Latest news with #ShaneByrne
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brackley ready for 'relentless' National League
Brackley Town boss Gavin Cowan says his side have "set a standard" for the rest of the season by winning their first game at National League level. The Saints were promoted as National League North champions last term after missing out in the play-offs in six of the seven previous campaigns. And Shane Byrne's first-half penalty was enough to give them a home win over Eastleigh on Saturday. "We knew what we were up against. They're a huge outfit in terms of size, great resources and really well established at the level," Cowan told BBC Radio Northampton. "We wanted to fathom the level and understand where we were and what we were doing. First win, first clean sheet bodes well for the future." Brackley sign ex-Wolves midfielder Price Brackley delighted by 'extraordinary' promotion A crowd of just over 1,200 watched the game at St James Park, Brackley's home since 1974. "What an unbelievable moment for us to be playing in the National League - somebody was saying they watched us in the Hellenic League and now, all of a sudden, we're in the National League. For the supporters, I was overjoyed," Cowan added. "The message to the players is to make sure they go and replicate that. We've set a standard and you can't just take your foot off the gas. It's a relentless season and a relentless league. "Eastleigh have a team of big, strong pros and that's what we're going to be up against all year. We've got to compete with that week in and week out." Brackley make their EFL Trophy debut on Tuesday with a home game against Blackburn Rovers Under-21s, but must then wait until 20 August for their second league fixture, when they will be away to Yeovil Town. "I've got two hats on. I understand the magnitude of where we are and where we've come from and from a community perspective, a supporters' perspective, the people that love this club, just being here is incredible," Cowan added. "But professionally, my job isn't to settle for that, my job is to pit our wits against the big clubs at this level, Eastleigh being one of them."
BBC News
10-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brackley ready for 'relentless' National League
Brackley Town boss Gavin Cowan says his side have "set a standard" for the rest of the season by winning their first game at National League Saints were promoted as National League North champions last term after missing out in the play-offs in six of the seven previous Shane Byrne's first-half penalty was enough to give them a home win over Eastleigh on Saturday."We knew what we were up against. They're a huge outfit in terms of size, great resources and really well established at the level," Cowan told BBC Radio Northampton."We wanted to fathom the level and understand where we were and what we were doing. First win, first clean sheet bodes well for the future." A crowd of just over 1,200 watched the game at St James Park, Brackley's home since 1974."What an unbelievable moment for us to be playing in the National League - somebody was saying they watched us in the Hellenic League and now, all of a sudden, we're in the National League. For the supporters, I was overjoyed," Cowan added. "The message to the players is to make sure they go and replicate that. We've set a standard and you can't just take your foot off the gas. It's a relentless season and a relentless league."Eastleigh have a team of big, strong pros and that's what we're going to be up against all year. We've got to compete with that week in and week out."Brackley make their EFL Trophy debut on Tuesday with a home game against Blackburn Rovers Under-21s, but must then wait until 20 August for their second league fixture, when they will be away to Yeovil Town."I've got two hats on. I understand the magnitude of where we are and where we've come from and from a community perspective, a supporters' perspective, the people that love this club, just being here is incredible," Cowan added."But professionally, my job isn't to settle for that, my job is to pit our wits against the big clubs at this level, Eastleigh being one of them."
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
European podium for Armstrong at Rally Poland
Motorsport Ireland driver Jon Armstrong picked up his best result of the European Rally Championship season by finishing third at Rally Rally Championship driver Martins Sesks won the rally by one minute and six seconds ahead of Polish driver Mikolaj Marczyk, with Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne 9.5 seconds further back in M-Sport driver ended the opening day of running in fourth place, and picked up a position when Roone Korhonen rolled out of second place on the 10th from Northern Ireland, started to challenge local hero Marczyk for second but picked up a 10-second penalty for clipping a bale at a chicane on the 12th proved to be costly as he finished 0.5 seconds in front, but the penalty kept him in third place. "What a weekend in Poland," said Armstrong. "I'm so pleased to have claimed my career-first gravel podium here, put down some good pace and come away with this great result for the team."The result, along with four additional bonus points for being second quickest on the final stage moves Armstrong up to sixth in the championship after four of the eight rounds. The next event takes place in Rome at the start of July.
