FORMER FitzWimarc School teacher Danny Cowley admitted he was delighted to get the better of another of the Rayleigh school’s old pupils, as he inspired a remarkable shock in the FA Cup.

Danny and brother Nicky, now the manager and assistant manager at National League side Lincoln City, defeated Championship powerhouses Ipswich Town in the third round of the competition, with a last-minute winner securing a 1-0 victory.

They were not the only former FitzWimarc favourites live on the BBC, with ex-pupil Dean Gerken between the posts for the Tractor Boys.

And former Concord Rangers manager Cowley said he enjoyed catching up with Gerken on what was a hugely emotional day.

“I spoke with Dean and we spoke about Mr Jones who was my first Head of PE and would have taught Dean in his five years,” said Cowley, who juggled his full-time job at FitzWimarc with managing at Rayleigh Town last term. “And also Julie Parrott, who is still there.

“I spoke about the opportunities we were given. It was great that three people from FitzWimarc were all competing in the third round of the FA Cup.

“For us to go toe-to-toe with Ipswich and compete as well as we have done is brilliant. We were exceptional and to score in the 90th minute was an incredible feeling.

“I was preparing for injury time and extra time and thinking of the best ways to prepare the players for an extra 30 minutes and then we got the goal.

“But I have enjoyed every aspect of this very much. The fact that we have been putting our energy and focus into one thing - football management - has been great. It was a frustration at one point as we were juggling careers.

“As teachers you are mindful the children get one education and you want to give it your best shot.

“We always want to take that commitment into everything we do. It got tougher once we went to Braintree. It was not just the travelling but playing against full-time players and teams.”

Cowley and his team, who are sitting top of the National League, have little time to recover and has to prepare his side for a league game against Dover Athletic tomorrow evening.

That is before a fourth round home tie with Championship leaders Brighton & Hove Albion next Saturday.

But Cowley said he was relishing the busy fixture list, and was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces just weeks after he and Nicky received another welcome surprise.

“The club surprised Nicky and I at the Tranmere Rovers game recently as a number of pupils and those at FitzWimarc came up, in conjunction with my wife Kate (who works at the school),” said Cowley. “They all came up and got Lincoln memorabilia.

“It says everything about it. It has real class about it.”

“And I will be seeing some old familiar faces from Concord at tomorrow’s game against Dover. A lot of the committee and (former Concord co-manager) Danny Scopes will be here and I can’t wait to see them.”