THERE cannot be many sporting figures in south Essex who have as busy a life as Danny Cowley.

The FitzWimarc School head of PE combines his day job with that of managing National League side Braintree Town.

Alongside his brother Nicky, who also works in the school’s PE department as well as being Danny’s assistant at the Iron, the two are entering one of the busiest stages of their careers, with more travelling involved than ever before since leaving Concord Rangers in the summer.

Braintree have already travelled around 2,500 miles this season, including trips to Chester and Lincoln, some on a school night! Combined with school responsibilities and national competitions and events, Danny and Nicky must fit in their families, with both fathers of two children.

But diligent Danny said he loves what he does, and is already excited about the next big challenge, as he bids to make it consecutive FA Cup first round appearances.

“It is demanding,” he said. “The commitments and time restraints have increased since I took over at Braintree but work is just work if you don’t enjoy it.

“Nicky and I both enjoy our work and love both our jobs. We love creating opportunities for young people and we have the competitive edge we need with the semi-professional football.

“There is no doubt it is challenging at Braintree, but when you are trying to compete with teams that are full-time that was always going to be the case. The competition is better and the level of commitment has to be there to be successful.

“If we have a game on a Tuesday the last time I would have seen the players before that match would have been the debrief after Saturday’s game.

“Professional teams would meet up and train on Monday but I don’t see my players until about an hour and a half before Tuesday’s match starts. There are a lot of challenges but that is why we love it.”

Braintree, much like Concord under Cowley, are flying in the face of what is expected of them at the level they are currently playing at. They sit eighth in the table, just a point off the play-offs, and boast the meanest defence in the division.

And Cowley says it is a big step, and there have been differences he has had to contend with.

“We have done really well and made a really strong start,” he said. “We would have cut your arm off for a start like this at the beginning of the season. But it is just a start. We have played 18 games already which is basically half a season and it’s only October!

“It is great for Nicky and I to pit our wits against some great managers and teams and see how far we have come – the likes of Gary Johnson at Cheltenham and Steve Burr at Chester who have a wealth of football experience so it is a great learning curve for us.

“Working with this group of players is hugely enjoyable. They are a terrific bunch and we travel to places including Chester, Lincoln and Cheltenham among others – all of whom are massive football clubs.

“This league is unforgiving and the testing nature of it on a weekly and daily basis is part of the reason I enjoy it so much.

“There are new challenges that you have to adapt to and that has been something we have had to get used to.

“I think I only had one contracted player in eight years at Concord but most of the squad is under contract here. There are transfer windows as well but these are exciting experiences.”

Cowley turns 37 today, and is now in his 14th year at FitzWimarc – a school that has often been one of the shining lights in south Essex in terms of sporting achievement.

The Rayleigh school has enjoyed year after year of sporting success under the tutorship of the Cowleys, including international recognition for the likes of young footballers Harry Seaden and Tilly Deacon.

The school also won the district schools cross-country championships for the 26th year in a row last year, with the girls under-14 basketball team finishing runners-up in the national schools championships. And Cowley says the school will continue to thrive, as he looks to make it another year to remember.

“I have been at FitzWimarc since 2001 and overseen some great success,” he said. “My main job is as a teacher and Nicky and I pride ourselves on being professional and we want to keep giving to the children.

“We are lucky as the head teacher is understanding. We needed to leave a bit earlier to get to a match earlier this season and we were able to do that. The two jobs do inter-relate in the sense that there is a cross-over. We are able to use experiences we have had with Braintree and use it at school. The skills and experiences are transferrable.

“We have just started a new school year and I have no doubt we’ll be successful again. The kids have a fantastic work ethic and there are so many opportunities for them to progress whether that’s in rugby, football, basketball, netball or something else.

“The kids’ energy and enthusiasm always keeps me on my toes, even after a late match the night before.”

Danny has two children of his own to keep him occupied – six-year-old Isabella and two-year-old George while Nicky also has two youngsters – 18-month-old Betsy and four-year-old Harry.

Danny admits he does ask a lot of his wife Kate, and says the little amount of time he gets with his family is one drawback of such a busy working life.

“The biggest challenge is spending time with my family,” he said. “Obviously I can spend a bit longer with them on a Saturday if we have a home game but often it is just Sunday so I make the most of that day.”

Cowley left Concord after eight years at the helm in the summer, and he said it is still the first result he looks out for, and he is hoping for a special birthday present this weekend after his former club endured a difficult start to the season.

“I am still waiting for a weekend when we and Concord win,” said Cowley. “We had a bit of a bad start and have been doing well ever since whereas they’ve been the other way around but I have no doubt they will turn it around. Adam (Flanagan - manager) is a good man and there are good people at the club to support him and the team. We have been in tough positions before and always pulled through. Let’s hope we both get a win this weekend.

“There aren’t many better presents than a place in the first round of the FA Cup!”