Accrington Web - 2024/25 Prediction League Game 19 v Bromley Ravens FC (home)

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Bromley FC

2024/25 Prediction League Game 19 v The Ravens (home)

Starter for Ten, then; every era, and nigh on every team, has or has had its “hard men” …. You know well enough who they are …….. but it’s not a new phenomenon, it seems ….. One such was Frank Barson, of Barnsley, Aston Villa, Man Utd and England (once – a 2-1 defeat to Wales) ……. If you read him up, he’s variously called a hard man or a thug (it’s a good thing you can’t defame the dead!) ………… career highlights include, apparently, often needing a Police escort away from angry opposing fans, several lengthy suspensions, scoring a headed goal from 35 yards in his first game as Villa’s captain, counting among his friends “the notorious Fowler Brothers", who were both hanged for murder, and being gifted a pub in Manchester for helping Man United to win promotion in season 1924/25 – which pub he promptly gave away, on its opening night, to his head waiter, before wandering off to sign for Watford …..

But one story in particular catches the eye; during some contract negotiations he is alleged to have taken an unusual item to the meeting ……… but what was it?

Bromley play their matches at Hayes Lane, are managed by Andy Woodman, and have three team strips, being white with black bits, black with white bits, and dogsh1t brown. Formed in 1892, they were founder members of the Southern League in 1894, before becoming founder members of the London League in 1896. After winning the Division Two title, they spent one season in the Kent League before, in 1907, they became founder members of the Spartan League and won the division title, before joining the Isthmian League. They won the Isthmian League in 1908–09 and 1909–10 as well as the FA Amateur Cup in 1910–11, then joined the Athenian League in 1919, which they won in 1922–23, 1948–49 and 1950–51. In this period, they also won the FA Amateur Cup in 1937–38 and 1948–49.

They joined the Isthmian League again in 1952–53. After several promotions and relegations between Division One and Two of the Isthmian League in the second half of the 20th century, they joined the Bananarama South in 2007–08, winning the title in 2014–15 to earn promotion to the Banarama Proper. After two unsuccessful play-off attempts, as well as winning the FA Trophy in 2021–22, they won the National League play-offs in 2023–24, beating Solihull No-Moors 4-3 on pens after a Desmond, to reach the English Football League for the first time in their history.

They released eight of that squad – including a Bergkamp – although none of the eight stayed in the EFL; they signed six, including CB Omar Sowunmi from Sutton, PNE’s CMF Lewis Leigh, and Lincoln’s Scottish-born GK Sam Long ……. Five loans of League players (CB Kamari Grant from Millwall, Palace’s RB Danny Imray, CMF and CF pairing Cameron Congreve and Josh Thomas from Swansea, and Stevenage CMF Ben Thompson – no, not the news reader ……….

Currently they’re 19th – one place and two points above us – with 4 wins, 8 draws and 5 defeats, plus a -1 GD ……. Away, won 2, drawn four and lost two, with 8 goals scored and eight conceded ………….. they haven’t lost in six in the League, and their wins have been at home to the Wombles (2-0) and to Gillingham (2-1), and away by 2-0 at Harrogate and 1-0 at Donnie …………. Still in the FA Cup (at The Toon Army) but out of the EFL Cup and of the Trophy ………….. Leading scorer, who needs watching carefully, and a pair of concrete boots, is Michael Cheek (10 for the season so far)

Deadline for entries (unless the Good Lord decides to drown us all or blow us off the cliffs (or out of Hotel Windows) in the next 48 hours is Saturday 7th December (tomorrow) at 3.00pm. Unless the world ends first …………….. and, for those interested, Frank Barson is said to have attended his contract negotiations armed with a shotgun ……………….

Good luck to everyone! ………… Keep the Faith! …………. And Thanks for playing!

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