JUST two years ago, the Cowley brothers were still plotting ways to ensure FitzWimarc School beat Rayleigh rivals Sweyne Park.

But, in the intervening months, Danny and Nicky have firmly established themselves as one of the most highly regarded management teams in the Football League.

Since taking charge of Lincoln City in 2016, the Cowleys have achieved promotion from the National League, won the Checkatrade Trophy at Wembley and last weekend secured a place in the League One play-offs.

But, speaking on his return to Fitz, Danny admitted it had initially been difficult to step away from his role as a PE teacher.

“It was tough to leave,” said Danny.

“We love the school, the kids here and the job.

“We never saw the opportunity coming but when it did come up we couldn’t turn it down otherwise we would’ve always lived with regret.

“I do still miss it because it’s such a great school and I had 15 years here.

“I’m really proud of everything we achieved here but what came up was the only opportunity we would have left for.

“However, I’ll always owe this school an awful lot.”

The Cowleys now attract nationwide interest.

But their talents were first spotted far closer to home with Concord Rangers.

In eight seasons with the Canvey club, the Cowleys took the team from the Essex Senior League to the Conference South.

And they still keep tabs on the Beach Boys’ progress.

“Concord is always the first result we look for,” said Danny.

“We spent eight years at Concord, so they have a special place in our hearts.

“We wouldn’t be where we are now without the support and help all the people there gave us, so we look at the non-league results before the Football League results because that’s proper football.”

Nowadays though, the Cowleys are focused on the professional game and continuing their ever increasing success story.

Not surprisingly, they have been linked with moves to higher clubs with Championship side Ipswich Town the latest to be linked with the brothers.

But Danny insists the duo are not looking to leave Lincoln.

“For us, we’re really ambitious and we want to test ourselves as managers as high as we can but sometimes the ambition is in the journey,” stressed the 39-year-old.

“When you’re really enjoying what you do and you feel like you’re learning every day why should you come away from that pathway?

“We’ve had our success from having these small steps and it was much easier at Concord three or four years in when you knew the DNA of the club and the people.

“We’re hoping as time goes on at Lincoln it will be the same and we can build on the success.”

And Nicky, the younger of the brothers, was also quick to point out Lincoln’s popularity.

“It’s a one club city,” he stressed.

“The people have an unbelievable allegiance for the city and the club.

“We’ve had 7,000 season ticket holders this year and we’ve had 10,000 most weeks.

“We took 27,000 to Wembley, so we can be whatever we want to be and you have to dream big.

“As for the speculation, I suppose it’s flattering for the club because it shows we’re doing well but we’re focused on what we’re doing.

“I don’t like the attention being on us because we’re just cogs in the wheel.

“Football is a team game and I would much rather the players got the profile because it’s them doing the hard work.”

And Nicky’s modesty did not stop there.

“It’s been a good run and we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved as a club, but you never want to join in and agree with people when they say you’re doing well because we know what kind of an animal football is,” added Nicky.

“We never get ahead of ourselves and we keep our feet on the ground to make sure we keep on working hard.”

And that ethos also saw them impress while with Fitz.

“For me, personally, the kids finishing fourth in the world in athletics and us being state school of the year is right up there with anything we’ve done in football,” said Danny.

“But the kids just told me they lost to Sweyne Park last week.

“If you lost to Sweyne on our watch you had to walk home and go back up the hill!

“Back then we had fixtures in the day and fixtures at night, you didn’t know if you were coming or going at times.

“It’s a bit more simple now.”