Bromley aiming to 'smash doors open' in first EFL season

Bromley beat Solihull Moors in the National League promotion final at Wembley to secure a place in the EFL for the first time in the club's history

"I don't want to be the person who feels like they've turned up to the party without an invite, we're going to smash the doors open and deserve to be there," says Bromley boss Andy Woodman.

Ten years ago Bromley were in English football's sixth tier. In less than seven weeks, Woodman will take his side to Harrogate Town for the club's first game in the Football League in their 132-year history.

And the former Northampton and Brentford goalkeeper is not simply hoping to keep the Ravens up, he is aiming to take the club to League One at the first attempt.

"Like every other team in the league, we're going to be striving to get a place in those play-offs," he told BBC Radio London.

"Why shouldn't we? We've got to set a target and try and hit the target. The target isn't going to be staying up, it's going to be trying to get into those play-offs and we're going to be no different.

"I know I'm good enough to be a league manager, and I will lead from the front. I'm probably going to get criticised for this, but I'm going to start acting like a League One manager because last year I acted like an EFL manager. It's going to be like, 'We're going to be up the top here fighting to get out of this league'."

Woodman was named Bromley boss in March 2021 and led the club to the National League play-offs.

They won the FA Trophy the next season, beating Wrexham 1-0 at Wembley.

'I hope everyone underestimates us again' - Webster

Byron Webster wore an EFL captain's armband for the whole of the National League season

Last season, the Lillywhites finished third in the National League with 81 points, qualifying them for the promotion semi-finals.

After coming from behind to beat Altrincham 3-1 they faced Solihull Moors in the promotion final at Wembley, twice being pegged back to take the tie to extra-time at 2-2 and all the way to penalties.

Captain Byron Webster stepped up to score the winning penalty wearing an EFL armband, just as he had done all season.

Ipswich Town and Wrexham have both achieved back-to-back promotions in the last two seasons and Webster believes his team can follow suit and propel themselves straight to the third tier.

"We want to get promoted again, and why shouldn't we?" the 37-year-old, who recently signed a new contract, said.

"You get a winning feeling and a buzz around the club and it's hard to beat.

"And I'm hoping that everyone underestimates us and we do what we know we can do as a club, and that's set our standards high and take everything as it comes."

'There will be bumps in the road' - Woodman

Andy Woodman led Bromley to an FA Trophy win in 2021-22 and promotion to League Two last season

Webster said he has overachieved throughout a career that has taken him as high as the Championship with Millwall.

And he holds the rest of the squad to the same principles.

"There's no time for passengers in football, there's so many footballers out there that want to be at Bromley and can't get here," he said.

"So if you're not on for the ride with us guys and you're not going to set your standards high, then I certainly won't be shy to tell the lads and I know the gaffer won't either."

Bromley will play AFC Wimbledon in their first home match in front of their fans at Hayes Lane, with a new grass pitch, before taking on former Premier League side Bradford City in their third game of the season.

"It should be a carnival atmosphere [against Wimbledon]. It's not too far away, the grass pitch, the buzz of us being in the Football League, it should be a fantastic day," Webster added.

First, they face Harrogate as they aim to get off to a winning start.

"That's a big game and we're going to have a lot of these moments this season where we're going to be walking into a new stadium as a club and as a group of players and we're going to look forward to all of these games, enjoy it and not get too over-awed by it," boss Woodman added.

"That's not to say we're going to blow the league apart and win it, we're gonna have a really good go and there's going to be bumps in the road, we know that."