Having been promoted by winning the National League play-offs last season, Bromley’s first ever season in the football league in their 132 year history has got off to a flying start.
The Ravens have secured back-to-back 2-0 victories against Harrogate Town and AFC Wimbledon to start their maiden League Two campaign and currently sit third in the league table. This article will look at four reasons why I believe Bromley will be challenging for the play-offs come the end of the 2024-25 season.
Defensive solidity
One of the most important factors involved in winning games of football is keeping the ball out of your own net. Bromley have consistently done this for a number of seasons under Andy Woodman.
Over the past three seasons, the Ravens have consistently built from the back and given themselves a solid platform to build off. Starting in the 2021-22 season, the club have conceded 1.2 goals, 1.15 goals (2022-23) and 1.07 goals (2023-24) per game each season.
When looking at last season in particular, Bromley had the second best defensive record for goals conceded behind Southend United. Andy Woodman’s side kept 14 clean sheets across the season which was the joint best in the league alongside FC Halifax Town.
They have taken that solidity into this season, keeping back-to-back clean sheets in their two league games. Despite having the second lowest average possession in League Two so far (40.6%) they are giving their opposition few chances to score with 1.2 expected goals conceded (xG).
When their opponents have these chances, Bromley have the reliable Grant Smith in goal providing a last line of defence. Smith has made an average of three saves per match this season which is similar to his performances last season having made 2.9 saves per game at a success rate of 74%.
Building from the back ensures Bromley are hard to beat allowing them to be in with a chance of getting a result every game they play in.
Michael Cheek
As we all know, you don’t win games of football without putting the ball in the back of the net. Another reason why Bromley will challenge for a play-off spot is their clinical striker Michael Cheek.
Having signed Cheek from Ebbsfleet United in 2019, the 32 year old has made 238 appearances for Bromley and scored 108 goals. He is a proven goalscorer and is a fans favourite at the club having scored the goal to win them the FA Trophy in 2022 and both goals in last season’s play-off final victory.
Cheek is the National League’s all-time top goalscorer with 151 goals to his name in the fifth tier and having never played in the EFL until last week, has taken to the league like a duck to water. He has had a total of four shots this season, with a 100% shot accuracy and created three chances for his teammates.
The striker has bagged in both league games this season from an expected goals (xG) of 0.71 showing his capability to score from difficult positions. His goal on Saturday was a good example with Cheek running onto a through ball on the edge of the area before drilling his shot into the bottom corner from an xG ratio of 0.05.
If Cheek’s goals were to dry up then Bromley still have firepower in their squad with the likes of Marcus Dinanga and Levi Amantchi. Dinanga moved to Bromley this summer off the back of a great season at Gateshead having scored 20 in 42 league appearances. At the age of 23, Amantchi has great potential and moved to the Kent side at the beginning of 2024 after 17 goals in 24 appearances for Maidstone United at the start of last season.
Increased professionalism of the National League
Many have spoken recently about the implementation of a three up and three down from the National League to League Two and this is because of the increased professionalism of England’s fifth tier.
Only a handful of sides within the National League are part time or semi professional with a number of sides having reverted to a full-time model. Bromley were one of these sides who transitioned to a full time model within recent years and this foundation could support them in their ability at League Two this season.
Since automatic promotion to League Two was enacted in 1986-87, no team who achieved promotion from the fifth tier has immediately been relegated back down. This point was emphasised by Sutton United manager, Steve Morison on the National League Natter podcast:
“There’s a lot of teams in the top half of the National League that could play in League Two no problem”.
Since the start of the decade, Bromley have consistently competed at the top end of the fifth tier with a tenth place finish (the season they won the FA Trophy), two seventh place finishes earning a place in the play-offs and last season’s third place finish. Consistently performing at the top end of a professional league with big clubs will allow them to adapt to the fourth tier quickly.
Teams promoted into the EFL from the National League have predominantly been comfortable in surviving at the level above and pushing on. Many examples include clubs with financial backing such as Wrexham and Stockport County. The example that will fill Bromley with most hope is Sutton United’s 2021-22 season.
Sutton won the National League in 2020-21 and despite finding themselves back in the National League this season, provided the blueprint in their debut EFL season of how a club like Bromley can progress.
The South London club took many of their opponents by surprise, winning 22 games across the season and missed out on a play-off place by one point on the final day of the season. The success of Sutton in 2021-22 will provide the Ravens with confidence that they can have a similar impact on the division in their debut campaign.
EFL experience within Bromley’s squad
Despite the club never playing in the EFL before, there are a number of individuals within the Bromley squad who have played at the fourth tier and above. Omar Sowunmi, Josh Passley, Cameron Congreve, Myles Weston and Louis Dennis have all played in the EFL with numerous clubs across their career.
Louis Dennis has played and scored goals for Portsmouth and Leyton Orient, Myles Weston has over 200 appearances to his name in the EFL and Cameron Congreve has made 15 appearances in the Championship for Swansea over the past couple of seasons.
Their experiences and time in the football league will be invaluable when it comes to small moments in games that can define their season. The one player in their squad with arguably the biggest influence and experience will be their captain, Byron Webster.
Prior to signing for Bromley in 2020, Webster spent the entirety of his career in the EFL with eight different clubs from the Championship down to League Two. The defender’s impact in Harrogate and Wimbledon games has been crucial for Bromley. Webster has won 83.3% of duels and 75% of aerial duels so far this season.
With 44 games left of the EFL season, nothing has been achieved by Bromley after their opening two games. What it has done is given the club belief and optimism that they are not in League Two to make up the numbers but in the league to compete and strive for a play-off spot come the end of the season.