I bought Macclesfield FC while drunk and it saved my life

Rob Smethurst bought a bankrupt football club while his life was unravelling – then they went on to make football history and save him in the process.

Entrepreneur Rob Smethurst never planned to become the owner of a football club. In the grip of alcohol addiction, and on a four-day drinking binge, he bought Macclesfield FC – a bankrupt small-town club, way down in the rankings with a crumbling football stadium. When Rob arrived at the grounds he was given an enormous bunch of keys, it took him an hour just to work out how to get in. Rob focussed on building up the club and himself from a place of ruin, and what followed was one of English football’s great modern fairy tales. Macclesfield’s stunning FA Cup giant-killing of holders Crystal Palace, was a result that sent shockwaves through the competition and briefly put a small, struggling club at the centre of the football world.

This is Rob’s remarkable personal story behind the headlines: about addiction, self-destruction, and the moment he realised he was losing control of his life. But buying Macclesfield wasn’t just a reckless act – it became a strange kind of lifeline, giving him purpose, responsibility, and a reason to start facing his demons and ultimately recover. This is a story about how a life was saved, football history was made and a little-town team was reborn.

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by addiction, there is help available, speak to a health professional, or search online for an organisation that offers support.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: Rachel Oakes and Edgar Maddicott Editor: Munazza Khan

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