I bought Macclesfield FC while drunk and it saved my life
Lives Less Ordinary
BBC
4.7 • 885 Ratings
🗓️ 9 February 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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
Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys – spanning the entire human experience. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too. |
| 0:12.1 | You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me Nick Grimshaw. |
| 0:15.2 | And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music. |
| 0:18.2 | All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond. |
| 0:22.2 | And great guests. |
| 0:23.3 | And it's on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:24.7 | Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of playlists, music mixes and live radio. |
| 0:29.9 | Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind. |
| 0:34.5 | But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack. |
| 0:36.3 | Obviously. |
| 0:36.7 | Obviously. |
| 0:38.0 | So if you like music, listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:41.4 | I was like a functioning alcoholic in some ways, you know, hiding under the duvet. |
| 0:45.8 | Went home that evening, very, very drunk. |
| 0:48.3 | And, you know, sort of 24 hours later, I ended up buying a football club. |
| 0:52.9 | I needed something in my life at the time to have direction, purpose, |
| 0:57.3 | and something just to prove to myself that I could build something amazing. |
| 1:02.1 | For this to happen and being the biggest upset in F-A-Cup football history |
| 1:06.7 | for a little town like ours, I just can't actually believe it still. |
| 1:11.7 | To see the fans running, |
| 1:13.7 | jumping up and down, screaming, |
... |
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