Almost twenty four hours after the final whistle and it’s still feels all a bit surreal.

Having followed Bromley for over 45 years, seeing them lift the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium was just incredible. When you invest your heart and soul into your football club you don’t expect anything back, you just hope, and yesterday we got everything we’d hoped for and more. 

I’d had a chat with my cousin Mike in the week and thinking back to the 70’s & 80’s when we first started going to Hayes Lane as kids, the two things we wanted to see was Bromley getting into the Alliance Premier (now National League) and winning the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Amazingly, in our 50s, we’ve now been lucky enough to witness both. The joy of lifting the trophy yesterday made even sweeter by the pain of losing the final on penalties back in 2018. 

Going into the final with Wrexham I felt confident we’d give a good account of ourselves, it suited us that we were not favourites and the pressure was all on The Red Dragons, Hollywood star owners and all.

They’d lost in their last final appearance to a Conference North side and had just missed out on automatic promotion to the Football League this season. They outnumbered us in supporters by two to one, but that brings pressure and expectation in itself. 

When my wife Emma asked me what I thought would happen on our journey to the game, I said, We’ll either get stuffed or if we win, it will be 1-0 and we’ll score around the hour mark.’ I really should put bets on!      

Manager Andy Woodman got it spot on tactically, he set the team up just right, made the big calls and changed the game with his substitutions. The big game players stepped up to the mark in the big game. Byron Webster was immense at centre back and gave a captain’s performance, his fellow centre backs Chris Bush and Omar Sowunmi were also superb, and when Omar had to be carried off just before half time, Joe Partington came on and did exactly the same, slotting in seamlessly.

Liam Trotter came on when Billy Bingham had run himself into the ground to keep the midfield secure and with Michael Cheek out on his feet, Mason Bloomfield came on with the pace and strength and knowledge to lead the line and keep the Wrexham defence on its’ toes. Bromley didn’t stop and Wrexham were unable to get the better of them.  

The goal itself was beautiful, Corey Whitely receiving it down the right and cutting into the box, as two defenders came to close him down and the keeper stepped forward he did the most unselfish but brilliant thing, cutting the ball back across to Michael Cheek who had timed his run like the twenty goal a year striker he is and coolly side footed the ball high into the top right hand corner from twelve yards out.

As the net bulged, it was greeted with an explosion of noise from behind the goal, unbridled joy, Bromley fans lost in the moment of absolute football celebration. My son Mikey was standing at the end of steps, heading to get a drink and got the best view possible. It all happened right in front of him, I could see from where we were all standing, him jumping up and down arms pumping. A moment that means everything.               

Late on with Bromley sitting deeper and deeper, like Bromley always do, Wrexham finally fashioned some chances, then tension was awful. They hit the side netting, then Ellery Balcombe made one of the most incredible saves seen at Wembley stadium, somehow clawing Jake Hyde’s header from behind him up and over the bar.

Everyone around me thought it was in, he then made another great stop low down to his left and when Hyde tucked the rebound away the Linesman raised his flag to signal for offside. There would be no last second heartbreak this time. 

The final whistled signalled a roar of celebration and relief from the 12,500 plus Bromley fans in one quarter of the stadium, I’m not ashamed to say I had a tear or two in my eyes. My son and his friends jumping, cheering and laughing, my wife and her parents there to celebrate with me and my friends. Especially Brendan who started going regularly this season and was cursing me during the last ten minutes of the match for ever getting him into it and making him feel like this, just smiling.  

I looked over to my left and two sections away were people I had known for decades, who been through the tick and very thin, celebrating this very special moment. It was brilliant to see, every one of them deserved this moment.  

On the coach journey home my phone was buzzing with congratulations and good wishes, they were all greatly appreciated. I took a little time to reflect on the day and also on those who were not there. Jerry Dolke the man who saved the club from oblivion in 2001 and stepped away from BFC earlier this year and on a personal note a couple of good friends and my Dad. The man who took me to my first ever game back in 1977, a constant football companion over the years, but wasn’t able to make the game and was watching at home.        

Then there were those no longer with us and were hopefully looking down loving this, among many good people we’ve lost I remembered our friend Chris Small and of course Dave Roberts, The Bromley Boy himself who did so much to lift the club’s profile and is part of its’ very fabric.    

Catching up with my friend Mash post match we both reflected that Bromley have now done everything we’ve ever wanted them to, I’m not bothered about the Football League, we are at the top of our level of football, FA Trophy holders and I like it…