I’m expecting us to show that we can compete and I want to learn the level this year and then within three years of hopefully knocking on the door – of the League Two, says Bromley boss Mark Goldberg

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg says his side must not give Wrexham too much respect on the opening day of the season.

The Ravens are dining at non-league football’s top table for the first time in their 123-year history after winning the Vanarama Conference South title last season, the club’s first league title in 54 years.

Bromley are expecting at least 2,000 fans to flock through the Hayes Lane turnstiles on Saturday as the club make their Vanarama National League debut.

Bromley have been on a wheel of excitement during the past couple of seasons, finishing in third-place behind Eastleigh and Sutton United in The Skrill South before ending their title draught last season.

But the club’s loyal fans who have stuck by the club through thick and thin over the years and they are looking forward to seeing Bromley play Wrexham for the first time.

All that seemed fantasy world when the Ravens struggled to maintain their Ryman League Division One status back in 2001 and 2002 when the club finished fifth-from-bottom and fourth-from-bottom in the table.

The Kent club are now a full-time outfit, training three mornings per week on the club’s artificial pitches at the back of their Hayes Lane ground.

In 2002 Wrexham were playing Division Two football, finishing their campaign in the bottom two, playing the likes of AFC Bournemouth (now Premier League), Brighton & Hove Albion and Queen’s Park Rangers (now Championship).

And at three o’clock on Saturday, Bromley and Wrexham – who have previously played European Cup Winners Cup football, reaching the quarter-finals of the competition back in 1976, and a club that have won 23 Welsh Cup titles – lock horns in front of an expectant and excited Hayes Lane.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Goldberg.

“We have to make sure we have the confidence and not to show too much respect to Wrexham because of their history as opposed to ours.

“I think if we can go into games understanding, I think as the season goes on we’ll get stronger because I think we’ll realise we’ve earned the right to be there.  There will be a lot of lessons to be learned.

“I think we’re quick learners and we have to make sure we’ve learnt everything from pre-season into our start of the season.

“We’re proud to be in the National League.  We’d like to give a decent account of ourselves early so that it’s not a question of recovery, it’ a question of getting enough points that we can learn while we’re actually competing at a decent level.”

With Crystal Palace kicking off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Norwich City on Saturday, Goldberg hopes Palace fans will also follow Bromley during their National League adventure.

He said: “If Palace are away I do think there’s a lot of Palace fans that will be joint Bromley fans at the same time, hopefully.”

When asked about his short and longer-term aspirations, Goldberg has surprisingly let the cat out of the bag.

He said: “I’m expecting us to show that we can compete and I want to learn the level this year and then within three years of hopefully knocking on the door – of the League Two!

“We just want to make sure within three years each year we’re making progress and it would be good within three years we’re close to play-offs or we’re competing up there.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.tv/site

Bromley  v  Wrexham
The Vanarama National League
Saturday 8^th August 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF