I've seen the good and bad of watching Bromley since 1972, I can honestly say we have NEVER had it so good, I left the Bromley fan group over three years ago due to the rubbish being said by so-called fans, I had to leave before I commented something that I couldn't take back. Players and Managers come and go but it's Bromley FC that I support in it's many guises over the last 50 seasons.
Thanks Machel and others for the excellent 'From Bromley with Love', it's like an online fanzine :)
I cant pretend that I havent been critical in the past - most notably when I called for Mark Goldberg to go after we went 17 games without a win. I'd like to think that was an exceptional circumstance however.
We now seem to be at a stage where every dropped point seems beyond the pale for some.
Great article, Machel. Having seen Bromley be crap through much of the early 00s, I try to put poor performances and seasons in context. I'm in it for moments like Louis' strike on Tuesday night.
The owner seems keen to trumpet his own ambition, which probably adds a little fuel to the fire. I've often thought fans live vicariously through people like him. What fan doesn't have a little daydream where they're the deep-pocketed shot-caller turning their local club into a big contender? But I'm sure the complex reality of owning and running a football club would stupefy most of us.
Yes Pete. I suspect Robin's bombastic nature has added to the feeling of higher expectations. However surely some would know to take that with a pinch of salt by just looking at the other teams in the league.
Great piece , opens up the we were 7th when Smith got sacked so AW didn't deserve credit but as you point out we had played more games . The run in form was terrific that season . Winning the Trophy was massive but has it created more expectant fans , I get impression some fans don't enjoy the ride . For me most days watching Bromley are good days , spending time with people I like & watching something I care about , the lows make me appreciate the highs even more .
This is why I raise the aspect of some having seen some real rubbish in their time and maybe finding it easier to keep a perspective.
That said maybe the raised expectations for the new breed is justified - but there is a difference between raised expectations and realistic expectations.
Great article Machel - I started watching Bromley as a kid in the seventies spending most of my time following home and away and seeing the highs of Carlton Fairweather`s goal at Chertsey in the FA Cup, and the lows of losing 1-0 to Ware away on a cold Tuesday night. I now live in Cheshire and for various reasons it`s hard to get to games so I follow games online and rely on social media for a "feel" on how things are going so for a long distance fan it revives something that was always there. Some opinions do appear to be unfair criticism but such is the nature of the "goldfish bowl" social media which magnifies 2 games without a win into feeling like 5. However its here to stay so guess it`s just the way things are. To see my boyhood club (and also both my Son`s boyhood club) competing with some of these huge clubs still makes me feel immensely proud regardless of whether we win lose or draw - and certainly better than a cold Tuesday night in Ware/Harlow/Basildon and God knows where else!!!
Cheers Clive. Indeed like yourself I've seen enough bad to be content with this good - but as others allude to if you are a fan who has been going since 2018 (Wembley) you probably would believe the club is on a ceaseless upward trajectory and would adjust your expectations to that fact
I think social media has intensified things way too much. I've seen fans lose it over a defeat in pre-season, let alone league games so far. Expectations in the most are unrealistic at all levels across the game and I don't think many know how to interact socially either on a phone or in reality, the stark lessons of locking people away from their peers over an 18 month period.
I've seen the good and bad of watching Bromley since 1972, I can honestly say we have NEVER had it so good, I left the Bromley fan group over three years ago due to the rubbish being said by so-called fans, I had to leave before I commented something that I couldn't take back. Players and Managers come and go but it's Bromley FC that I support in it's many guises over the last 50 seasons.
Thanks Machel and others for the excellent 'From Bromley with Love', it's like an online fanzine :)
Cheers Paul.
I cant pretend that I havent been critical in the past - most notably when I called for Mark Goldberg to go after we went 17 games without a win. I'd like to think that was an exceptional circumstance however.
We now seem to be at a stage where every dropped point seems beyond the pale for some.
I remain baffled as to why this is the case.
17 games without a win was unacceptable , only MG could have survived that .
I stayed on to try to give some balance but understand why you left group , most people I hang around with would agree with you Paul .
Great article, Machel. Having seen Bromley be crap through much of the early 00s, I try to put poor performances and seasons in context. I'm in it for moments like Louis' strike on Tuesday night.
The owner seems keen to trumpet his own ambition, which probably adds a little fuel to the fire. I've often thought fans live vicariously through people like him. What fan doesn't have a little daydream where they're the deep-pocketed shot-caller turning their local club into a big contender? But I'm sure the complex reality of owning and running a football club would stupefy most of us.
Yes Pete. I suspect Robin's bombastic nature has added to the feeling of higher expectations. However surely some would know to take that with a pinch of salt by just looking at the other teams in the league.
Great piece , opens up the we were 7th when Smith got sacked so AW didn't deserve credit but as you point out we had played more games . The run in form was terrific that season . Winning the Trophy was massive but has it created more expectant fans , I get impression some fans don't enjoy the ride . For me most days watching Bromley are good days , spending time with people I like & watching something I care about , the lows make me appreciate the highs even more .
Cheers Mike.
This is why I raise the aspect of some having seen some real rubbish in their time and maybe finding it easier to keep a perspective.
That said maybe the raised expectations for the new breed is justified - but there is a difference between raised expectations and realistic expectations.
Great article Machel - I started watching Bromley as a kid in the seventies spending most of my time following home and away and seeing the highs of Carlton Fairweather`s goal at Chertsey in the FA Cup, and the lows of losing 1-0 to Ware away on a cold Tuesday night. I now live in Cheshire and for various reasons it`s hard to get to games so I follow games online and rely on social media for a "feel" on how things are going so for a long distance fan it revives something that was always there. Some opinions do appear to be unfair criticism but such is the nature of the "goldfish bowl" social media which magnifies 2 games without a win into feeling like 5. However its here to stay so guess it`s just the way things are. To see my boyhood club (and also both my Son`s boyhood club) competing with some of these huge clubs still makes me feel immensely proud regardless of whether we win lose or draw - and certainly better than a cold Tuesday night in Ware/Harlow/Basildon and God knows where else!!!
Cheers Clive. Indeed like yourself I've seen enough bad to be content with this good - but as others allude to if you are a fan who has been going since 2018 (Wembley) you probably would believe the club is on a ceaseless upward trajectory and would adjust your expectations to that fact
I think social media has intensified things way too much. I've seen fans lose it over a defeat in pre-season, let alone league games so far. Expectations in the most are unrealistic at all levels across the game and I don't think many know how to interact socially either on a phone or in reality, the stark lessons of locking people away from their peers over an 18 month period.