FITZWIMARC School couldn’t conceal their pride after watching former PE teachers and an ex pupil demonstrate their sporting prowess live on the BBC.

Lincoln City manager and assistant Danny and Nicky Cowley created their own piece of FA Cup history on Tuesday as they defeated Ipswich Town, who play three divisions higher than the National League Imps.

They were up against former student Dean Gerken, who was in between the posts for Ipswich, and was rounded by Nathan Arnold, who scored a 90th minute winner for the underdogs.

And the Rayleigh-based school was delighted to see the Cowleys and Gerken go head-to-head in front of the BBC television cameras.

Glenda Canham, head of PR at FitzWimarc School, said: “At FitzWimarc, we are very proud of Danny and Nicky Cowley, our former Head of PE and Head of Boys’ PE.

“They are inspirational leaders and we had no doubt they would go on to further success at Lincoln City.

“It was fantastic to see them live on BBC1 and we know a great amount of our staff and students were watching in support.

“Dean Gerken, the goalkeeper for Ipswich Town, is also a former FitzWimarc student and it is great to see him also doing very well.”

Danny, whose wife Kate still works at the school, and Nicky were leading members of staff at FitzWimarc School throughout their time at the helm of Concord Rangers and Braintree Town.

But the duo had to leave their positions at the school when they accepted the challenge to steer Lincoln City back into the Football League.

And the opening six months could hardly have gone better, with the Imps currently top of the National League.

Despite their new full-time positions and strong promotion ambitions in Lincolnshire, the Cowley brothers have not forgotten the students they taught in Rayleigh.

Canham added: “We have been inundated with messages of support for Danny and Nicky from ex-students who remember their motivational talks.

“Lincoln invited students to come and watch a match and they laid on a coach and organised a fantastic day.”

While Gerken’s Ipswich Town have hit a new low with defeat at Sincil Bank, the Cowley brothers are on the up at National League table-toppers Lincoln City.