Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

13 August 2011

In a nutshell
They've never been higher.

History
Recently, and in fact every moment before this new season, Braintree were playing at a lower level than where they are now. Yes, that's a convoluted way of saying "this is a historic season for Braintree, who are rewarded for years of patience, sensibilities, and progression, with a season at the highest level they have played". It is also true. This is a historic season for the Iron (for that is Braintree's nickname – don't get all angry thinking I'm referencing Scunny) and one their fans deserve. In every sense Braintree are a kind of an inverse Town, who are serving their punishment for doing the exact opposite of Braintree.

Aided and abetted by pure management skill and no-one bankrolling them, the Iron have slunk their way up. For a team that was playing in the Isthmian League third division as recently as 1996, the move up the leagues has been steady, progressive even, over the past 15 years.

Three promotions in five years put them in the Isthmian Premier Division by the 2001-02 season, two promotions from the tier of the non-League pyramid. Four years later Braintree earned the right to play in the Conference South as champions of the Isthmian. In 2008 and 2009 they missed out on promotion to the Conference Premier through the play-offs but secured that leap four months ago.

Last season
After the two FAILs in 2008-09 and 2009-10, Braintree became champions of the Conference South last season, on 23 April, when their nearest rivals Farnborough lost, handing the Iron a insurmountable seven-point advantage so they would finish first, eventually by a clear seven points. It was an impressive feat in a crowded and tight league, and testament to the work of Rod Stringer, working on a tight budget even for that level. Sean Marks clearly led the way with 25 goals in a team that carried the best home record in the division, and also had the tightest defence in the league, but overall they weren't the most prolific side.

It wasn't an easy ride to promotion either. In March the fans had their doubts, as one win in six suggested a Wycombe-like wobble was setting in. But victory against Maidenhead at the end of the month saw Braintree embark on a tremendous run of six wins out of their last eight games which rocketed them to the top and cemented their place in the Conference Premier.

Next season
The club that formed as Manor Works in 1898 will face several major differences in the new division: firstly, enforced crowd segregation. Secondly, a new manager in Alan Devonshire.

Previous manager Rod Stringer resigned from just two weeks after the Iron were promoted – with issues about the budget for the 2011-12 campaign. Stringer claimed the "final nail in the coffin" was not being promised "a reliable car" for travelling to rivals' grounds: "I don't need something that's going to have 150,000 miles on the clock." Please forgive me thinking about that time our Alan Buckley was given a businessman-sleek speed machine by a club sponsor a few years back...

The new boss, however, has no such issues. Devonshire said: "I had a two-hour lesson and didn't really like it so I decided to not bother driving. I've never drove, it doesn't bother me. I get around, I get to watch lots of games, so it's not a drawback in any way."

The club will remain part-time despite their promotion, but Devonshire has set a bullish target for his new targets: "We're going to enjoy it and have a right old go. We're looking for 50 points as quickly as possible. If we can get there in February then fantastic."

Devonshire, though, is a manager in the oldest sense, someone who wants to coach and coax the players to improve: "I just want to make the players better; that is my ambition."

As for those players, there's a buzz about Nigerian forward Chib Chilaka, and Devonshire has brought in some players he has managed in the past to add to the squad. Notably, Pat O'Connor could be a shrewd acquisition. But the real surprise, at least for Town fans, is forward Ben Wright, who spent a torrid spell on loan with Grimsby under Neil Woods a couple of seasons back, notching up just two appearances before being ignored for the majority of his two-month stay at Blundell Park. Aswad Thomas just has the most wicked name!

While previous manager Stringer may have quit over the club's tight finances, the existence of the club beyond this coming season could look very different, with a move away from Cressing Road a distinct possibility after Braintree council's recent report allowing the club to investigate such a prospect. While this is a new adventure, it won't be at the expense of the club's finances.

Braintreee fans will get the chance to see how their team and ours shape up very early in the season: Braintree's first home game of the season is against Town.

Statistics
Squad size: approximately 25 players
Betting: 125/1 to gain promotion

Apart from the football
There's Bocking, a village literally just across the road from Braintree. And there's one of those Freeport designer outlet villages on the outskirts of Braintree, perfect if you want some YSL shirts at a knockdown price or a Le Creuset casserole dish for an excessive cost rather than an absurd price.