Bromley’s maiden voyage in the English Football League has been nothing short of extraordinary, with the Ravens soaring to an impressive 11th-place finish that defied all expectations. While they might not yet be dreaming of the play-offs or big days out at Wembley, there are all the foundations in place for a solid unit in the professional pyramid.
The London side, competing in the Football League for the first time in their 132-year history, have shown that the step up from non-league football isn’t always the insurmountable challenge many predict it to be.
Instead, Andy Woodman’s side finished a comfortable 22 points clear of relegation, remaining in play-off contention until the penultimate match of the season. And though they’ll be assessing the League 2 play off final odds from home, it’s a campaign that saw them avoid the National League and have a platform to try and establish themselves.
The foundation of this success has been their togetherness, resilience, and a striker whose journey to professional football is as remarkable as the club he represents.
At the heart of Bromley’s impressive debut season stands Michael Cheek, whose goalscoring exploits earned him the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season award. The 33-year-old forward netted an incredible 25 league goals, securing the division’s Golden Boot in his first-ever EFL campaign.
What makes Cheek’s achievement truly extraordinary is his unconventional path to professional football. Unlike many of his contemporaries who came through academy systems, Cheek only turned fully professional at 27 years old, having previously juggled football with various jobs including working in a call centre and even as a barista.
“I turned full-time when I went to Dagenham, about nine years ago now,” he said to Sky Sports. “I’ve done numerous jobs. I worked in a call centre when I turned full-time, and the day I could leave that job was one of the best days of my life.
“I went travelling to Australia when I was 18 for like a year, and I’ve been a barista making coffee. I’m just happy to be a footballer now!”
Cheek’s journey from making coffee — by his own admission, rather poorly — to becoming the EFL’s standout striker embodies the romance of lower-league football. For the sixth consecutive season, he finished as Bromley’s top scorer, just one behind George Brown’s club record of seven in a row.
His remarkable consistency in front of goal proved crucial as Bromley defied expectations, building a campaign that culminated in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cheltenham on the final day, with Cheek fittingly scoring twice.
Their remarkable campaign has shocked League Two odds at every turn, with many expecting them to struggle against more established opposition.
The league campaign wasn’t Bromley’s only adventure this season. Their FA Cup journey took them further than ever before, eventually facing Premier League Newcastle United at St James’ Park – the first time in their history they’d competed against top-flight opposition.
In a magical moment that epitomised their fearless approach, Bromley took a shock lead on Tyneside before eventually succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
As the Ravens look ahead to their second EFL campaign, questions inevitably arise about sustainability. Some loan players like Danny Imray will return to their parent clubs, and points may prove harder to come by as opponents become more familiar with their style.
However, if Woodman can maintain the core of his squad and continue building around the prolific Cheek, there’s every reason to believe this remarkable story has only just begun.