Flanagan's Football Files

Non-league Macclesfield produced one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of all time by knocking out holders Crystal Palace in a stunning 2-1 upset at Moss Rose. Stories like this are what make the FA Cup still important to a wide audience of football fans especially at the 3rd round stage.

Eight months after Palace lifted their first major trophy by defeating Manchester City at Wembley, the Premier League side became the first FA Cup holders to lose to non-league opposition since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1909.

Here are some examples of other non-league sides who had their day in the sunshine

Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City
7 January 1989, Gander Green Lane

Coventry City had been FA Cup holders just 18 months earlier, when they travelled south to take on Sutton United.

The Sky Blues arrived in Surrey with confidence after a solid start to their season in the top division, so few expected to see what happened occur when the competition came back to remind them how it can work both ways.

Coventry were left stunned, as goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan helped secure victory for the non-League side who were managed by English teacher Barrie Williams.

Hereford 2 Newcastle 1

Perhaps the most famous & relived Cup upset of all time & also the game that introduced the nation to John Motson.
5 February 1972, Edgar Street.

Ah, the original classic FA Cup giant-killing. A bobbly pitch and bad weather, a non-League team hosting a top-flight club, a packed crowd at fever pitch and a stunning strike to live long in the memory. This one ticked all the boxes.

Hereford of the Southern League had already caused an upset when they secured a replay with a 2-2 draw in the first tie at St James' Park.

They were still given little hope of progressing, and despite Newcastle taking the lead, Hereford bounced back thanks to Ronnie Radford’s world famous long-range strike to settle it at 1-1 and take the tie to extra time.

And when Ricky George hit the winner to seal a 2-1 win for the Bulls, it created a legacy of Cup upsets.

West brom 2 Woking 4
5 January 1991, The Hawthorns

Woking, then of the Isthmian League, were given little chance of progress when they made the journey to face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

But the Baggies, then in the old Second Division, were caught cold as Woking found a Cup hero in the shape of Tim Buzaglo. A computer specialist by day and a former cricket player for Gibraltar, Buzaglo’s hat-trick in this tie saw him leave the West Midlands with the match ball and also set up a fourth round clash with Everton.

The Cards had found themselves behind at the break too, before a scintillating second-half show and a further goal from Terry Worsfold saw them applauded off the pitch by the Hawthorns crowd at full time.

Saturday's result is the biggest shock in history in terms of league places between victors and the defeated - 117 places between the two. The previous biggest gap was 108. It was the first time the holders had lost to non-league opposition since Palace themselves beat Wolves back in 1909 while in the Southern League.

Birmingham City 1 Altrincham 2

On a chilly evening at St Andrew’s in January 1986, Altrincham achieved one of the most famous cup upsets in history — knocking out top-flight Birmingham City in the FA Cup Third Round.

Birmingham City entered the match in the midst of a dramatic fall from grace. Despite achieving promotion the previous season, the club was drowning in debt, their form had collapsed, and tensions were brewing behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Altrincham were thriving under manager John King. The Robins were enjoying another strong season in the Alliance Premier League and would go on to lift the FA Trophy later that year. Our FA Cup pedigree was already well established after several giant-killings in previous years, and the stage was perfectly set for another memorable chapter.

Adding an extra twist was former Altrincham goalkeeper Jeff Wealands, who had left Birmingham on acrimonious terms just a few years earlier. He made no secret of the fact that he would relish success against his old club.

In the first half, Birmingham looked nervous, misplacing passes and struggling to create clear chances. Altrincham, in contrast, looked composed and confident, relishing the big occasion.

The hosts eventually took the lead in the 63rd minute when Robert Hopkins headed in from a corner. For a moment, it seemed as though the top-flight side might scrape through — but Altrincham had other ideas. Just two minutes later, following a free-kick and a scramble in the box, Ron Ellis smashed home the equaliser to silence the St Andrew’s crowd.

Then, with 15 minutes remaining, came the decisive moment, Hopkins, attempting a back pass under pressure, sent the ball past his own goalkeeper David Seaman and into the net. Altrincham were in front — and history was being written.

At the final whistle, jubilant Alty fans celebrated a famous and thoroughly deserved victory. Even Birmingham’s manager admitted that, on the night, the non-league side had looked the better team.

Burnley 0 Wimbledon 1

The Dons, then in the Southern League, upset top-flight Burnley at Turf Moor with Mick Mahon striking the winner in a 1-0 victory. Mick (centre in the above photograph) is pictured celebrating the win with Dickie Guy (left) and Ian Cooke. Allen Batsford's non leaguers were given little chance of progressing to the fourth round against a Burnley side that included Welsh international Leighton James.

However, the Dons frustrated the 20,000 crowd up in Lancashire, before Mahon struck the decisive goal.

So there you have it we might only been non- league but this is prove that only any given day everyone has the ability to upset the odds as they say its only 11v11.

Jimmy Flanagan