Bromley complete amazing journey from Britain’s worst team to Wembley glory boys
BROMLEY were once so bad they inspired a feature film. It was based on a delightful book by Dave Roberts called
The Bromley Boys: The True Story of Supporting the Worst Team in Britain.
Published in 2008, the story revolves around the campaign of 1969-70, when they were relegated from the Isthmian League and the simple charms of following a club generally mired in misery, flirting with extinction as crowds dipped under a hundred, while growing up.
Yesterday, Bromley beat Solihull Moors on penalties in front of more than 23,000 at Wembley Stadium to secure promotion from the National League and next season they will compete in the EFL for the first time in their 132-year history.
‘Bromley will bring the freshness of a club with a burning desire to kick on,’ said manager Andy Woodman. ‘There’s a stadium taking shape and plans in place. Work will start on the pitch. I think it will be refreshing.
‘You can see the crowd, what it means to them. I’m delighted for everybody connected to the club. It will be a massive lift for the town. We’ve had some tough days and more than anything it’s a relief to get out of this league.’
Bromley is London’s biggest borough in terms of area with a population of 335,000, so there is no reason why they should not establish themselves in the top 92 clubs in England. They have a fine heritage, winning the first Amateur Cup in 1949 when they beat Romford in front of 90,000 at Wembley.
More pertinently, these days they are well-run and ambitious, making steady improvement during the last decade to become one of the strongest teams in non-League, winning the FA Trophy in 2022 and appearing regularly in the promotion playoffs. To be the man finally taking them up provides Woodman with a sense of pride. He has been best mates with Gareth Southgate since their days as apprentices at Crystal Palace, but whereas studious Southgate was always tipped for management, not so many expected Woodman to warm so naturally to the role.
As a player and a goalkeeping coach, he had a reputation as a bit of a joker, but he has turned Bromley into serious contenders since his appointment in 2021 and rejected chances to leave for Gillingham and other EFL clubs because he wanted to repay the trust of club owner Robin Stanton-Gleaves.
‘I have got a chip on my shoulder because of one or two comments from people I shouldn’t have listened to,’ said Woodman after his victory. ‘Why don’t they think an ex-goalie coach can’t be a good manager? That hurt me, but I thank them for that.’
To win the final on penalties is one up on Southgate. Michael Cheek twice put Bromley ahead. His first, scored just before half time, was controversial as he sent Alex Whitmore tumbling before finding the net.
Referee James Durkin, son of the former Premier League referee Paul, decided there was no foul. Joe Sbarra levelled soon after the interval, Cheek’s second was a penalty and Solihull’s second equaliser was scored by Jamey Osborne.
For the fourth successive year, the National League promotion final went into extra-time.
Bromley sub Alex Kirk twice hit the woodwork but it was destined for a shootout, in which Grant Smith made two saves and captain Byron Webster got the winner.
Bromley are no longer Britain’s worst team, far from it, in fact. They are flying high and destined for the EFL next season.
Author Roberts, who died in 2021 aged 66, is sure to be looking down on them with a smile.