Brackley delighted by 'extraordinary' promotion

Brackley Town manager Gavin Cowan has hailed their promotion to the top tier of English non-league football as "something extraordinary".

After coming so close in the past, they beat Farsley Celtic 5-0 to become National League North champions as rivals Kidderminster Harriers, who began the day top of the table, lost 2-1 at Southport.

The Saints reached the play-offs in 2018, 2019, 2020 and again in 2022, 2023 and 2024 but were unable to finish the job.

But goals by Danny Newton, Tyler Lyttle, Connor Hall and Terry O'Sullivan put them 4-0 up by half-time in front of a crowd of 1,691 at St James Park.

And Scott Pollock rounded things off with the fifth in the final minute of the game to ensure play-offs would not be needed this time.

"We're up there with the best part-time clubs but really, we shouldn't be beating teams like Kidderminster and Scunthorpe to the league," Cowan told BBC Radio Northampton.

"There's something extraordinary been done here, not just by the players but by the staff, the hierarchy and the fans as well. It's been a big, big collective effort."

Brackley were founded in 1890 and before winning the title, their greatest achievement came in 2018 when they were victorious in the FA Trophy final.

Club chairman Francis Oliver said: "Wembley was unbelievable and this is just the same.

"The last 30 minutes was sheer torture, how time goes so slowly - but I just feel so proud for the players, supporters, volunteers, everybody. It's just amazing."

The Saints won their last six games of the season to finish top and Oliver promised they would give it their "best shot" in the National League next season.

They will be facing a number of former English Football League clubs, including Aldershot, Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United.

On their performance against Farsley, Cowan said: "The players were excellent, they showed a real ruthless mentality and I couldn't be any prouder.

"We created a real intensity, a real patience because we knew we were going to have a lot of possession, we wanted to play our patterns and we did.

"We weren't fazed about anything else. What was going on elsewhere didn't interest me in the slightest until your realise the game's won.

"The feeling I've got is incredible, I can't imagine what all the good people of this club are feeling after so many years of having a go at it."