Danny Cowley hopes the people of Braintree join the majority of the non-league football community in backing his team as Braintree Town carry on looking to overturn the odds this season.

The Iron boss told the Braintree and Witham Times last week that he felt his team were battling for small clubs as they fought their way past bigger rivals and sealed a slot in the Vanarama National League play-offs.

So he was delighted to see them secure not just a top-five position but one in the top-three after Saturday’s 3-0 win against Altrincham.

And they have since gone on and beaten Grimsby Town 1-0 in the first leg of their play-off semi-final.

Cowley told the Times this week that he is hoping even more fans than the 1,803 who were there for the Altrincham game turn out for the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Sunday as they continue to fly the flag for clubs not prepared to throw more money than they can reasonably afford at promotion pushes.

“I hope the town of Braintree gets behind us,” he said.

“I hope the whole of non-league football does.

“All the small clubs in non-league football will see us and see that we are just regular people working hard.

“Leicester City have given me hope this year (in the Barclays Premier League) and maybe our players and what they have done will give other people hope.

“Anything is possible.

“Unfortunately finance governs football and we live in an era where the teams with the most money tend to be the most successful.

“Well, we’re contradicting that at the moment and that makes me really proud because I’m a football person and I really care about football not money.”

Cowley added: “I hope the town get behind us.

“The Braintree support has been fantastic and I hope they’ve enjoyed the journey.

“I think they’re proud of the players.

“We are honest working-class boys and I think the supporters can associate with that.

“I hope they can get behind us – I hope the whole of Essex can get behind us.

“For us, non-league football is a family and it would be great if all the local clubs were willing to come out and support us because we’re going to need all the support we can get.

“We have another half of that mountain to climb and Grimsby are going to be one hell of a team.

“We will have to be at our very best if we’re to do it on Sunday."