Getting to know the Blue Square Premier : Braintree
By Nathan Jackson
May 29 2011
Over the years some managers have left clubs for various strange reasons, but I doubt too many have quit a side they have just lead to promotion because of a car, but that's exactly what has happened to Braintree since they won promotion a month ago.
Braintree's last game in the Blue Square South was a defeat at Weston Super Mare on April 30th turns out of be an historic match for two reasons, one being the aforementioned last game at the level (for at least a year) and secondly, it was the last game under the management of Rod Stringer.
Stringer quit the Cressing Road club after an argument about a company car. Speaking to the Enquirer newspaper, he said "It was a car that I wouldn't feel comfortable about going to Watford in, never mind York." In a time when people are leaving management jobs for unusual reasons, that has to go down as one of the strangest. He has now been replaced by Alan Devonshire.
The Iron form in 1898 as Manor Works FC before later being called Crittal Athletic, Braintree and Crittal Athletic and finally their current Braintree Town name in 1981. They were founder members of the Eastern 
Counties League and their best period in terms of success was in the 1980s when two divisions and finished second and a further four occasions.
They have also had a lot of success in the recent past as well. Three promotions between 1997 and 2002 were followed by Playoff appearances in 2006/7 and 2007/8, before winning the division last season.
Braintree's squad has quite a few names that Imps may be familiar with. Kevin Gallen, Glenn Poole and Cliff Akurang have all played in League Two in recent years, whereas Roy Essandoh gained national fame by scoring a winning goal in an FA Cup Quarter Final for Wycombe against then Premiership Leicester City. Striker Jamie Guy is also out of action for some time after an horrific leg injury.
Cressing Lane houses Braintree and has a capacity of 4,151, 533 of which is seating. The ground is likely to be segregated on a regular basis next season with away fans taking part of the Quag Lane end.
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However the shock of the BSP will be when we play a club like Braintree on a Tuesday night in November.The attendance will be about 1400.
I remember the first home game in the Conference in 1987 against Dagenham. Saturday afternoon and 1900 spectators.
Answer - Nobody! We are a non league team on merit!!! That ensures we do not have a potential lucrative tie in the League Cup but an FA Trophy tie and we have to qualify for the FA Cup. This is real people!