With the busy schedule of festive League Two fixtures over with, Bromley can now concentrate on their historic FA Cup Third Round trip to Premier League high flyers Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
The Ravens have never reached the third round of the competition before and their efforts have been rewarded with a lucrative trip to one of the biggest club’s in the country.
Andy Woodman’s side have been drawn away in each round so far, winning 4-3 at Rochdale and 2-1 at Solihull Moors to secure their place among the teams from the top two tiers in the English football pyramid.
When asked after the win at Solihull which team he would most like to draw in the next round, Woodman said Newcastle Utd, having worked there as a goalkeeping coach previously and also seen his son Freddie play for them.
Bromley currently sit in twelfth place in League Two with 34 points from 24 league games, last Sunday they suffered their first defeat since October, losing 4-1 away at Crewe Alexandra. Michael Cheek scored his thirteenth goal of the season in the match, which unfortunately also saw defender Kamarl Grant sent off for two yellow cards.
Newcastle go into the game on a strong run of form, winning their last seven games in a row. Last weekend saw a 2-1 away win at Tottenham Hotspur in the league and as well as being fifth in the Premier League, Eddie Howe’s side are also competing in the semi final of the League Cup, where they played Arsenal away in the first leg on Tuesday night winning 2-0 with goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. Isak has also netted 13 so far this campaign.
Howe may take this FA Cup tie as an opportunity to rest a few players and give other squad members game time, but with no European football for his side this season, the manager may want to take every opportunity to pick up the club’s first major trophy since 1969.
Whatever team The Magpies put out, they will be formidable opposition for Bromley to face, in front of a massive crowd at a huge stadium, giving the fans and some of the players an incredible experience of football at a higher level.
Bromley fans will be making the journey north in numbers via road & rail, with the club also laying on free coach travel.
The match kicks off at 3pm and is being shown live on the BBC i Player.