I think it’s going to be a really successful year for us as a club. The one thing we do want, we want more, we always want more. We want to push the boundaries and this could be the year, says Bromley skipper Jack Holland

BROMLEY captain Jack Holland says the club can win promotion from the Vanarama National League at the end of the season.

The Ravens are in sixth-place in the table with 44 points from their 28 league games, 10 points adrift of leaders Macclesfield Town, one point clear of the side that occupy the final play-off berth, that’s Tranmere Rovers and need only seven more points to reach Neil Smith’s target to avoid relegation.

Bromley held league leaders Macclesfield Town to a 1-1 draw at Hayes Lane on 23 December, before coming away from Stonebridge Road with a 2-1 defeat to Ebbsfleet United on Boxing Day.

Bromley then completed the double over Leyton Orient four days later with a famous 1-0 win at Brisbane Road, before impressing in front of the live BT Sport cameras to beat Ebbsfleet United 4-2 at Hayes Lane on New Years Day.

Bromley raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 36 minutes with three goals in 19 minutes from Holland, George Porter and Luke Wanadio.

Daryl McMahon’s side pulled two goals back through Andy Drury and Sean Shields to make it a nervy time for the Hayes Lane faithful but Louis Dennis pulled off a trademark strike to win it for the Ravens with five minutes left.

“Especially after Boxing Day, I think this win means a lot to us,” said central defender Holland.

“To go to their ground and get a loss there, we knew it would be a tough game (at home) and I think everyone to a man played absolutely amazing and I thought it showed out there.

“We had a run of games where we drew a lot, we lost a couple and I thought it was really important to get these two games over and get the wins. We had a target and we’ve hit the targets, so it was all planned.”

It was the only second visit from BT Sport to screen a live game at Hayes Lane.  The first one resulted in a poor display from Mark Goldberg’s side in their debut National League campaign, going down to a 3-1 defeat to Altrincham on Saturday 14 November 2015.

Bromley won 2-1 up at Macclesfield Town on 17 December 2016, when Holland and Rob Swaine danced together in front of the cameras while manager Smith was being interviewed post-match and Bromley turned on the style on Monday night.

“It makes it extra special to get the goal and get the win,” added Holland, when reflecting on his fifth goal of the season, a hooked volley inside the six-yard box from Dennis’ cross from the right.

Reflecting on the 4-2 thriller, Holland said: “For me personally, two goals against at home, again, isn’t good enough!  Two sloppy goals but going forward we look a different animal and the whole team were unbelievable to get the win.”

Bromley are surprising many this season, including their own supporters!

“We’ve got our targets. We want to be in and around these play-off places,” said Holland, who lives down the road in West Wickham and is a firm fans favourite.

“It’s a very tight league. Before these two wins we knew we had to buck up our ideas and being top six just after the start of the New Year is amazing!”

Bromley return to Hayes Lane on Saturday for the visit of thirteenth-placed AFC Fylde, a side that beat Tranmere Rovers 5-2 on Monday, which was their 35^th point of their campaign.

“Every game we play is hard, we know that and we know every team is going to be hard to beat and they’re coming here and we have to go out there with the belief that we have and don’t worry about them and focus on us and hopefully get a win,” said Holland.

“This season especially is a really weird season for the league but don’t take away from the fact that teams are playing well. The likes of Sutton United (in third on 46 points from 28 games), the likes of us, for me it shows that we deserve to be in this league and we deserve to be where we are and where we’ve come from as a team and as a club and where we’re going. Honestly, it’s something to really look forward to.”

Holland believes Bromley will be celebrating promotion into the Sky Bet League Two for the first time in their 125 year history.

“No one expects it from us.  We finished tenth last season but every year it seemed we’re around the relegation zone before a ball’s been kicked, everyone thinks we’re going to be struggling and I think that really spurs us on as a team to really push on.”

So when asked whether Bromley can win promotion, Holland replied: “I think so! I personally think so! Even people around us, outside of the club might not think so but personally I think we’ve got the belief.

“Neil Smith is a passionate manager and is great to be around.  He will not let you rest on your laurels.  That’s the whole staff, Mark Hammond, Glyn Shimell and Ben May, day in, day out they put sessions on and put the graft in to get us where we are.”

When asked what 2018 can bring Bromley Football Club, Holland replied: “Honestly, it can bring anything! Personally, I think it’s going to be a really successful year for us as a club.  The one thing we do want, we want more. We always want more. We want to push the boundaries and this could be the year.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.tv

Bromley  v  AFC Fylde
Vanarama National League
Saturday 6 January 2018
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF