Bromley takes a momentous step this Saturday in League Two. The Ravens will make the long trip North for their first-ever English Football League fixture against Harrogate Town.
It’s been a long time in the making for the club from South East London. In their 132-year history, Bromley has always been a non-league side. Just two decades ago, the Ravens were preparing for the 2004/05 season in the Isthmian League Division One.
But Andy Woodman’s side broke into the EFL at the end of last season. The club finished third in the National League and won promotion following a thrilling 2-2 draw and penalty win over Solihull Moors in the play-off final.
Woodman and his side have the belief, stability and consistency from their National League play-off win last season to utilise in the 2024/25 League Two campaign. Such momentum, along with a few star players amongst the squad, is enough to indicate that the Ravens will continue to soar in the upcoming season.
Defensive Stability
Under Woodman, Bromley is not a team that has defensive issues. The Ravens have been incredibly consistent defensively since Woodman took charge in March 2021. In the following three full seasons, the former Whitehawk boss ensured Bromley kept things tight at the back, conceding no more than 53 goals in each National League season.
In particular, the club’s 2023/24 promotion campaign was their tightest yet in defence. En route to the playoffs, Bromley shipped just 49 goals – the second-best lowest amount in the league, as per Fbref.
A settled backline has been key to defensive stability at Hayes Lane. The back three combinations of Callum Reynolds, Alex Kirk, Kamarl Grant and captain Byron Webster provided a solid and reliable backline.
The Ravens secured Grant on loan from Millwall again for their League Two campaign this season. In addition, the club have added the towering former Sutton United centre-back Omar Sowunmi this summer to boost solidity. Young Arsenal defender Taylor Foran will also provide suitable cover to add to Bromley’s effective defensive trio.
It’s hard to see Bromley shipping loads of goals in League Two this season. Moreover, the two relegated sides from the division in the past three seasons have conceded 70-plus goals. Defensive assuredness could therefore be the foundation Bromley needs to avoid relegation.
Woodman’s Consistency
Woodman is unlikely to deviate from his favoured 3-4-3 system. The 52-year-old coach has used this formation in 134 consecutive matches at Bromley and a shift now would be uncharacteristic and risky. Ultimately, Woodman is committed to defensive solidity with a narrow defensive three and a line of four in midfield when his side is out of possession, as analysed by Total Football Analysis.
But, the Raven’s boss can employ flexible tactics, such as shifting the wide midfielders, usually, Idris Odutayo or Josh Passley into wing-back or full-back positions to offer a five at the back system. This adaptability could be particularly useful against better-quality sides with strong attacking talents, such as MK Dons and Notts County.
Woodman has been building his strong, structured and defensively resilient side over the past three seasons. There is a no-nonsense approach and the players know the tactical expectations, which will bring consistency and team cohesion into League Two.
Michael Cheek
Every strong defensive team needs a proven goalscorer at any level. For Bromley, their main man in the final third is Michael Cheek.
The 32-year-old has been the Ravens’ top scorer for the past five seasons and he was the key attacking focal point in the 2023/24 campaign. Cheek struck 21 National League goals in 44 starts, averaging just under a goal every other game, as reported by Fbref.
Like other sides promoted from the National League to League Two in recent seasons, a top-quality frontman has proven to be an effective asset in avoiding relegation. Even last season, Wrexham and Notts County’s main strikers Paul Mullin and Macauley Langstaff scored 24 and 28 goals respectively. Such numbers show how effective strikers can carry their scoring momentum from non-league into the fourth tier.
Cheek will be raring to go in his first-ever League Two season and prove himself at the next level. The experienced forward has had incredible consistency at the National League level, striking over 150 goals in 366 appearances, recorded by Transfermarkt. Although the 32-year-old may need time to find his feet in the EFL, such scoring regularity shows the Bromley striker has what it takes to produce the goods in front of goal.
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