The standout performers

Who was your player of the season?

Apr 25, 2023

As Bromley’s awards evening approaches, it only seems right to look at the standout performers for Andy Woodman’s men this season.

The big question is: Who deserves the Player of the Season award? Every fan will have their own opinion, but I wanted to look at my top six contenders and let you decide.

Get at me in the comments below.

Reice Charles-Cook (31 appearances)

At the start of the season, when Bromley had yet to formally announce Reice as our new number one, you may remember some fans losing their shit that he was all we had. In their eyes, Andy Woodman didn’t know what he was doing.

Woodman, a former Football League goalkeeper and Premier League goalkeeping coach, repeatedly told everyone it was under control. He was 100% correct.

Having deputised for Mark Cousins the previous season, Reice wasn’t new to the Bromley fanbase. His EFL pedigree (Coventry and Swindon) suggested Bromley had picked up a serious bargain if he could seize this opportunity to return to the pro game.

Reice’s 13* clean sheets in 31 games suggests he has paid Andy Woodman back in full and made the doubters eat their words. (*Do we count York?)

In Mark Cousins and Ellery Balcombe, Bromley have been blessed with two outstanding goalkeepers in recent seasons. Arguably, though, Reice has been just as good, if not better.

He has a clear command of his box, is comfortable with the ball at both feet, and is an excellent shot-stopper. Perhaps most important is the fact the defence clearly trust him. How many mix-ups or errors in communication can you remember Reice and the defenders having?

Speak to Andy Woodman and he will tell you how much of a miss Reice was when he got injured in the Maidstone United game; not just on the pitch but in the dressing room.

And if that doesn’t sway it enough for you, consider these stats:

When Arsenal loanee Tom Smith deputised for Reice, he kept 3 clean sheets in 13 games (23%).

Reice has 13* in 31 (42%).

The proof is in the pudding.

Kellen Fisher (24 appearances)

The biggest compliment you can pay Kellen Fisher is that we’ve all forgotten he’s 18 years old. Those with an ear to the ground had heard about Kellen long before his first-team debut, but the ease with which he has adapted to the deep-end of National League football has still been a huge surprise.

The fact he is even on this list of standout performers speaks volumes about his level of consistency since making a starting spot his own.

Having made his league debut on the hottest day of the season at home to Altrincham on the 13^th August 2022, Kellen went on to have a highly successful loan spell with Cray Wanderers under the tutelage of Bromley’s former manager Neil Smith.

His return to the Bromley squad saw Andy Woodman throw him back in at Southend United away on Boxing Day. The talented youngster hasn’t looked back since.

Whether at right-back or right-wing-back, Kellen has shown himself to be strong in the challenge and unflappable in the face of more experienced opponents, and he clearly has an excellent engine. More overlooked, however, is his attacking prowess and end product.

There’s a good reason why Football League scouts have been hovering around Hayes Lane, and why Bromley tied Kellen down to a new three-year contract.

Let's appreciate him while we still can.

Omar Sowunmi (38 appearances, 8 goals)

It is perhaps apt that Omar has ended the season as the on-field captain as it befits the status he has taken on within the club.

He’s not just a colossus at the back, he’s a menace during attacking set pieces as well. Omar’s 8 goals alone make a strong case for a Player of the Season award. But that’s too simplistic a view, and it overlooks the fact that Bromley are simply a better side when Omar is on the pitch.

Positionally, Omar is rarely outfoxed. And, when he does make a rare error, he has the pace to make up for it. Throw in his heroic last-ditch blocks and you probably have the makings of the most important player in the side and the first name on the team sheet.

Something which has significantly improved from last season is his distribution and comfort with the ball at his feet.

All in all, it supports my oft-repeated notion that Bromley need to break the wage structure to keep him at the club.

Much like Kellen Fisher, Omar will have his suitors from the Football League this summer, and few could begrudge him wanting to take the chance at the higher level again (unless Bromley themselves win promotion).

Is he your Player of the Season?

Callum Reynolds (39 appearances, 1 goal)

When Callum Reynolds was signed, a few eyebrows were raised given his age (32). He replaced Joe Partington, who was a similarly reliable and flexible defender, but you could argue that Callum has levelled up on what Joe brought to the club.

Earlier in the season, Callum seemed to be the backup centre back. Now you could argue that he is virtually undroppable. Off the top of my head, I can only really remember one or two games where he had a 6/10 performance. The rest have been bang on the money.

He’s calm in possession and unflustered under pressure, but Callum’s best attribute is his ability to read the game. It goes a long way to explaining why Andy Woodman has played him 39 times this season.

In a squad littered with exceptional young talent, the influence an experienced National League pro like Callum can have is immeasurable. Players like him can really help a side over the line.

It’s probably no coincidence acquiring someone who has been to the National League play-offs three times was key in maximising those 1% marginals that Andy Woodman often talks about.

Louis Dennis (34 appearances, 9 goals)

By Louis’ own admission, we never saw the best of him upon his return to the club last season.

Newer arrivals to Bromley’s fanbase didn’t hold Louis in the same folklore as those of a certain vintage. So, last season’s patchy form and injury woes left some fans viewing Louis as little more than a bit-part player.

This season, it took a while for Louis to be treated as more than just an impact player. Since the turn of the year, however, when he scored the winner at Southend on Boxing Day, Andy has trusted him as a nailed-on starter who can win games for Bromley.

His record of 7 goals in 24 appearances (22 starts) since Boxing Day, along with countless assists, tells you everything you need to know.

I would be intrigued to see what the players would say if you asked them who is the most creative and technically gifted player in the squad. I would be shocked if they didn’t all say Louis Dennis.

Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as saying he has been the Player of the Season, his impact in 2023, particularly in supplying the assists that have helped Michael Cheek rediscover his form, has possibly been the most overlooked aspect in our end-of-season run.

It is probably no coincidence that Cheek and Louis have looked like our best forward partnership this season. When they were paired together, the winning run arrived.

Michael Cheek (43 appearances 15 goals)

This has by no means been a vintage season for Michael Cheek. But, even though he’s not been at his absolute best, he’s still in the running for the club’s top award. That’s because he rose to the challenge when Bromley really needed to show up.

His terrace song is ‘Cheek scores goals galore’ for a reason. Michael has consistently topped the scoring charts for the Ravens since he arrived at the club, and his goals this season, particularly in the latter stages, have been vital in getting the points needed to reach the play-offs

A record of 68 goals in 168 appearances for Bromley made it a no-brainer for RSG and Andy Woodman to offer him a new contract in January. And, as mentioned in my recent column, since he signed on the dotted line, Cheek has repaid the club by rediscovering his goal-scoring form. He has also produced yet another 15+ goal season and has led the line to maximum effect.

When I speak to opposition media teams in the press box at Bromley, they always talk about Cheek and what a threat they perceive him to be. Nearly every club, bar perhaps the top two, would take him off our hands in a heartbeat.

In that context, despite his season not being the usual 20+ goal glut, make no mistake: he is still a man to be feared. His mere presence on the teamsheet aids Bromley before a ball has been kicked.

Notable mentions:

Ryan Stirk (14 appearances, 1 goal)

You can't give Player of the Season to someone who has only played 14 games, but boy what a difference he has made since joining.

The best thing you can say about Stirk is that you can't pigeonhole him in a single CM position. He can play as a traditional 4 or 8, is as comfortable in possession as out of it, can break up play, can start an attacking transition, and he has set-piece delivery to go with it.

Stirk is clearly an EFL-standard player. Woodman pulled off a masterstroke in getting him through the door once the EFL loan window had closed.

Would we have made the play-offs without Stirk?

Bromley have only lost two of the games in which Stirk has played: the 10-man defeat to York and the 1-2 defeat to champions Wrexham. Once again, the proof is in the pudding.

Besart Topalloj (24 appearances, 2 goals)

I had a conversation with a fan on Saturday who said they weren’t fully convinced by Topalloj. I respectfully disagreed.

I maintain we have an EFL player on our hands and that Bes’s upside is huge. Let us remember that young Besart has seamlessly replaced 30-year-old Chris Bush.

First, ask yourself if Bromley have missed Chris Bush since Topalloj arrived. Then go one step further and consider whether we have actually seen an upgrade.

Besart’s best attribute is his flexibility. Comfortable as a left-sided CB, a left-back, or a LWB, he gives Woodman the freedom to change shape to suit the situation.

Much like Kellen on the other side, Besart has ticker, great bite in the tackle, is up for the battle, and is equally adept in his attacking play. In fact, I think his forward forays are an unheralded aspect of his game.

He is often responsible for driving forwards from left back and moving the team up the pitch. If he can just add a bit more subtlety to his decision-making in key attacking areas we will have a very special player on our hands in the near future.

He joined too late to enter my Player of the Season ballot, but if he can maintain this level next season he will 100% be in the running.

This was my top six, but do you think I’ve missed anyone? More importantly, who got your vote? Join me in the comments section below.

From Bromley with love

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