Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Brackley Town.
The Opposition
A newcomer to the National League, Brackley Town sealed promotion to the fifth tier for the first time after a 5-0 win over Farsley Celtic on the final game of the season as goals from Danny Newton, Tyler Lyttle, Connor Hall, Tommy O’Sullivan and Scott Pollock sparked ecstatic celebrations at St. James Park.
West Germany-born gaffer Gavin Cowan led the Saints to 92 points in the National League North, winning 29 of their 46 matches and scoring the third most amount of goals in the entire division (75), along with the third best defensive record (42).
Hall and Matt Lowe proved central to the Saints’ attacking play, both notching double figures with 18 and 13 goals respectively, while defender George Carline and midfielder Morgan Roberts were both named in the division’s Team of the Season.
After sealing their spot in the fifth tier, Brackley had to contend with a host of departures, but have had plenty of quality come in through the door as they look to build a side capable of competing in the National League for the first time in their history. Ryan Haynes (Cheltenham), Michael Nottingham (Livingston), Danny Waldron (Southend United), Kyle Morrison (Kidderminster Harriers), Zak Brown (Kidderminster Harriers), Cameron Gregory (Boston United), Bailey Hobson (Chesterfield), Will Armitage (Southampton) and Jack Price (free agent) have all arrived at St. James Park in the summer, bolstering a team who will have had plenty of confidence heading into the season.
The Saints subsequently enjoyed a winning start to life in the National League with a narrow victory over Eastleigh on opening day, going on a respectable run of form with just one defeat from their first six games in all competitions, although they will be looking to return to winning ways after winning none of their last three in the league, though they did beat Manchester United in the National League Cup last time out.
The Manager
Gavin Cowan
Gavin Cowan became a Brackley hero when he guided the club into the National League for the first time, and having overseen two failed play-off attempts after taking over in 2023.
Born in Hanover, West Germany, Cowan carved out a successful playing career in non-league, settling in Essex which saw him begin his career at Braintree Tow, before turning out for Canvey Island between 2003 and 2005. A loan spell at Nuneaton Borough preceded a move to Shrewsbury Town, although he was forced to gain minutes out on loan once more after struggling for opportunities, which saw him turn out for Kidderminster Harriers.
A move to Grays Athletic was succeeded by a return to Nuneaton, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in 2007. A stint at AFC Telford United was followed by spells at Fleetwood Town and Gainsborough Trinity, prior to a second return to Nuneaton, where he racked up almost 100 appearances with the phoenix club Nuneaton Town, who reformed following the unfortunate demise of Borough.
Coming to the end of his playing career, Cowan joined Solihull Moors as a player/coach and later returned to Telford, before taking over as manager in 2018.
Three years in the Midlands preceded a move to Brackley in 2023, with whom he guided to successive top seven finishes in the National League North. The Saints would end up disappointed in each of their two attempts though, until Cowan finally led Brackley to promotion last term, defeating Farsley Celtic on the final day of the season to lift the title.
Following his side’s title success, he was named as National League North Manager of the Season, and has enjoyed a relatively positive start to life in the National League.
One to Watch
Connor Hall
Connor Hall fired Brackley to the National League with 18 goals last term, and will want to recapture that sort of goalscoring form in the top tier of non-league football.
Progressing through the English football pyramid, Hall turned out for Binfield, Eldon Celtic and Ascot United before earning a move to Sheffield United in 2015, signing his first professional deal a year later.
Impressive loan spells at Sheffield and Mickleover Sports rewarded Hall with a move to National League side Woking before joining Bolton Wanderers in July 2017, making his professional debut during their FA Cup third round tie against Huddersfield Town just over six months later, before temporary spells at Accrington Stanley and Chorley.
He subsequently returned to Woking on a permanent basis although this was followed by a second loan spell at Chorley, and saw him make the move permanent soon after, with a successful two years in Lancashire seeing him notch 33 goals in 79 appearances, and was rewarded with a move to National League side, Solihull Moors.
After struggling for regular opportunities at the ARMCO Arena, Hall moved to Farnborough and Brackley on loan and made the move to the latter permanent ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, which allowed him to write his name in Saints folklore during a memorable season for the Northamptonshire-based side.
Indeed, Hall contributed 18 goals and seven assists in 47 games as the club won the National League North, putting an end to their play-off woes after two failed promotion charges, and has so far played six times in the fifth tier this season, scoring his first goal with the winner in an impressive victory over Rochdale AFC.
Photo Credit: X/@LukeRPhoto1011 // Brackley Town Football Club
Recent Form
Brackley Town 2-1 Manchester United
Hartlepool United 0-0 Brackley Town
Aldershot Town 2-2 Brackley Town
Brackley Town 0-1 Carlisle United
Brackley Town 1-1 Scunthorpe United
Tamworth 1-1 Brackley Town
Last Time Out
Brackley recorded an impressive win on a night to remember at St James Park, beating Manchester United’s Academy in the National League Cup.
Danny Waldron put the Saints ahead on seven minutes as a defensive error put the Brackley striker through on goal, with Waldron coolly drawing goalkeeper William Murdock and finding the net.
Connor Hall then doubled the lead on 25 minutes as United failed to clear from a corner, with Hall finding the goal from the ensuing goalmouth scramble to take a two-goal advantage into the break.
United started the second half brightly, again dominating possession but now in more offensive manner. However, they failed to test Jonny Maxted, and had to wait until deep into added time before reducing the deficit through Jacob Devaney.
The Saints then had to weather two late corners before the referee signalled time was up as Gavin Cowan’s side maintained a 100% record in the National League Cup competition.
Photo Credit: Brackley Town Football Club
