Bromley setting standards as contrasting histories collide

Bromley and Oldham have played each other four times in their history, with all four meetings coming in the National League

As a crowd of more than 20,000 people heard the final whistle bring an end to Oldham Athletic's final Premier League game of the 1993-1994 season, Bromley were wrapping up their season 88 miles away in front of 235 fans.

A Latics team containing Andy Ritchie, which had been one of the Premier League's founding member clubs two years previously, had been relegated to Division One with a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Bromley, meanwhile, lost 3-2 at Grays Athletic's Recreation Ground to finish 15th in English football's seventh tier, the Isthmian League Premier Division.

This was 31 years ago and in the years since the two clubs have experienced the most contrasting stories, with Oldham becoming the first ever Premier League club to drop down four tiers into non-league football in 2022, and Bromley reaching the English Football League for the first time in their 133-year history last year.

And, following Oldham's promotion from the National League last season, the two clubs will meet as EFL clubs on Saturday at Boundary Park for the first time.

Oldham's home defeat against Salford City that sealed their relegation in 2022 was interrupted by fan protests on the pitch at Boundary Park

Oldham have a storied history in professional football, joining the EFL as early as 1907 and finishing as Division One runners-up to Everton in 1914-15.

The Latics have reached three FA Cup semi-finals and in 1989-90 got to their first League Cup final under Joe Royle, where they were beaten 1-0 by Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

Altogether, the Greater Manchester club has spent 12 seasons in the top tier. But since their relegation from the Premier League in 1993-94, the club have not come close to returning.

Instead, their 116-year stay in the EFL was ended in relegation to the National League at the end of a 2021-22 season which concluded behind closed doors after fans stormed the pitch in protest against owner Abdallah Lemsagam.

Frank Rothwell has since taken over the club and after a three-year absence they're back in the EFL, securing their first promotion since 1990-91 by beating Southend United at Wembley in June.

But it was during their brief stint in the National League they were first introduced to Andy Woodman's Bromley.

'Bromley fans expect a good result'

Michael Cheek scored for Bromley during their penalty-shootout victory over Solihull Moors that secured promotion to League Two last year

Unlike Oldham, the vast majority of Bromley's long history has been spent playing in the lower echelons of English football - 132 of their 133 years in existence.

Their journey has taken them through local leagues including the Southern, Isthmian and Athenian, before rising up Conference South (now National League South), English football's sixth tier, for the first time in 2007.

The club were promoted to the National League eight years later in 2015, with Woodman taking over as manager in 2021.

Under the former Northampton Town and Brentford goalkeeper the Ravens have won the FA Trophy - beating Wrexham at Wembley in 2021-22 - and beat Solihull Moors on penalties in the National League promotion final under the arch in 2023-24.

Bromley finished their first season EFL 11th in League Two and go into Saturday's game fifth in the table and unbeaten from their opening seven games, which has given everyone associated with the club confidence about what they can achieve this season, says fan and reporter Machel St Patrick Hewitt.

"When I was a kid, Oldham were a top, top team. Boundary Park. Now I look at teams like Oldham and I'm like 'we're not losing to you'," he told BBC Sport.

"Everyone goes into that match expecting a result - not necessarily expecting to win but expecting not to lose."

Bromley are unbeaten in their four matches against Oldham

Bromley have faced Oldham just four times, during the two-season spell both clubs were in the National League, and have never lost to the Latics (two Bromley wins, two draws).

For Oldham fan and podcaster Matt Dean, going to Hayes Lane in September 2022 (a 3-0 win for Bromley) showed how far standards had slipped at his club.

"We needed to be emulating Bromley. We've slid so far and been underinvested for so long - they're the opposite," he said.

"They're the healthiest they've ever been and they've got everything right off the pitch so that they can deliver on the pitch, and you get this stark realisation of how broken your club's been.

"The fact the owners have been able to turn it around so quickly [since then], massive credit to them.

"It feels for the first time since we were relegated from the Premier League that we're going in the right direction."

Oldham a 'good test' - Woodman

Michael Mellon scored to secure Oldham's first win of the season in their last game, against Cambridge United

Bromley have won three and drawn four of their games so far, beating Barnet, Cheltenham and Harrogate.

Whereas Oldham have recorded just one win and have picked up just one point at home.

Going into the season, Hewitt believed Bromley had a chance of pushing for the play-offs but after seeing the way they have played so far he now believes this is a realistic goal for the club.

"Since Andy Woodman came to the club, Bromley have created a style of play that is so hard to beat. That whole ethos permeates through the club that you're going to have to play really well to beat Bromley - you can't just turn up against Bromley and expect to get three points," he said.

"Andy has succeeded in getting every single person on and off the pitch to buy into what he's doing."

Despite Bromley's strong start to the season and their unbeaten record against the Latics, Woodman is expecting a tough test at Boundary Park.

"They're a decent side. I don't think their start, results or their position is really reflective of how many chances they're creating and how well they're playing," he told BBC Radio London.

"So it's a really tough game for us, it's never easy going to Oldham, the atmosphere will be particularly good and it's a good test for us."

Bromley boss Andy Woodman was disappointed by a decision to give Gillingham a late penalty that cost his side two points last time out