It is once again time to introduce our ‘Grass Roots‘ feature ahead of the 2015/16 season. After the success following Sutton United and Croydon FC, this season we have chosen to lend our support to Bromley.
It was an obvious choice as they are the wonderful hosts of our own Palace Ladies. They are also managed by former Palace chairman Mark Goldberg and we play them in a friendly on Thursday evening.
Our monthly feature will follow the fortunes of the newly promoted club through the eyes of Matt Hall who is part of the match-day programme team, match-day announcer, interviewer and podcast presenter. Here is Matt with his season preview.
So, as we line up for our first season in the Vanarama National League (formerly known as the Conference Premier), Bromley fans ponder what fate their side will meet this season.
Will we surprise them all and rocket to a top half finish? Or will we go straight back down? Perhaps a mid-table finish? Who knows? What is clear though, is that the club have been taking steps forward to ensure we are ready to compete at this level.
In my own opinion, I think Bromley will surprise a few teams this season, and I can see us comfortably avoiding relegation, then pushing on the season after. We have managed to keep several top performers from last season, and keeping that core from such a positive campaign will surely put us in good stead for our debut season at this level.
However, there has also been a range of summer recruits to bolster the squad further. Players with Football League experience like ex-Newport County duo Lee Minshull and Max Porter. Former Luton Town Striker Alex Wall has come in as well as Aaron Tumwa, who has represented Blackburn Rovers and Watford at youth and reserve level, whilst playing international football for Antigua and Barbuda.
With many of the Ravens squad already boasting players who are experienced at step one of the non-league pyramid, I believe we will be more than ready for the challenge ahead of us. In fact, once our group of players well and truly gel, we could well be a force to be reckoned with. I am going to be optimistic and go with a mid-table finish for Bromley this year.
Pre-season so far has consisted of five games, winning two, drawing two and losing just the one. Three of these matches have been against Football League sides who fielded strong teams. For us to be able to draw with Millwall and Cambridge United, whilst narrowly losing 2-1 to a full strength Gillingham side is impressive in its own right.
Comprehensive victories against Sevenoaks Town and VCD Athletic respectively, make up the rest of the numbers, as Bromley face Beckenham Town and Crystal Palace this week.
Apart from new goals and nets as well as a nicely relaid pitch and some other cosmetic changes in and around the stadium, there has not been an awful lot of change away from the players, but I am sure this will come in time so watch this space.
Our debut season in the National League kicks off on the 8th August at home to Welsh side Wrexham before travelling to Woking and Grimsby Town as the fixtures come thick and fast.
Make sure you follow the the club’s official account on Twitter and the hashtag #WeAreBromley for all the latest news and updates. I will be back in a few weeks to report back on how we do in the opening fixtures.
