National League champions, Emirates FA Cup quarter-finalists and winners of hearts and minds throughout the country, it’s no wonder Lincoln City’s managerial duo hit the jackpot at the The Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards, in association with SCL.

Cowley brothers Danny and Nicky became household names with the Imps this season, with their run of success showing no signs of stopping after they scooped the FieldTurf Manager of the Year award.

That took the pair to Stamford Bridge, home of Premier League champions Chelsea, for a ceremony which also saw Lincoln named as Red Insure Team of the Year, and pick up the Acerbis Cup Run of the Year award.

Midfielder Alex Woodyard took home Mark Harrod Player of the Year while the Reusch Goalkeeper of the Year was Paul Farman, though once again the spotlight was on the Cowleys and their Sincil Bank exploits.

“We’re very similar people, both very intense and that’s thanks to our parents for instilling that ethic into us,” said Nicky on the sibling duo.

“We believe in hard work and we look to share that with the players who play at the club.

“We’ll look to stay together, we know we’re only half as good if we split up and it’s a real privilege to accept this award because there are so many people to credit for us getting to this point.

“You’re only as good as your players and they’ve been absolutely first-class, and we’re forever thankful for that first opportunity we had as managers of Concord Rangers ten years ago.

“They’ll always have a special part of our development and we’re very fortunate to be here.”

As well as amassing 99 points and returning to the EFL, the Cowley brothers orchestrated history for Lincoln City when getting to the Emirates FA Cup last eight.

There they were to lose to Arsenal, but not before beating Premier League outfit Burnley on their way to becoming the first non-league team in 103 years to reach the quarter-finals.

But with the carrot of the Football League now dangling in front of them, the sibling duo are showing no signs of stopping yet after returning to the fourth tier for the first time since 2011.

“We’re delighted, it’s gone better than any of us could have believed and it shows what can happen when you have so many people pulling together and working hard,” said Danny.

“We’re winners and we enjoy winning. We’ll be looking to be competitive next year, we’re very respectful of the league that we’re going into but we are a Football League club.

“It’s needed non-league people to get us back into the league and we’re very proud of that. That’s testament to the staff and the players, and for a lot of us this will be our first experience of the Football League.

“We’re all looking forward to it and we’re delighted to look back on the season we’ve had.”

SCL are a government approved post-16 education provider in the sports sector who run Academy programmes with over 60 football, rugby and cricket, professional and grass roots sports clubs, foundations and community trusts. Find out more at www.wearescl.co.uk/education