There’s been a lot written about Bromley’s historic promotion to League One this season, well considered personal stories and general accounts of what an incredible achievement it is by Andy Woodman and his team.

It’s taken me a while to get my thoughts straight on the whole thing, but here is my own feelings on what has come to pass at Hayes Lane this season. 

For context I saw my first Bromley game back in 1977 as a six year old and I have seen the vast majority of home games ever since, including going home and away from 1984 up to 2010 when the blessing of parenthood came along. 

Bromley were playing in the Isthmian League Division One when I first started going and for the next nearly thirty years the bounced between the top two divisions of the Isthmian League, sometimes challenging for promotion and on others staring county league football in the face, picking up a good haul of county cups and FA Cup runs on the way.

The pain of relegations in 1984, 1990 and 1998 have all left scars, but there were also some incredible times too, shared with great people. Unified in adversity and united in joy when those sweet moments of footballing success came along.  

It’s quite some feat on its own that Bromley haven’t been relegated this century, although that will certainly be put to the test next season!  

Since 2005 there has been a steady upward climb from Isthmian League Division One to League One, winning five promotions and one FA Trophy on the way. George Wakeling, Mark Goldberg and Neil Smith all had great spells in charge of the team and in the last five years under Andy Woodman the progress has been turbo charged.

We have been blessed with two superb owners, Jerry Dolke rescued the club from the brink at the start of the century and Robin Stanton-Gleaves then took it on from there fifteen years later. The new owner promised League One football back in 2019 and incredibly he has delivered.  

When we reached the National League in 2015 I thought the club had peaked, we’d got to the summit of Non League Football, but after two FA Trophy finals and one win, we then made it to the EFL. Surely that was it? Well the answer was no, as this season not only have Bromley been promoted to League One, but they have taken the League Two title in doing so, topping the table for all but one week since New Years Day. 

The success has not happened by accident, it’s been built on a unified squad who all buy into what the manager wants them to do and understand the system.

The budget, although one of the smallest in the EFL, has been managed well and investment in the ground and facilities completed at the right time. The summer signings of Mitchell Pinnock and Will Hondermarck were inspired acquisitions by Andy Woodman.  

There have been so many highlights this season, the last day drama of the win over Walsall and hearing that MK Dons had only drawn at Fleetwood to make us champions, the unbeaten home records in the league, wins away at much bigger clubs like Gillingham & Grimsby Town, an EFL Cup win over Ipswich Town on penalties and the vital Good Friday equaliser at Barnet scored 11 minutes into injury time by 17 year old George Evans. 

When the difficulties came, it was the way we dealt with them that showed the spirit at the club. Losing Deji Elerewe to Lincoln City in January, losing Michael Cheek to injury for the rest of the season in March and then Jesse Debrah soon after just as he was cementing a place in the heart of defence.

The players who came in stepped up to the task, including Sam Long in goal, Nicke Kabamba up front and club Captain Byron Webster who finished his playing career at Bromley with some phenomenal performances in the final three matches.            

Bromley will head into League One knowing they are one of the smallest teams there, in terms of support, budget and ground, but they have a big heart and aim to enjoy the ride. 

I have been so lucky to have enjoyed this whole season with my son, our friends and some people who I have stood with for decades at Hayes Lane through thick and sometimes very thin times.  

As far as this old fan is concerned, if we finish fifth from bottom next season that should be reason for another celebration.      

Picture supplied by Bromley Football Club.