OVERVIEW
The Saints will compete in the National League for the first-time ever after a title-winning campaign, winning all six of their final games. After six seasons in the Hellenic Premier Division across the turn of the century, they claimed the title in 2004 which then kickstarted three promotions in eight years, going on to reach the National League North in 2012. This almost became four as an impressive campaign took them to the Playoff final in their first season but they fell short with a narrow defeat to FC Halifax Town. In 2018, the club took part in the FA Trophy final at Wembley and secured the cup with a penalty shootout win over Bromley. 12 seasons in the sixth tier followed and more end of season bad luck continued. Their next Playoff campaign came in 2018 with a final loss away at Harrogate Town added to by a Semi-Final exit the year after. Another last four defeat came in 2022 and then two more chances at a shot in the National League in finals soon after. Heartbreak against Kidderminster Harriers in 2023 and then Boston United the following year, they still couldn’t get over the line until this year’s campaign saw them pip Scunthorpe United to the title.
2024/25 SEASON
After those three straight setbacks in the Playoffs, the Northamptonshire side would begin the campaign with a 3-0 home defeat to favourites Scunthorpe United in a potential early insight into what the North’s season could entail. It was a slow start by their standards with five losses from the opening 11 but an upturn came around in October with an unbeaten run of six in the league before a trip to League One’s Stockport County in the FA Cup, bowing out with a 3-1 loss. Defeats at Scarborough and at home to King’s Lynn were soon forgot about with four straight victories across the festive period. There certainly wasn’t to be any shortage of entertainment at the club with no draws in 15 games until March which included 12 wins to shoot the Saints up the standings. Gavin Cowan’s side bounced back from a slight bump at home to Kidderminster as the last month of the season produced six wins, five clean sheets and a top of the table finish on 92 points with a smashing 5-0 win.
Last Match – Sat 26th April – Brackley 5-0 Farsley Celtic (6′ D.Newton, 23′ T.Lyttle, 29′ C.Hall, 41′ T.O’Sullivan, 90+1′ S.Pollock)
Brackley XI – J.Maxted, T.Lyttle (57′ R.Calder), G.Dean, Z.Lilly, M.Lowe (66′ J.Donawa), T.O’Sullivan (59′ A.Bates), S.Byrne, G.Carline, M.Roberts (59′ S.Pollock), C.Hall (46′ M.Okafor), D.Newton.
MANAGER
44-year-old Cowan was born in Hannover, West Germany and began his senior career in England with Braintree Town as a centre-half. Eventual spells at Canvey Island and Nuneaton Borough took him to a combined 177 appearances with AFC Telford & Nuneaton Town where he left in 2015. His career ended back at Telford as he then became full-time coach from 2018-2021 after a player/coach role.
In May 2023, he took over at Brackley from Gareth Dean after the Playoff exit to Kidderminster. He has since managed 106 games, winning 58 of those and taken the club to an historic fifth-tier debut.
NEW SIGNINGS
13th June – Kyle Morrison (Kidderminster Harriers).
19th June – Zak Brown (Kidderminster Harriers).
20th June – Ryan Haynes (Cheltenham Town).
21st June – Danny Waldron (Southend United).
22nd June – Jack Price (Shrewsbury Town).
23rd June – Cameron Gregory (Boston United).
12th July – Michael Nottingham (Livingston).
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Just two players fit into this category with Matthew Barnes-Homer & Tommy Jaszczun appearing under 30 times for both clubs. Forward Barnes-Homer made seven appearances in 2011 whereas defender Jaszczun began the 2005/06 season with Dale before leaving for Cambridge Utd after 19 games.
WE HAVEN’T MET BEFORE
The 2025/26 season will bring these two clubs together for the first time.
ST JAMES’ PARK
For 78 years, the side in red and white called Manor Road their home until a six year spell at Buckingham Road where the players had to change in a nearby pub. In 1974, St James’ Park which holds 3,500 spectators became Brackley’s new home where they have been since.
3,074 packed into the ground to watch Boston United claim a National League place for the 2024/25 season, in the club’s record attendance to date.
