmain v South Sydney??!!
the subject of the Ian Heads book: “The great grand final heist”
1973 FA Cup Final:
Leeds United 0 Sunderland 1
At the time, Leeds were constant challengers at the top of the first division, Sunderland strugglers in the 2nd division and had only played in the top level for five of the previous fifteen years..
PF stid
on the boxing theme:
Jeff Hornet taking down Manny Pacquiao, the ‘Battle of Brisbane’, Suncorp Stadium, 2 July 2017
This article has plenty of merit. However, upsets don’t happen enough. Nowadays, you won’t get someone like Mark Edmondson or Thomas Johansson winning the Australian Open, as rank outsiders.
The AFL has been predictable (although it’s harder nowadays to tip winners in the home and away season) in the sense that the good MCG tenants, often win the Grand Final at the MCG, if they get there, due to home ground advantage. eg. In the past 15 years, Hawthorn against 3 interstate teams in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Collingwood against St Kilda in 2010 and against Brisbane in 2023, Richmond against 2 interstate teams in 2017 and 2019. Too often in the AFL, teams like St Kilda can’t compete with the more well supported clubs off the field, which translates on the field. Only 1 flag in 128 years of the VFL/AFL is testament to that. The better teams normally end up making the finals anyway, after they now play 23 matches.
In most Test Ashes Test series in the 21st century, the home team ends up winning the series.
Yes, it’s good when sport is unpredictable, but far more often than not, it ends up being too predictable because the better teams and players win the majority of the time.