Essex part-timers dreaming of league football

Just over thirty years ago Braintree Town Football Club were winners of the Eastern Counties League. Now the Essex part-timers are just two games away of securing a play-off spot in the Vanarama National League Premier Division, formerly the Conference.

It's their fifth season in English Football's fifth tier, but under Danny Cowley, a PE Teacher at FitzWimarc school in Rayleigh near Southend, and assisted by brother Nicky, the Iron have surprised many.

On Saturday (April 23rd) Braintree - currently fifth, the last of the play-off spots - visit Wrexham who also have their sights on extending their season.

But Cowley, the former boss of Concord Rangers, says they have nothing to fear as the season reaches it's climax.

It's been quite a journey for Braintree who are bidding for a third promotion after a five year period.

When they were crowned champions of the Ryman League Premier Division in 2006, eight of their current opponents were playing in the Football League including Tranmere who finished 18th in League One.

Braintree later won the Conference South in 2011, and now have dreams of joining Southend United and Colchester United as league clubs from Essex

Click to watch a report by ITV Anglia's Sports Correspondent Donovan Blake