Remember the 16-year-old who stunned Manchester United in the Carabao Cup? In September 2019, Luke Matheson scored a famous equaliser at Old Trafford, forcing a 1-1 draw in the third round. Ole Gunnar Solskjer’s side eventually won 5-3 on penalties. The next day, Matheson returned to school to continue studying for his A-Levels.
Fast forward to 2026, Matheson plays for Macclesfield, riding a wave of FA Cup success. The Silkmen shocked Crystal Palace in the third round and now prepare to face Brentford in the fourth round. At 23, Matheson knows the spotlight well and embraces it.
memories of old trafford
“I was on the bus to school the next morning with my friends,” Matheson recalled. “Refreshing Instagram, I saw a thousand likes here, another thousand there. It felt surreal. I remember the goal clearly, but the aftermath blurs in my mind. Just being on that pitch was incredible, and scoring made it unforgettable. It remains one of the best days of my life.”
Brentford will mark Matheson’s fourth Premier League opponent. He previously faced Newcastle in a 1-1 FA Cup draw in 2020 before Rochdale lost the replay 4-1 at St James’ Park. He embraces being remembered as the teenager who scored against Manchester United. “I love people asking, ‘Are you the kid that scored against United?’ They always recognise me because of my hair. If that’s the pinnacle of my career, I’m proud. Some players dream of moments like that, and I had one young. I was a kid then; now I bring more experience from different clubs, managers, and teams.”
wolves move and challenges
Four months after his Old Trafford goal, the England Under-18 international joined Wolves for £1m, moving from League One to the Premier League. “It was a dream come true. I had been around England squads, rubbing shoulders with Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea players, while I came from Rochdale. I earned £400 a month at Rochdale and spent £250 just on transport to training. Wolves provided three drivers to bring me to Manchester every day. The difference was enormous.”
Matheson admits his career path felt backward. After 30 senior appearances at Rochdale, he moved into Wolves’ under-23 squad. “For me, it felt like a step backwards. Many under-23 players aimed for first-team loans. I went from playing senior football to not playing, which was frustrating.”
Injuries hampered Matheson’s time at Wolves. Loan spells at Ipswich, Hamilton Academical, and Scunthorpe followed. He left Wolves at the end of the 2022-23 season without a senior appearance. “My three-and-a-half years at Wolves were riddled with problems. It was a torrid time; I never progressed as I hoped.”
A severe hamstring tear forced surgeons to warn him he might never play again. That threat led him to consider a career outside football. The son of two primary school teachers, Matheson remained passionate about education. He recently graduated alongside ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and former Watford defender Adrian Mariappa with a diploma in sporting directorship from the Professional Footballers’ Association. While planning his life after football, he now enjoys part-time football at Macclesfield and coaches their under-eight team.
loss of a teammate
During rehab at Wolves, Matheson grew close to Ethan McLeod, a teammate later at Macclesfield. On 16 December 2025, McLeod, 21, died in a car accident returning from a National League North match at Bedford Town. Matheson had been caught in traffic near the crash. The next morning, Macclesfield manager John Rooney called each player to share the tragic news.
“You don’t realise how much a person can impact you until they’re gone,” Matheson said. “I was lucky to know him for three-and-a-half years at Wolves, then again as we matured here. We spent many hours in rehab together. His infectious smile brightened some of the darkest days of my career.”
Matheson joined Macclesfield 12 days after Rooney brought McLeod to the club. Both suffered frustrating injuries early in the season. Three days before McLeod’s death, they started together in an FA Trophy win at South Shields. “That game was special. We joked about last injuries and celebrated finally achieving a goal we worked for together. It meant the world to me that we got to play one last time.” Matheson vowed to carry McLeod’s legacy forward.
back in form and looking ahead
Matheson is finally injury-free and playing regularly for Macclesfield. Monday’s FA Cup match offers another chance to add to his unique football story. “It would mean the world to repeat Old Trafford-style heroics. The town buzzes with excitement. Fans wear Macclesfield scarves and hats, and driving to the stadium shows their support. Giving moments like the Palace game, and potentially against Brentford, brings us immense joy. It feels like a family. Seeing the stadium packed, as a player, that’s the dream. We can’t wait to get back out there.”
