Blog

[Mash]

I've been avoiding this board for the last month or so but as everybody gears up for Saturday in the best way they know how.

I took finger to laptop tonight to write a quick blog (whilst watching my beloved West Indies) about my thoughts ahead of Saturday. Read without prejudice...

middleclassrudeboy.tumblr.com/post/116577988784/one-more-unto-the-breach-dear-friends-once

Copy and paste that link into your browser innit.

Mash

[bromleyid]

Very well put Mash. I'm beaming with pride at the very thought of what may be, come Saturday's end!!!!!

[AlanPep]

Superb Mash, great memories and puts real contex into what we'll hopefully achieve on Saturday

[rich]

nice blog Mash, I'm both nervous and excited re Saturday and the possibilities for next season, so reading this made me realise how emotional it must all be for those long-standing fans of the Ryman south days (and beforehand even... ) take a deep breath everyone ....

[lynchmob]

Sod Saturday, almost had me in tears reading that, Mash I hope Saturday does bring you to tears because my friend it will be happening to anyone who follows this club through thick & thin travelling from one hell hole to another through the years. Hopefully games against ex league opposition beckon next season, I for one will not be worrying about how many miles or cost for 1 crack at a National League. Oh that & hearing Jeff Stelling having to mention our name on Soccer Saturday every weekend!!!

[col]

Fantastic stuff Mash. I have stood on the terraces at Hayes Lane for 38 of the 44 years I have been alive. This is closest we have ever got to playing in the top flight of non-league football other than when we were offered founder membership of the Alliane Premier and turned it down in 1982!
When the faithful few watched us lose at home to Barton Rovers in 2002 in front of 96 punters in Ryman One none of us thought this would ever happen, the Kent League looked like more of a realistic proposition back then. Whatever happens from here it's been quite a ride over the last ten years and a real achievement by all those connected with the club.
If Bromley win promotion, Cray stay up and Celtic win the treble this season I may give up football as it's never going to get better than this for me!

[exiled]

I worked out today that on 5th May it will be 25 years since (at aged 8) I went to my first Bromley game and saw us relegated following a battling performance against conference-bound Slough Town. I've seen 2 relegations, 1 demotion (when the conference south was created), 3 promotions, 2 stadium fires, cup final losses, cup final wins, 6 FA Cup first round appearances, play off victories, one play off defeat, relegation "great escapes", broken promises, financial struggles, years of seeing the conference south as some kind of "promised land" (the Conference National was unfathomable)and I'm praying that my first 25 years as a Bromley fan are rounded off with the greatest dream and memory of all. Reading Col's post above and Mash's blog reminds me that many others share those memories and emotions and it makes them all the more special. Once more into the breach we go...

[will]

Brilliantly written Mash. It evoked memories of some really bleak, terrible seasons and the reality has hit home that we are on the brink of doing what we all talked about as fantasy on those train journeys back from having lost at one Ryman One hellhole after another. It's only a little over 10 years since that awful evening at Molesey when Sydneyraven and I walked back to Hampton Court train station and left despairing messages on the club's answering machine while trying not to freeze to death, but it feels like light years ago.

Good on you, and good on us.

[crouchm]

If we do pull it off it will be a right old day to remember. My old man took me to Hayes lane in 1969. And have been a Lillywhite eversince. The years of a hundred watching us and never really doing much but plod along. The years of Coco sports! Have a look at the main stand Saturday and see John's name on it. That gentleman lived for the club and Sheppard it through stormy waters more than once! Swindon away in the fa cup [76\77] is my fondest memory supporting the club but come Saturday night that might just rank number two!

[merchandiser]

I just love all of the above, great blog Mash. Oh and by the way, tissues will be on sale tomorrow in the shop, 2 boxes for the price of one.

[markc99]

Cracking read mate. That Cray match and the Leatherhead match away when we left together and heard the 3rd go in as we drove back past the ground stick in my mind as some of the lowest points.

I remember thinking of going to the Molesey game, yet knowing what a hell-hole it was plus the trek from Hampton Court, decided against it. I was kind of glad at the time but now I sort of miss that that was the ultimate turning point to the last 10 years, and I wasn't there.

I may not have been around much the last 2 years but even when I should have been studying, I was stuck refreshing Twitter endlessly. I'd have never missed the end of this season and will be glad to celebrate (hopefully!) next to my mates of the last 21 years!

[markc99]

Apr 17, 2015 10:15:27 GMT merchandiser said:

I just love all of the above, great blog Mash. Oh and by the way, tissues will be on sale tomorrow in the shop, 2 boxes for the price of one.

Embossed with the Bromley badge no doubt Jim!?! ;-)

[bromley]

Fantastic Mash. Just absolutely fantastic.

[devonraven]

Cheers for putting that up Mash. Enjoyed reading it and all the above memories of supporting Bromley. During my decade of support I've be lucky; I've not fully lived through some of the darker and harder times. With two Play off promotions and a number of first round FA cup appearances, It's been a good 10 years for me (even with several relegation frights). I just pray that at the final whistle tomorrow, what so many Bromley fans have only dreamed about comes true. All day I have been unable to think about anything else. For one last time this season I'm looking forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with the bromley fans I see week in and out. I have watched many magical sporting moments, but nothing will come close to what history could be about to happen. Just one more win Bromley, just one more win lads.

[thechat]

Many years ago I went to Blrunton Park to watch Charlton play Carlisle with a place in Div 1 at stake. in 20 mins we were 2v0 down and looking like we'd had it but Carlisle's left back struck a beautiful pass back to his goalie which eluded his keeper and brought us back into the game and paved the way for a 2v3 win which secured promotion to Div 1 for the first time since 1958. I'm hoping that tomorrow won't put me through that again. I still believe that last seasons X1 were better than this year's but -damn I can't wait for 5pm later today. We can do this! Come on you Ravens you can do it. Great blog Mash. I was only a part timer until 5 or 6 years Ago but this is our time and failure is not an option. In there!