Not much to cheer on Bromley away day
Wembley route number one closes, but the season isn't over
Ah, Hayes Lane. One of the worst places to watch football as a visiting fan, a section which even home fans are embarrassed about. Now, this isn’t a case of sour grapes at all because we exited the FA Trophy one stage earlier than last year.
I’ve been here many time, mostly to watch Bromley’s soon to be ex-tenants Cray Wanderers, no segregation of course at Step 3 and the freedom to watch from wherever I want. Usually that’s close to the home dug-out, friends with Neil Smith and Tim O’Shea plus knowing a lot involved on that side I can have that little bit closer to the action involvement.
Now, I know that’s not possible at National League level. However, I would expect to see the entirety of the pitch from the terrace, or from anywhere within the ground. They missed a trick when laying down their 3G surface a few years ago to sink the dugouts, they must be close to offering restricted view tickets in the away end surely?
If you haven’t been to Bromley, it’s an experience and one I think you can do and never want to repeat. As mentioned the sightlines are the worst I’ve experienced and as you know I do a lot of games at a lot of levels. £22 they have the cheek to charge for an open terrace, the same price I get for a seat at The Hive and better facilities thrown in as well.
We might complain our matchday experience doesn’t always meet the basic level we expect, but Bromley FC, hold my beer…….
One turnstile open to filter through 400 travelling fans, operated still by a human being, home fans electronically admitted as per we offer to ALL at The Hive. The queues stretched down the car park at one point, a few actually missed the first goal as they couldn’t get in, great perparations.
Food, cheap enough, but ready prepared and bland, doubling up as the alcoholic station, a couple of parasols and a garden table with 6 chairs, so very welcoming.
And let’s get to the best part, the toilets. Basic human right, a 1% care rating from Bromley and that’s a little generous. I’ve attended our last three away fixtures there including Saturday, and the standard is lower than poor. Last season, no lights, no running water, really should have complained, but scoring 3 times in the last minute and seven added minute was me sticking two fingers up at them as justice.
Earlier this season, September, again no lights, dirty, plain disgusting. I did complain this time, direct to Bromley. One or two messages exchanged, then they clammed up, sums the hierarchy of the club up for me.
This year, still no lights, actually running water in the taps but no flushing toilets. Maybe it’s time to get Environmental Health involved? What I do know is and some of you probably saw a member of our high up witnessed what we had to contend with and will be requesting a complaint is registered with the National League from the club itself.
Home fans, away fans, neutrals, we’re all human being cut from the same cloth, so why do Bromley FC feel the need to treat visitors as second class citizens? I have a few Ravens supporting mates, they are incredibly embarrassed at what their club ‘offers’ in that part of the ground.
It does bring you to the question though of are we spoiled at The Hive? Maybe yes we are in a way, but that above is mere basics. I don’t expect to see The Hive replicated in ways when I visit other clubs, what I do expect is some common decency to prevail.
Anyway, onto the game. A tough one to take no doubt. Contrasting views and opinions all round, an hour and 20 minute drive home for me to reflect on as I made my way down the M25 and M23.
Frustrating, disappointing. Absolutely. I felt our form was slightly better than theirs currently, but they flew out the blocks, a defensive mistake and we found ourselves being Rochdale for the day.
I like reading back through the comments afterwards, just to gauge what the thoughts are, even when a day or two have passed. Not one mentioned the fact that Bromley might actually have been good on the day.
Now maybe that’s because I look at games differently, all games, even these ones Barnet my own club are involved in. Don’t get me wrong, every team is beatable in this division (hello Chesterfield FC), but you have to earn the right to beat that team.
Yes, we had more than a few who were off the boil, but stop and think for a minute Bromley stopped us getting on the stove and cooking. Take their midfield for example, they were very good at getting Gatlin O’Donkor isolated, they followed Callum Stead across the park not giving him an inch unlike Tuesday night.
We didn’t reach the levels; it’s said often enough you have to be on it every ninety minutes against sides or you simply don’t get anything. That said we didn’t look like scoring had we played another 30 or 90 minutes, it just wasn’t going to come.
Now that might sound a little simple, a whole load of excuses. I’m as frustrated as the next person one Wembley avenue closes, I think we are all aware now this season our strongest XI is minimum a match for everyone in this league, scratch underneath that and we have still quality, but it’s too inconsistent to get results at places like this.
Some have disappointed me not taking their chances. That’s your audition, there are no reserves, midweek friendlies or Under 23 games to stake a claim, it’s there in the now, take it or leave it and sadly most have left it.
Credit to Bromley, they wanted it, they got it, deserve that bit of respect. Both clubs have pushed each other for 2nd and 3rd respectively and the race isn’t done yet.
Whoever lost on Saturday afternoon the season isn’t over and a crucial 6 weeks still to come, our better players are returning at the perfect time and you pray they all navigate the next six weeks and finish up at Wembley, it ain’t over until the larger than life person sings…….
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Not able to comment on your observations as have never been to the ground and was not able to be there last Saturday. However would like to return to something you wrote about recently ie 3g pitches.
It would appear to me we had 2 may be 3 missing as they could not be risked playing and then possibly missing the rest of the season playing on an artificial turf. Not sure even at this level visiting teams should be subject to picking their teams based on the risk of injury before they even cross the white line. Understand the commercial benefits for the home team but still question playing on this type of pitch.