The AFC Wimbledon man synonymous with Danny Cowley - and some have tipped a Portsmouth summer reunion

Players who have been crucial cogs in the teams the brothers have built to take them from the Essex Senior Football League to now being tasked with delivering Pompey’s Championship return.

Matt Rhead’s primarily the reason why they got their long-ball merchants moniker. He was the focal point of the 2017 National League title-winning side.

Meanwhile, Harry Anderson was also present for two promotions at Sincil Bank.

But of those who've worked under the Cowleys and helped their meteoric climb, there's arguably been no-one more important than Alex Woodyard.

The midfielder played under the pair at three different clubs and both will forever be indebted to each other.

But when Pompey take on AFC Wimbledon this afternoon, Woodyard will firmly be plotting the Cowleys and the Blues’ downfall.

By his own admission, the Wombles man owes everything to the Cowleys and they were chiefly responsible for reviving his career after being released by Southend in 2013.

‘They saw the ability I had,’ Woodyard recently told the South London Press.

‘They are good at putting an arm around you. I needed that. They got the best out of me. I had football moments there that I’ll never forget.

‘I had a really special relationship with Danny and Nicky. They are busy people, always full-on with their managerial and coaching stuff, but they are on the phone if I need to chat about football or if I’ve got to make a decision. They are people I’d ask for advice.’

Woodyard was recruited by the Cowleys at Concord Rangers in the summer of 2014 before doing so again a year later when they moved to Braintree and then Lincoln 12 months down the line.

In a highly fruitful relationship that lasted four years, Woodyard would make 203 appearances for the Cowleys, helping deliver the National League title, a League Two play-off spot and feature in an FA Cup quarter-finals against Arsenal.

Unsurprisingly Woodyard attracted admirers from higher up the pyramid and was purchased by Peterborough for an undisclosed fee in 2018.

As a result, it brought the curtain down on an association that had significant benefits for both parties.

Now the old allies prepare to face-off at Plough Lane where the stakes couldn’t be much higher.

There’ll no doubt be friendly hellos between the Cowleys and Woodyard, as well as Ollie Palmer – who scored 11 goals for Lincoln in 2017-18.

Yet any encounters or reminiscing will be brief. It’s not the time for anecdotes of yesteryear.

Pompey have tunnel vision on delivering victory to keep themselves firmly in the play-off mix heading into the final day of the season.

Meanwhile, the Wombles need a point to mathematically secure their League One survival.

Still, seeing the Cowleys will be a reminder of the better times of Woodyard’s career.

After Steve Evans was sacked as Peterborough boss, he quickly fell out of favour under Darren Ferguson before joining the Londoners last summer following a spell on loan with Tranmere that culminated in League One relegation.

The summer might be a more suitable time for Woodyard and the Cowleys to talk properly again about old times.

And with a major squad overhaul expected at Fratton Park it’s unsurprising some supporters have predicted a reunion could well happen.