Harrogate Town vs Bromley preview

Bromley get their inaugural League Two campaign up and running away at familiar foes in Harrogate Town.

The two teams locked horns on four occasions in the National League, with draws being the result on three occasions.

When they last faced off, it was both sides’ final game before the global pandemic stopped the 2019/20 season in its tracks. Later that season, in an empty Wembley Stadium, Harrogate Town beat Notts County in the National League play-off final to seal a historic promotion to the EFL.

Since then, Harrogate have consolidated themselves in League Two and have avoided being dragged into relegation battles. Last season’s 13th-place finish was their highest to date and saw the club flirt with a play-off push at one point.

In many ways, you could argue that Harrogate are an example of what ‘smaller’ promoted National League clubs should look to do: Build a core, grow slowly on and off the pitch, and challenge for higher levels when the club is naturally ready to do so.

In pre-season, Harrogate faced some stern tests, playing the likes of Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield United, and Middlesbrough. They failed to record a win in any of their six friendlies, and fans have expressed concern about their palpable lack of goals.

Last season, the majority of their goals came from 32-year-old George Thomson (17) and 35-year-old Jack Muldoon (11). Both have been with Harrogate since their National League days, and without an obvious out-and-out striker at the club, the onus will be on this seasoned pair to defy the odds once again.

Abraham Odoh also contributed double figures to Harrogate’s goal tally last season, but he has since moved to Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee.

Despite those potential negatives, in Simon Weaver, Harrogate have a very canny manager. He is currently the longest-serving manager in the Football League, which says a lot about his ability to exceed expectations.

Harrogate aren’t the ‘sexiest’ club in League Two, but they have established themselves and have a clear identity. 

Interestingly, they’ve won every opening fixture since they arrived in the EFL. Will that run continue?

As far as Bromley are concerned, the biggest question mark going into their first-ever Football League game is who will make the starting XI.

Andy Woodman has a 22-man squad to choose from, and arguably anyone could make a claim to a spot.

This year, pre-season has been used to give everyone minutes. As a result, Andy has exactly what he has always wanted at Bromley: Competition for places across the pitch and the squad depth required to make a dent in the Football League.

Given that seven substitutes can be named in the EFL, of which five can be used, squad depth will play a more important role than ever before. The added substitutions should make it easier for Andy to manage players’ minutes as well. 

Other than the final pre-season defeat to Aldershot Town, Bromley have had a very productive pre-season where results are concerned. 

Andy Woodman will have his sights set on carrying that momentum into the new season.

But who would you start with? Get at me in the comments below.

The From Bromley with Love XI

Smith

Elerewe Webster Reynolds

Passley Arthurs Charles Odutayo

Whitely

Olomola Cheek

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