Luke Matheson: Macclesfield defender, who cost £1m as a teenager, on Old Trafford heroics and FA Cup dream

Remember the 16-year-old who scored for Rochdale against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup?

In September 2019, defender Luke Matheson netted a famous equaliser at Old Trafford to force a 1-1 draw in a third-round tie that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side eventually won 5-3 on penalties.

The next day he was back to school studying for his A-Levels.

Fast forward to 2026 and Matheson is part of a Macclesfield squad riding the crest of a wave in the FA Cup and preparing to face Brentford in the fourth round on Monday.

The Silkmen have been catapulted into the public eye since beating Crystal Palace in the third round for one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history – but the 23-year-old is no stranger to the spotlight.

“I was on the bus on the way to school the next morning with my mates,” Matheson recalled after his Old Trafford heroics. “Refreshing Instagram, there was a thousand [likes] here, another thousand there. It was one of the most surreal things I have ever been through.

“I remember the actual moment of the goal, I can picture it and tell you exactly what happened. It was more the aftermath I don’t really remember.

“Even being on that pitch and travelling to that game was enough for me. Then to score took it to another level. It’s definitely one of the best days of my life.”

Brentford will be the fourth Premier League opponent for Matheson, who also featured for Rochdale in a 1-1 home draw against Newcastle in the FA Cup in 2020, before his side lost the third-round replay 4-1 at St James’ Park.

He said being remembered as the teenager who scored against Manchester United is something he is proud of, not ashamed by.

“I love people coming up to me saying, ‘are you the kid that scored against United?’ They always recognise me because of my hair,” said the Manchester-born full-back.

“If that is the pinnacle of my career, it is the pinnacle of my career. Some players will dream about moments like that and I’m lucky that I got one at such a young age.

“I was a kid then and have a little bit more experience now. I’ve been around different clubs, different experiences, different managers, different changing rooms.”