Aaron Williams is hoping to turn agony into ecstasy as Brackley Town head to Wembley for the Buildbase FA Trophy Final against Bromley, just a week after missing out on promotion.
The Saints lost to Harrogate Town in last week’s National League North play-off final, but could yet put the gloss on an already superb season.
With a squad largely made up of part-time players, Brackley’s success has impressed forward Williams, who joined from Newport County at the start of the season.
With 24 league goals and a superb return of seven in nine in the Buildbase FA Trophy, Williams has been a crucial component of the Northamptonshire club’s season.
He said: “Not many teams have a chance to bounce back after losing a promotion final, so for us the timing couldn’t be better, to have the chance to go again the following week.
“The lads were disappointed after the game but there’s a real determination in the squad to put it right next week.
“The fans have been with us all season and they’ll be behind us again on Sunday for the FA Trophy final.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been raising my game for this competition, but I’d just say that we’ve clicked as a team and I’ve been lucky enough to get on the end of a few chances in the box.”
Brackley are expecting close to 5,000 supporters to make the trip south to the home of football for Non-League Finals Day, a remarkable achievement for a town of just 15,000 inhabitants.
It will certainly be one of the biggest days in the club’s history, whose previous best in this competition was a quarter-final defeat to York City last season.
And despite having played for Peterborough United and helping Newport narrowly avoid relegation from League Two last season, Williams insists Sunday’s game could be his most significant.
He said: “I’d say this is the biggest game of my career.
“To play at Wembley, at the national stadium and with a bunch of lads that are part-time footballers, is massive.”
Williams stepped away from league football to move to Brackley and the forward admits that this season has been a learning curve for him, but one that he is delighted to have been a part of.
Manager Kevin Wilkin’s determination to succeed attracted him at once and Williams has jumped at the chance to spread his professionalism throughout the side.
Williams said: “The gaffer has helped me to be happy again, so I’m enjoying my football and I’m where I want to be, which is scoring goals.
“At the start of the season he told me his ambitions and what he wanted to achieve, and the drive he had in his voice was exactly what I wanted to hear.
“The determination he had, and knowing that he was going to pass that onto his players, was massive.”
Brackley have already matched their best league finish with a third-place spot in the National League North and a win against Bromley would be the perfect end.
Williams said: “To reach a final like this is a massive credit to the club, to the staff, to the people behind the manager.
“Just reaching the final is already a huge accolade for the club, but to win it would be something else.”
Did you know?
USA international Christian Pulisic played in the junior ranks at Brackley Town before moving across the Atlantic and eventually to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
The Prize
The winning team at Wembley on Sunday will be awarded £60,000 prize money whilst the runners-up will receive £30,000.
Route to the final
3rd Qualifying Round: Brackley Town 4-0 v Salford
1st Round: Braintree Town 0-0 Brackley Town
1st Round replay: Brackley Town 2-0 Braintree Town
2nd Round: Brackley Town 0-0 Barrow
2nd Round replay: Barrow 0-2 Brackley Town
3rd Round 3: Brackley Town 3-1 Sutton United
4th Round 4: Stockport County 1-1 Brackley Town
4th Round 4 replay: Brackley Town 2-1 Stockport County
Semi-Final first leg: Brackley Town 1-0 Wealdstone
Semi-Final second leg: Wealdstone 0-2 Brackley Town
