They will be heroes if we get over the line, says Bromley boss Mark Goldberg

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg says he is searching for a hero to get his beloved club into the top-flight of non-league football for the first time in the club’s 123-year history.

Bromley returned to the top of the Vanarama Conference South table following their 2-1 win over Eastbourne Borough at Hayes Lane last weekend – and Boreham Wood were held to a 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet United.



BROMLEY EXPECTS: A crowd of 2,035 watched Bromley beat leaders Boreham Wood 2-1 on 4 April and they'll be praying that Mark Goldberg can deliver the club's first title since 1961 when Weston-super-Mare visit Hayes Lane on Saturday.
Photo: Bromley FC

The Lillywhites need two points from their last two games to clinch the league title and to end 54 years’ since their last title success, the Isthmian League (Ryman Premier League in today’s money), back in 1961.

The long-suffering Hayes Lane faithful are desperate for Goldberg’s side to finish the job in style against fifth-from-bottom side Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

A crowd of over 3,000 is expected at the famous 76-year-old stadium, but be warned, you’re going to be in for a nerve jangling 97 minutes of football on Saturday!

Goldberg said: “Obviously the pressures’s on for us to get the win that we need on Saturday, being a home game and being against Weston, who we will not be underestimating, they’ll be coming to us with a view of spoiling whatever party plans we may have as a club.

“That’s certainly what we don’t have because we don’t take anything for granted. We know how difficult it’s been to get the wins at home and also how we’ve beaten top clubs in the league and we’ve failed to get the job done with clubs, on paper, we should be beating.

“As the game gets nearer I think the tension we’ve got to turn into energy to perform and it’s all about preparation now and if we prepare right then we’ve got to believe we can get the job done.

“I think the whole week of preparation is a priority so we turn up prepared to do a professional job and obviously the fans can always get you over the line if we’ve done our jobs properly.”

Bromley trained last night on the 3G pitch at the back of Hayes Lane and when asked what was drummed into his players, Goldberg replied: “I think it’s fair to say that we had a lot of cobwebs to get out of the lads last night and to make it as tension free as possible and just to get ourselves in a relaxed state of mind and to get over the weekend.

“We had to make sure those players with a few niggling injuries were dealt with and Thursday we’ll talk about Weston and how they play and what we need to do in order to stop them imposing themselves on us and we make sure we impose ourselves on them in the right way to secure the three points.”

Yes, this is Bromley’s biggest ever game in their 123-year history, even bigger than beating Romford in the 1949 FA Amateur Cup Final underneath the iconic Twin Towers at Wembley Stadium!

Bromley are just ONE WIN from playing in the rebranded Vanarama National League (the Conference) next season.

Goldberg said: “We certainly can’t take any game for granted but what we will do is prepare right and try to make sure that the occasion doesn’t get the better of the players’.

“I mean every game we go into we say this is the biggest game yet but obviously with what’s at stake then there’s no doubt that this game is the biggest yet!”

The fairytale finish would be for striker Bradley Goldberg to score a late winner to send his home-town club into the promised land of Conference football.

But his dad played down the pressure on his 21-year old son.

“I don’t think we’re looking at any individual.  The expectancy is there from everybody to give everything that they’ve got to get us over the line. 

“Whoever scores the goals that count we’ll be absolutely delighted for and so will everyone else in the team, the squad and the supporters’.

“It’s not about any individuals, it’s what’s best for the team.

“Everyone’s played their part to get there so they will all be heroes if we get over the line.”



ONE MORE WIN: Bromley neeed two points from their last two games to clinch the Vanarama Conference South title - their first since the Isthmian League crown was won back in 1961

Meanwhile, a steward at Hayes Lane has warned supporters that fans are NOT ALLOWED to enter the field of play until AFTER the FINAL WHISTLE.

The club have a suspended fine hanging over them following crowd trouble in games Dartford (home) and Ebbsfleet United (away) and the club could potentially be hit by a points deduction if fans miss-behave on Saturday.

“If we have pitch invasions on a single or mass scale before the final whistle the club will be in deep s**t,” he wrote on the club’s fans forum.

“However, when we win the game then just be sensible and enjoy. We’re not going to stop you coming onto the pitch for the trophy presentation or to celebrate with the players!

“We have to get the officials and opposition off safely so please bare that in mind.

“NO flares or smoke bombs before, during or after as again the club will be potentially docked points.

“Then I can get my high vis (jacket) off, get in the bar with you lot and celebrate until I have beer coming out of my ears!”

It really is time for Bromley to deliver the title – 54 years’ is too long to wait for such a great football club!

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley v Weston-super-Mare
Vanarama Conference South
Saturday 18^th April 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF