The stage was set for a dramatic final day denouement and so it turned out. St James Park was packed well before kick-off with supporters not daring to believe that finally this would be their side’s time for promotion to the National League. So often had Saints fallen just short in play-off games and lost promotion finals in 2024 to Boston United and 2023 ironically against Kidderminster Harriers.

Locked together on points with leaders Kidderminster at the start of the day and separated only by goal difference Saints needed to win on this final Saturday and look to Harriers to slip up playing at Southport. Were both Saints and Harriers to slip up then Scunthorpe United were waiting in the wings.

There were to be no last day nerves as the home side was immediately on the front foot taking the game to the visitors, Danny Newton putting Saints ahead on five minutes with Tyler Lyttle, Connor Hall and Tommy O’Sullivan adding to the first half score-line as already relegated Farsley were no match for a determined and ruthless home side. Scott Pollock added a late fifth and amid a celebratory atmosphere inside the ground all eyes and ears turned to Southport.

When Kidderminster’s defeat was confirmed the ground erupted and celebrations commenced including an impromptu presentation on the pitch.

The win was Brackley’s 27th of the season, more than any side in the National League North or South.
When the excitement finally recedes the scale of the achievement will dawn and the challenge of competing at Step One for the first time in the club’s history will hit home and preparations will begin for a new and thrilling chapter at St James Park.

Brackley manager Gavin Cowan said, “The team deserves this success and are worthy champions over what has been a very long season. The boys put together a finishing run of six straight wins to set up today’s grandstand finish. We have been up against some big hitters but have found a way as a part-time club to be competitive. The commitment of the players and hard work they have put in is matched by the support we have from everyone at the club front of house and behind the scenes from the chairman, the owner, CEO and the board to the staff, brilliant volunteers and wonderful supporters. The atmosphere at this football club is something special. It comes from its values and from the way it has been led and managed over time. There is a connection between the supporters and the club that you will rarely find. Today’s success is for everyone.”

Brackley Chairman Francis Oliver said, “It has been a long cherished aim to get into the National League and today has seen that finally realised. The scenes here among supporters have been magnificent and we see just how much it means to everybody. It has been a long hard road as has been well documented. We have contested the play-offs every season starting in 2017-18 and come so close on so many occasions. It makes today all the sweeter. We are a family-oriented community club in a small town but this means just as much to us as it would to any of the big boys in the league.”

Brackley Town: Maxted, Lilly, Carline, Dean, Lyttle (Calder 56), O’Sullivan (Bates 59), Byrne, Roberts (Pollock 59), Hall (Okafor 46), Newton, Lowe (Donawa 65).

Farsley Celtic: Brook, Hyde (Priestley-Harding 50), Abankwah, Janneh, Polwarth, Kondolo, Mampala, Youmbi, Bumhira, Silva, Iwobi (Monteiro 71). Subs unused: Newsome.

Referee: Ben Robinson Assistants: Jordan Tindall and Daniel Clenton 4th Official: Joe Larkin
Attendance: 1691