Bromley’s long trip to the FA Cup third round

I should probably start by saying that I wasn’t originally going to go to Newcastle. With the game being on a Sunday, my son decided he didn’t want to travel as he’s in the middle of his GCSEs. I wasn’t sure about going up on my own, but my decision was made for me when my lovely wife and son bought me a ticket for Christmas.

The emotion I felt when I received the ticket caught me off guard. It made me realise that even though the club has changed almost beyond recognition in recent years, Bromley FC still really matters to me. After a bit of back-and-forth, two friends who I’ve travelled away with for years agreed to join me and get the band back together for one more road trip.

So with the decision made and plans sorted, it was time to look back as well as forward. Let’s set the scene and have a look at why this game is so important for Bromley Football Club and its fans.

The FA Cup has always been a significant competition in my Bromley-supporting life. One of my first football memoies was sitting in front of BBC Grandstand’s Final Score as a five-year-old in 1976 to see the vidiprinter display: Swindon Town 7 (SEVEN) Bromley 0. This appearance in the FA Cup first round set the tone for many years to come.

Bromley strived to repeat the feat of reaching the first round, but it would be 20 years before our next visit. There were some near misses, like losing to Maidstone twice in the fourth qualifying round in the 1980s, and losing 5-2 at Welling in 1989 after an epic run of six games to get there.

The 1990s saw memorable games, like coming back from 2-0 down away at Hailsham Town in 1992 and beating Dulwich Hamlet 4-1 in our first game back at Hayes Lane in 1994, but it took until 1996 for us to feature in the first round again. Wins over Viking Sports, Crawley Town, St Leonards, and Sutton United set up a home game with Enfield in the first round. Well over 3,000 showed up, but we lost 3-1 in a chaotic atmosphere.

In the early 2000s, with Bromley now in Isthmian League Division One, we started the FA Cup in August’s preliminary round. There were painful early exits to Hassocks and Leatherhead before Bromley’s fortunes finally began to change, both on and off the pitch. After a third qualifying round loss to Cambridge City in 2004 we went a round further in 2005, losing 1-0 to National League Aldershot Town at Hayes Lane.

It was 2006 that saw Mark Goldberg’s side reach the first round again, beating Totton, Lowestoft Town, Hayes, and Grays Athletic to book a trip to League One Gillingham. Despite losing 4-1, it was a really special day, with 1,500 Bromley fans in the away end at Priestfield. When Nic McDonnell scored to make it 2-1, the whole ‘temporary’ stand went mental.

From that point on, Bromley became first-round regulars, but they carried on losing. We’ve seen defeats against the likes of Colchester United, Fleetwood Town, Leyton Orient, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers (in a replay), Rotherham United, and most painfully Yeovil Town in extra time during Covid. I was in the stands with a handful of people to report on that game. It was crushing in so many ways.

Last season, Bromley drew Blackpool at home and the game was shown live on BBC Two. Outclassed by their free-flowing opposition, Bromley never got going and succumbed to a 2-0 loss. Michael Cheek missed a sitter in that game. You know it’s not going to be your day when that happens.

Were Bromley ever going to break the first-round hoodoo? Promotion to the EFL this season gave the Ravens an automatic first-round tie. Was this their best chance yet?

Bromley’s 24/25 FA Cup began away at National League Rochdale and they were two goals up inside 5 minutes. Piece of cake! But it wouldn’t be Bromley without a little drama. By the time the game rolled into the final minute of normal time, Bromley were 3-2 down. Were they about to miss out on the FA Cup first round again?

No. In a dramatic late twist, two stoppage-time goals sealed a dramatic 4-3 win for Andy Woodman’s team. Bromley had done it. The hoodoo was finally over!

Bromley had reached the FA Cup second round for the first time in 78 years and all eyes were on the draw. When the balls were pulled from the hat, the football gods handed Bromley an away tie at Solihull Moors, the team they had beaten on penalties in the National League play-off final just a few months earlier. If ever there was a team that owed Bromley a bloody nose, it was Solihull.

On a grey Sunday in the Midlands, Bromley started slowly and fell behind to a fine Connor Wilkinson strike after 12 minutes. It clearly woke the Ravens up, as a few minutes later, Omar Sowunmi was bundling the ball home after a clever set piece had carved Solihull open. Game on!

In truth, the rest of the game was a scrappy and uninspiring affair, played out in a drab atmosphere. But in the 61st minute, a rare moment of quality occurred. Solihull gave Ben Thompson far too much time to pick a pass and the midfielder found the run of Danny Imray, who wrongfooted the defence and tapped into an empty net.

From there, it was a case of hanging on. Connor Wilkinson hit the bar from range and left Bromley nerves rattling like the frame of the goal, but in the end, it all came down to a last-gasp, send-the-keeper-up free-kick for Solihull. It was pinball in the penalty area for a moment, and a fierce goal-bound shot was blocked, but Bromley cleared the ball. Final whistle. The Ravens had done it! They were in the third round for the first time in their history.

When Bromley’s ball came out of the hat the following day, it handed them a plum tie away at Premier League Newcastle. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see Bromley in the second round, let alone landing a magical money-spinning tie in the third round. It was a dream come true for so many reasons.

Now, just a few days before the tie, we stand on the precipice of history. Whatever happens on Sunday, it will be a memory worth savouring for every fan of the club. These things don’t come around very often, so enjoy the moment, even if it’s bittersweet.

See you in Newcastle!

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