Bromley FA Trophy match

[Reading Rebel]

12 hours ago, Curtis said:

I have had a quick look at the England Schoolboys U18 squad for 2018/9 (five years ago) to see where they are now.

Other than Sam Tickle who is the first choice goalkeeper at Wigan in League One, I can’t see any others currently in the Football League.

Adam Crowther seems to be doing well at Kings Lynn, Owen Windsor was at Chippenham last season & Chester this season, and Ross Johnstone has been a regular starter for San Diego University (NCAA Div 1 play-offs last two seasons).

All the others I found that appeared to still be playing were at Step4 or lower clubs.
 

https://schoolsfootball.org/international-squads/u18-boys-historical-performances/esfa-u18-schoolboys-historical-fixtures-results/season-18-19-u18-boys/

 

 

No surprise there Curtis.

Only a tiny % ever make a living in the game.

[Curtis]

20 hours ago, Scott Davies said:

Ollie is still in education so can’t be put on a contract.

So is that the difference between the England U18 Schoolboys & the England U18 team? 
 

The first being players in full time education and not on football club contracts & the latter being made up of players already on contracts at Premier League & Championship clubs?

Edited December 12, 2023 by Curtis

[Scott Davies]

26 minutes ago, Curtis said:

So is that the difference between the England U18 Schoolboys & the England U18 team? 
 

The first being players in full time education and not on football club contracts & the latter being made up of players already on contracts at Premier League & Championship clubs?

England schoolboys is exactly what it says on the tin. A squad that are made up of players in education across the country in sixth form schools/colleges.

England U18’s would be your players like Sancho, Foden, Hudson-Odoi a few years ago.

 

[sdelaney2308]

[sdelaney2308]

I am not a fan of my neighbours Chippenham but do hope they beat Bromley.

[Bernie Gogan]

On 10/12/2023 at 12:25, Holyport Rebel said:

Congratulations Bromley.
I thought nothing would alter one of my deeply held footballing beliefs, but yesterday you managed to do so.
I'd always thought that nothing could be worse as an away fan than to go to Concord Rangers on a wet, cold, windy Tuesday evening, but. all things considered, I'd truly rather go there again than to high-flying National League Bromley.
I don't claim to speak for other Rebels fans, but I thought yesterday was truly abysmal.
I was already unhappy with Bromley for charging their full National League prices for an early round Trophy match against lower league opposition only TWO WEEKS before Christmas.
All clubs are desperate for cash, but Slough have reduced entry prices for our upcoming midweek home match against Hemel,  which is a great gesture by the club to our fans.
( Take note Bromley, not everyone are greedy b******'s.)
Then we had the debacle of Bromley's ticketing website, which didn't even have away tickets available to buy for away fans until a day or two before the match. 
Slough fans who had bought the general admission ticket that was the only one available on their website for some considerable time, were  advised to contact Bromley to get this issued resolved, and when they did so received no reply from Bromley.
All this from a club flying high in the National League and hoping to progress into the Football League, and all this before we had even arrived at the ground on matchday.
When we got there, the car park the coach drove into was like a small scale reconstruction of The Somme.
Never heard of tarmac Bromley ?
Before being allowed in the one turnstile available  us fans had to endure a bodily search.
Then on entering the ground, we found ourselves dumped in what felt like to me a concrete prison exercise yard, with toilet facilities to match.
We even had what looked like three proper coppers by the corner flag near us watching us for.................?
Bromley promised me for a 22 quid entrance fee  " a wonderful view of the pitch".
I don't know about other Slough fans but my ticket should have had " RESTRICTED VIEW" printed boldly across it.
The away team's dugout in front of a home fans section was transparent, so home fans behind it could obviously see through it and see what was happening on the pitch.
The home team's dugout is near the away fans area, not transparent, so away fans obviously cannot see through it.  
Erika Roe could have been running up and down the wing in that half of the pitch all game and I would have been totally unaware of her charms.
Stuck out in the elements, I'm only grateful that we weren't subjected to a downpour.
I thought all clubs were obliged to offer away fans at least some cover ?
At least at Concord home fans endure the miserable facilities the same as the away fan's do, and that level of  misery is all Concord can really aspire to.
Bromley have what looked like a lovely new stand behind the goal, with I guess equally impressive clubhouse facilities and hospitality treats available to enjoy inside.
Not for us away fans though.
We weren't welcome that side of the ground.
It took me back to the 1980's, when every other weekend I'd follow United to away games in the old First Division.
Football fans as a whole were treated as scum back then, but especially so away fans.
That was the 80's, I expect more in the 2020's.
Not at Bromley it seems.
I couldn't wait to get back on the coach and head off home.
As for the game ?
I expected to lose but hoped we could surprise them, and feared the worst when they cut through us with ease in the very first minute to go one up.
We battled back very admirably, and if we had gone in level at half time Bromley could not have complained.
Second half there was only one team in it.
Us.
I felt we never got any breaks the whole game.
I would have taken massive pleasure if we had managed a late equaliser and beaten them on penalties, but it wasn't to be.
Would have been some recompense for the grotty way Bromley treat away fans.
All the above are my thoughts on what happened yesterday,
Other Rebel fans may think differently or have had different experiences to what I did.
It made me think that if this is what life would be like as an away fan in the National League, I think I'd happily give it a miss.
The last time I went to Bromley was in 1990, when we won the league with a winning goal in the last few minutes of the match.
33 years ago.
I'd be quite happy if it was another 33 years before I had to go to Bromley again.

 

   .   

Excellent post Kev, sums up exactly my experience too. 

[Irishadrian]

Amazingly Bromley offer a £60 executive ticket to all games you get entrance a seat a 2 course meal  ofor our game it was vegetable ragu or spaghetti bolognaise and cheese and biscuits!  I wonder how many they sell?

[Bernie Gogan]

Wonder what an Executive Ticket costs in the away section? 

Was thinking about other NL clubs I've visited over time and none of them are covered in glory for their accommodation of away support, but I think Bromley is probably the worst! I also don't recall being frisked anywhere else, but that maybe my memory letting me down. 

[Reading Rebel]

20 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

Amazingly Bromley offer a £60 executive ticket to all games you get entrance a seat a 2 course meal  ofor our game it was vegetable ragu or spaghetti bolognaise and cheese and biscuits!  I wonder how many they sell?

So around £35 for Bolognaise and Cheese & Biscuits?

They can stick that where the sun don't shine 😅