Kenny Davis of Braintree Town – Credit: BBC Sport
Braintree Town, currently occupants of the Vanarama National League South, came close to plying their trade in the Football League in 2016.
This was a monumental achievement, considering that they were a part-time team that were managed by a PE teacher at the time, Danny Cowley.
Under the 44-year-old’s leadership, the Iron caught the division by surprise and finished in third place – sitting above current EFL sides such as Wrexham, Barrow and Lincoln City.
They started slowly and were winless in their opening three fixtures, but three successive wins over Bromley, Southport and Welling United put them back on track.
Braintree remained in fine form for the opening few months of the campaign, having only lost seven games before the turn of the year.
One defeat in 14 followed which firmly cemented Cowley’s side as a play-off contender as the business end of the season approached.
Despite three losses to mid-table Macclesfield Town, Barrow and Aldershot Town, the Iron went on an end of season charge as they secured four wins and a draw in their final five league outings.
This run ensured the North Essex-based outfit would finish in third, meaning they would take on Grimsby Town in fourth in the play-off semi-final.
The other semi-final saw Dover Athletic and Forest Green Rovers lock horns, where the latter came out on top with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
The Iron travelled to Lincolnshire to take on the Mariners in the first-leg, while the second was to be played at Braintree’s Cressing Road.
Captain Kenny Davis’ penalty eight minutes into the second half meant Braintree would take a slim advantage into the second-leg.
The return leg was a massive game for the Iron, a clean sheet, a draw or a win would have booked their place at Wembley Stadium for the final.
Granted that they would go on to succeed at Wembley, promotion would have given them the chance of facing teams like Blackpool, Portsmouth and Luton Town the following season.
Grimsby, who brought a large travelling contingent, were looking to return to League Two for the first time since their relegation in 2010.
The clock was ticking down and it looked like Braintree would be taking on Forest Green in the final but this ideology changed on the 75 minute-mark.
Mark Phillips tussled with opposing centre-back Josh Gowling and the referee pointed to the spot. Pádraig Amond calmly converted to level the score on aggregate.
Braintree’s task was made even harder when Phillips received his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards in the closing stages.
With this, the Iron were on the backfoot and Grimsby scored the winner – Omar Bogle heading home from a free-kick.
This put to an end Braintree’s dream of reaching the EFL but it was an incredible campaign, mainly down to the fact that they were a part-time side.
Cowley went on to have a successful spell as Lincoln City boss, before stints at former Premier League outfits Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth.
Their goalkeeper on the day, Tom King, is now at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Michael Cheek has gone on to be a proven National League goal-scorer with Bromley.
Following that magical season, Braintree suffered relegation and have stayed there ever since.
Under Angelo Harrop, they finished in the play-offs last season and will be hoping to go one step better this term.
