Bromley boss Mark Goldberg feeling proud that Garath McCleary is now playing amongst the best in the world

BROMLEY manager Mark Goldberg says he is feeling proud that one of his former players has progressed to mixing it with the world’s best on the international stage.

Barcelona icon Lionel Messi, 27, made his 100^th appearance for Argentina in the Copa America last night – playing on the same pitch as former Bromley winger Garath McCleary, 28.



PROUD: Bromley boss Mark Goldberg says he felt proud that former Bromley winger Garath McCleary (right) played against Barcelona icon Lionel Messi on Saturday night.  Here the Jamican winger meets the Argentina wizard post-match.
Photo: Instragram

But Jamaica went down to a 1-0 defeat to Argentina, courtesy of Napoli striker Higuain firing home from inside the box after 11 minutes.

Goldberg, who guided Bromley to their first title in 54 years when they won the Vanarama Conference South title on 18 April 2015, watched with pride as McCleary played the full 90 minutes.

Goldberg said: “We are proud to say we spotted Garath whilst playing for Slough Town in the Isthmian Premier League and we recruited him whilst with a broken leg and rehoused and rehabilitated him before playing on the wing one side when Sam Wood played on the opposite wing.

“We sold him onto Nottingham Forest for a very small fee within 18 months and would like to think we at Bromley played an integral role in launching his career and proud he is now playing amongst the best in the world.”

McCleary began his career at Oxford City in 2004 in the Southern League, making 29 appearances, scoring six goals for his non-league home-town club, before a short three month stint with Oxford United.

He was snapped up by Slough Town, then in the Ryman Premier League, making 42 appearances, scoring 9 goals during his two seasons at the club.

Goldberg brought him to Hayes Lane in January 2007, when the club were in the Ryman Premier League and promotion was sealed courtesy of Peter Adenyi’s match-winning penalty in a dramatic shoot-out in the home play-off final against Billericay Town, which sealed promotion into Conference South.

McCleary made a total of 42 appearances, scoring 11 goals for Bromley, before he was sold to then League One side Nottingham Forest on 31 January 2008, where he spent four seasons at The City Ground, making a total of 123 appearances, scoring 13 goals.

McCleary made a dream move to the Premier League with his current club Reading in May 2012, but watching a former Bromley player mixing it with the likes of Messi is something to be proud off.

Wood, 28, snapped up by Bromley from tenants Cray Wanderers in 2005, made 159 appearances for Bromley, scoring 21 goals, and has since played for League clubs Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers.

Wood won Bromley supporters’ player of the year award in 2006 and the club player of the year a year later.

Bromley, who spent eight seasons in Conference South, begin their preparations for their inaugural Vanarama National League campaign with a trip to Southern Counties East Football League side Sevenoaks Town on Saturday 11 July

The Ravens now play one level below the Football League and they play four League sides at Hayes Lane in pre-season; Millwall (14 July); Gillingham (21 July); Cambridge United (25 July) and Crystal Palace on 31 July.

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