Braintree Town was formed on 24 September 1898 as Manor Works, the works team of the Crittall Window Company, from which they gained their nickname Iron. The new club took over the fixtures of the recently defunct Braintree F.C. in the North Essex League and also took on most of the former club’s players. They won the title in 1905–06, 1910–11 and 1911–12, also winning the Mid-Essex League in 1909–10 and 1910–11.

In 1921 they were renamed Crittall Athletic to be more closely identified with their parent company. After winning Division Two (Western) in 1922–23 and 1923–24, they were promoted to the Senior Division of the Border League in 1925. In 1928 they joined the Spartan League, and in 1935 were founder members of the Eastern Counties League, although they also continued to play in the Border League.

After World War II, Crittall joined the Eastern Division of the London League. After finishing second in their first season, they were promoted to the Premier Division. In 1954 they turned professional, but financial problems forced them to revert to amateur status and drop back down into the Border League at the end of the 1954–55 season.

In 1981 all links with Crittall were severed and the club was renamed Braintree F.C., before adopting their current name a year later. They won their second Eastern Counties League title in 1983–84 and retained it the following season. In 1986–87 they won the Essex Senior Trophy and the League Cup the following season.

In 1991 Braintree moved up to the Southern Division of the Southern League. In 1996 the club asked the FA to switch leagues to reduce their travelling. After initially being refused, they were allowed to move to Division Three of the Isthmian League, although it was an effective drop of two divisions. They were promoted as runners-up in their first season, and repeated the feat the following season.

After three seasons in Division One they were promoted to the Premier Division with a third-place finish in 2000–01. They won the Premier Division in 2005–06 to earn promotion to the Conference South. The season also saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, eventually losing 4–1 at Shrewsbury Town.

In 2010–11 they finished as Conference South champions, earning promotion to the Conference Premier. The next four seasons saw the club reach the FA Cup for the first round, losing to Tranmere Rovers, Newport County, Chesterfield and Oxford United in successive seasons.

In 2015–16 they finished third in the renamed National League, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. Despite winning the first leg at Grimsby Town 1–0, they lost the home leg 2–0 after extra time. They were relegated from the National League at the end of the following season after finishing in the bottom four.

The 2017–18 season saw Braintree finish sixth in the National League South. In the play-offs they defeated Hemel Hempstead Town and Dartford to reach the final, in which they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 4–3 on penalties to earn promotion back to the National League. However, they were relegated to the National League South the following season after finishing second-from-bottom of the National League.

At the end of last season, the Iron earned a play-off spot after finishing 7th in the National League South. They faced the Rebels at Woodside in the Eliminator which Worthing won 2-1.

Form

The Iron have been in and around the play-off places all season and currently occupy 7th spot in the league table. The Essex side have been on a remarkable run as of late, unbeaten in seven, winning six of those matches and winning their last five on the trot.

Equally as impressive, the Iron have kept four successive clean sheets and have won all three of their last matches by one goal to nil. They boast the second-best defensive record in the division, behind only their Essex rivals Chelmsford City.

Last Six
20/2 – Tonbridge Angels (H) – Won 1-0
17/2 – Torquay United (H) – Won 1-0
10/2 – Chippenham Town (A) – Won 0-1
3/2 – Dover Athletic (H) – Won 3-0
27/1 – Truro City (A) – Won 1-2
23/1 – Maidstone United (A) – Drew 1-1

The Gaffer

Angelo Harrop was appointed as Braintree Town manager back in May 2022 and led the club to a National League South play-off place in his first season in charge.

The former Colchester United youngster started in management with Stanway Rovers in 2013 before taking the hot seat at Brightlingsea where he guided them to the title in the Ryman League Division One North in 2016/17.

Harrop then joined AFC Sudbury in 2021 before making the move to Braintree a year later.

The Captain

Baris Altintop rejoined the club from Dartford earlier this season and has taken the armband.

Altintop operates as a central defender but can also play as a right-back and earned high praise for his performances for Braintree in the 2022/23 season.

Despite departing Braintree for Dartford back in the summer, Altintop’s stay in Kent was a short one, as he rejoined the Iron a couple of months ago.

The defender grabbed the only goal of the game in Braintree’s recent win over Chippenham Town in the National League South.

Key Player

Defender Joe Grimwood has been an ever-present member of Braintree Town’s matchday squads this season and was named in the Vanarama’s fan-voted Team of the Half Season.

The defender has played all but 44 minutes for the Iron in the National League South this season after he picked up a second yellow card in their 1-1 draw away at Aveley earlier this season. The defender served his suspension in the FA Cup and has played every minute since his dismissal back in September.

The 22-year-old joined Braintree from AFC Sudbury back in the summer.