It's a magnificient time to be at Bromley, says Neil Smith

BROMLEY assistant manager Neil Smith hailed the club’s professional approach after reporting back for pre-season training yesterday.

Mark Goldberg’s side lead the Conference South table for large chunks of last season but injuries to key players hit them hard from March and a lack of strength-in-depth ensured that they finished six points behind champions Eastleigh.

The Ravens had to settle for a third-place finish with 80 points from 42 games, which was their best finish in seven seasons in Conference South.

However, their hopes of joining non-league’s elite in the Conference Premier for the first time were dented when they went down to a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Ebbsfleet United in the play-off semi-finals.

The Fleet went on to lose the play-off final when Nathan Elder scored the only goal of the game for Dover Athletic, who will join Welling United and reprieved Dartford in the top division next season.

Bromley returned to pre-season training at a local school, instead of using their usual venue of a public park close to their home ground.

“Seeing the boys after a long break and seeing all the new faces as well, we’ve had a hard session today and they’re looking good and ready, from day one,” Smith, 42, told the club’s website.

“We met up on Monday with the fitness guy and discussed a few things and what we did, we wanted to test them to see where their fitness levels where.

“They’ve come in and their fitness levels were well above what we expected already.

“This time last year – I was just saying to Mark – we were underneath a tree in Norman Park keeping out of the rain and we’re on this lovely facility, a 4G pitch. We can get the balls out, they can do running knowing they’re not going to go down any holes and not in and out of dogs so we can stay on the cones.

“It’s fantastic and to have this facility on day one just shows how we want to go and how we’re progressing as a club, with the help we’ve got.

“It just means we can work on formation. We can work on crossing and finishing, defending, and all the stuff you want to prepare yourself for the games on the Saturday or the midweek.”

Smith revealed Bromley struggled to find suitable training facilities during last season.

“We can do it (train in the park) up until about September and then normally we have to find, borrow and pinch places where we can train where as having our own facility, we’re putting a marker down. We can start doing our work throughout the whole of the season.”

Smith said the new players have settled down with their new team-mates and are looking forward to their opening pre-season match – at home to League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge next Saturday, 5 July.

Bromley then face League opposition at Hayes Lane in the shape of Gillingham (15 July), Millwall (19 July) and Charlton Athletic on 2 August.

Former Bromley striker, Bradley Goldberg, has signed a contract with the Daggers after scoring 24 goals for the Ravens last season and could be set for an emotional return to play against the club he supported as a kid.

Smith added: “They look really settled and that’s what we had last year. We had a fantastic team spirit and it’s something that you can’t coach. It has got to come from the players and your leader Swainey (Rob Swaine) was out there today, he’s getting them all together, knowing we’ve got one big push for next season.

“Knowing what you’ve got before the start of the season it gives you more focus on those eighteen individuals and making sure that we’re all ready.”

Smith says there’s a buzz around Hayes Lane this summer and a genuine feel that last season was not a flash in the pan.

“It’s been amazing, it’s been fantastic,” he said.

“All the supporters are backing it, are excited about it.

“It’s a magnificent time to be a Bromley supporter and to work for Bromley Football Club at the moment – and long may it continue.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net