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Chapter 86: Pre-season means nothing, nothing

The final three pre-season games gave Basil proverbial food for thought. Thoughts of where he saw his team ahead of the big kick off on 7 August against Stevenage. And by the end of July, Basil knew that the squad was good enough to achieve its objective from Jerry but should they achieve Basil's personal one then they would need upgrading.

Game number four of the schedule would be a midweek visit from Premier League Crystal Palace. The game had attracted so much attention locally that the sold out signs were up at Hayes Lane. A capacity crowd of 5000 were in residence with half of them bedecked in the red and blue of the visitors, and Eagles chief Rafael Benitez didn't disappoint with his team. Whilst there was good sprinkling of young promising talents on show, established pros such as Patrick Van Aanholt, Oriol Romeu, James McCarthy, James McArthur and Connor Wickham supplemented them.

Predictably Palace dominated the game and three goals in an eight minute spell put them in control and swat away any chances of Bromley recording a famous triumph. The opener came on the half hour when left winger Sean Robertson bulleted home a far post header from a Jude Russell cross. Robertson turned provider in the 36th minute, crossing for Wickham to guide home in a header of his own. Then two minutes after that, it became 3-0 to the away side when Van Aanholt's inswinging free kick was met by yet another header from Robertson. The scoring was complete three minutes after half time with an unerring finish from just inside the box by McArthur that gave Mark Cousins no chance in the home goal.

So with that game in mind, Basil studied the game tape like a student revising for an all important exam. Whatever he dissected from it, the team could take any positives from it and use them hopefully in the final home friendly on the Saturday afternoon against Lincoln City. However, before that game, Bromley would release their squad numbers for the season ahead and unsurprisingly enough there were a few changes. The main changes were as follows:

Ryan HUDDART, change from 23 to 1. Mark COUSINS who wore 1 last season, now wears 13.
Jordan LAWRENCE-GABRIEL, change from 13 to 2.
Billy BINGHAM, change from 10 to 8.
Michael CHEEK, change from 12 to 10.
Harrison HOLGATE, change from 34 to 14.

Of the principal new signings, Blair Malcolm was allocated 3 and Joey Jones 5. Ruben Sammut has been handed shirt number 16.

The final home friendly against Lincoln saw Bromley share the spoils on a 1-1 draw with both the goals coming in the final two minutes. In fact it was Malcolm, playing in central midfield, who gave Bromley the lead when he cut inside to blast in a long range effort that gave Imps substitute keeper Charlie Andrew no chance whatsoever. Then as we entered the last minute of time added on, Lincoln levelled matters when Matt Rush gave the ball away in the centre circle. Mark Harris sped forwards before releasing Alex Jakubiak who finished into the exposed empty net. Earlier in the game Lincoln had had the ball in the net six minutes before half time through Dan Scarr but it had been disallowed for an infringement by Rollin Meyanese in front of the home keeper.

Chapter 85: Cards on the table

The big pre-season friendly was just 24 hours away when Premier League Crystal Palace would make the short journey to Hayes Lane. Nobody knew what sort of side that Palace Head Coach Rafael Benitez would name. Would it be a full strength side; or would it be a team of youngsters? Or would it be a mix of everything? Palace had recently come back from a three game tour of the Netherlands, and this would be their fourth friendly (similar to Bromley) but with their own prestigious home friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt on the Saturday at Selhurst...nobody had a scooby! It would be a case of wait and see.

With preparation going rather well, save for the absences for Ruben Sammut and Vadaine Oliver, Basil called in assistant manager Jon McCarthy and club captain Billy Bingham to his office for a wee leadership group chat after training. The guys sat down, and Basil spelled out his thoughts. McCarthy and Bingham looked on intently.

"Thanks for popping in lads."
"No problem gaffer. What's a matter?" Billy Bingham replied.
"Something amiss?" Jon McCarthy added.
"No, nothing wrong lads. Just thought I'd tell you both of my plans for the season ahead."
"OK, fair play." Bingham said.

The tension was palpable.

"Right lads, as you know I've told the team we're aiming for a mid-table finish as per the expectations from those above."
"Yeah, seems realistic that." the guys responded.
"Well, I've not made this clear to anyone else but you two. I want promotion."
"Wow!" Bingham reacted with surprise.
"It's the final year of my contract here, and I want to see it end with promotion. Nothing less."
"Aren't you going to sign a new deal?"
"Between us, no. Unless we get promoted. If we don't, I'm away."
"Rightttt."
"This club deserves a shot of the Football League, especially for players like you Bings and Cheeky (Michael Cheek). It's promotion or bust guys for me."
"Fair do. When will you walk, that's if you do." McCarthy asked.
"When it's beyond reaching that objective, so any time. Not a word to anyone mind, I'm entrusting you with this."
"Sure. Guess you have your plans and ideals?"
"I do. Now let's get those final preps for Palace complete. They're expecting a 5000 sell out for the game."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Jerry told me before training this morning. Let's give them something to be very happy about it. That concludes the meeting."

With that Bingham rose from his chair and left the room. McCarthy sat there as Basil dug a couple of pens from his desk drawer and prepared to outline his Palace thoughts on the tactics board. Game prep time.

Chapter 84: Not exactly what the doctor ordered

After completing the loan signing of Eoin Teggart, Basil's attentions switched to prepping the team ready for the first home friendly of the new season. Once more the team management on the day would be under the auspices of Jon McCarthy with Basil sat in the stands making notes on what was impressing him and what was annoying him.

That second friendly proved to be pretty forgettable for Basil and Bromley. The positive was that they didn't lose the game but there was more than negative to irk the boss' unhappiness. Bromley managed just a single shot in the ninety minutes, and even that was off target without troubling the Mansfield goalkeeper. Then if that wasn't annoying enough, new signing Ruben Sammut hobbled off with twenty minutes left. The diagnosis? A groin strain that would sideline the Maltese internationalist for 4-5 weeks. That was basically his pre-season finished with whether Basil liked it or not. The challenge was to try and get him fit enough for the opening game of the season against Stevenage on the first Saturday in August.

Then it just got that bit worse 48 hours before the second home friendly, this time parent club Gillingham would be in opposition. The latest addition to Sean Wickenden's treatment room would be the man that Basil saw as the perfect foil to the poacher that is Michael Cheek; Vadaine Oliver. The target man twisted his ankle in the final few minutes of the morning training session, and the manager knew immediately that the big fella was in trouble. Wickenden confirmed the gaffer's fears, another one with a 4-5 week absence and no more pre-season.

The performance against Gillingham was far better as Basil saw Bromley show their battling qualities to come from behind and eventually shake hands on 3-3 draw. Back from his injury, skipper Billy Bingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he smashed a volley in from the edge of the penalty area giving Jack Bonham in the Gills goal no chance at all. The lead lasted just six minutes though as left winger Gevaro Nepomuceno levelled for the League One visitors. The Gills then appeared to take control of the friendly with two goals either side of half time from central defender Connor Ogilvie and striker Benny Ashley-Seal.

But inspired by their talismanic goalscorer Cheek, Bromley showed their quality and in the end were unlucky not to take the win. In the 55th minute Cheek scored his first of the game with a thumping finish from a Ben Allen cross. Then four minutes after that strike, Cheek scored his second to tie up the game. A teasing ball forward from Mohammed Sangaré saw Cheek loop a header over Bonham and trickle into the vacant net.

Next up, the glamour home friendly against Rafa Benitez's Crystal Palace. All Basil was wanting two things: a decent performance from the team and most importantly NO MORE INJURIES!

Chapter 83: That's all folks!

Having brought in four newcomers to Bromley since the transfer dealings came into earnest, Basil was keen to add more and more so he had more competition for places in his squad. "If I can have two players for each position then that creates decisions and decisions are needed to make the dream work." Basil said to himself as he flipped over his desk calendar to read Thursday 1 July 2021. The team were in their fourth day of pre-season training with the first friendly just a matter of 48 hours away.

Joining that group for the first time as a permanent Bromley player was central defender Joey Jones whose signing from Salford City was now complete. Thus it came as no surprise to many in the squad to see the Northern Irishman line up in the training games alongside Harrison Holgate since the two had developed a good understanding on that unbeaten run. But with a bit of wriggle room available, the signing of Jones was not to be the only signing made by Brush in July. That was a given.

The opening friendly came around on that first Saturday. Basil had decided for all friendlies, he wanted a watching brief and to place the team control duties to assistant manager Jon McCarthy. So when that first friendly kicked off on King George's Field in Tolworth, the home of Corinthian Casuals, Basil sat in the main stand with notepad in hand. The game was hardly a classic though bar the incessant signing for 90 minutes non-stop by the 217 away fans in a crowd of 312. They left with something to cheer too thanks to skipper Billy Bingham. Bingham scored the only goal of the contest, a thumping 30 yarder that rocketed into the roof of the net after TQ Addy had set him up.

A sixth new face had come in the day before as Brush once again raided a Scottish team. Arriving at Bromley was 24 year old left back Blair Malcolm. Malcolm had joined on a season long loan from Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship. He would fill the void created by Ryan Galvin's return to Hillsborough, and a huge plus was that he could also fill in at central midfield should the need arise. That came in useful soon as Brush would experience a blow to his pre-season plans when Bingham twisted his knee innocuously in training, resulting in a week on the sidelines. Yet as the skipper limped away from training, Brush was welcoming his seventh newcomer to Hayes Lane in the shape of central defender Joe Gubbins who had been released by QPR.

Still Basil was not done yet with his transfer dealings as the days ticked towards that first home friendly against Mansfield Town. Another central defender would arrive 48 hours before the game, Harry Ransom making the short trip from The New Den to Hayes Lane with a season long loan from Millwall. The 21 year old would add more competition to those two places in the heart of the Bromley defence. Then he brought in his ninth new face of what had been a whirlwind transfer month, Portsmouth's Northern Irish academy winger Eoin Teggart also joined on a season long loan deal. Ballynahinch born Teggart, 19, had been part of the Pompey Under 23 side last season and again would fill another void: this time the one left by Jack Diamond's return to Sunderland.

Teggart's signing would be the last one for now. If any more new faces were to come in, then someone would have to leave the Club to allow that to happen. There was no money left on the wage bill now. Well you can't get someone for a wage contribution of £2 unless the loaning out club would pay for the wages and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

Chapter 82: Building blocks

Since arriving back from Cancun, Basil had been hard at work. He was sometimes doing 14-16 hour days, 7 days a week, in his pursuit for preparing for the new season ahead. Since he had nobody to cosy up to at home, he saw nothing wrong with what he was doing. That said, he was always straight to bed as soon as he walked through the door.

Pleased to have gotten Joey Jones on board again, this time on a permanent deal rather than a loan, Basil anxiously awaited news of the rest of his bids. It was the middle of June when he got the first piece of good news and it marked the signing of not just one but THREE players in the space of 24 manic hours! First to arrive was central defender Chris McQueen. Although not tall, McQueen had the ability to become a potential sweeper should Basil decide to with a back three as opposed to a back four which he conventionally adopted. It gave the manager options.

The following saw a couple of new faces arrive at Hayes Lane. First to sign on the dotted was a former reserve team colleague of the afore mentioned McQueen, midfielder Scott Cusick. Both Scots were under 20 years of age, which fitted in with the philosophy that both Basil and Jerry had. Cusick was soon joined by Dylan Duncan, yet another midfielder. With these signings especially, Basil felt he had filled the void that was going to be left by the end of Faysal Bettache's loan from QPR. That said, Bettache had just signed a new two year contract with the West London outfit but Basil would be keeping a close eye on the Algerian's progress in case he became available for either a long or short term loan contract.

There was more transfer news to follow the day after too. However, this time it proved to be a snub rather good news. Snubbing Basil and Bromley was Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationalist Armstrong Oko-Flex who had turned down the chance to move back down South and instead deciding stay in Scotland. Oko-Flex, seen by Basil as the answer to his winger dilemma, chose to move to Motherwell who immediately put him in their reserves and on the loan list. So much for progression, eh? Basil brushed off the snub in typical Basil style: "What will be, will be." he muttered to himself when the rejection news came through.

Then followed a rare period where nothing really much happened apart from the entire backroom staff pledging their support for another campaign. At least I don't have to fill those positions Basil said to himself, it just smacked of continuity and stability which for any manager was important at whatever level they were at. Basil's fifth signing of pre-season wasn't too far away though, as Ruben Sammut finally agreed terms to end a protracted transfer saga but Bromley having to pay a nominal fee and gain international clearance for the 20 times capped Maltese internationalist. With three midfielders bagged, Basil was sure he now had more than enough depth in that area of the pitch. All that remained from his "shopping list" was a new left back since he deemed Anthony Wise still raw and green, maybe a back up central defender and a left winger.

The date of 25 June was to prove significant on the planner as that was the date the Vanarama National League released the fixtures for the new season, and Bromley themselves announced their pre-season schedule. As regards the league, the computer handed Basil and his charges a home opener with Stevenage coming to Hayes Lane. In the dugout for the 'Boro would be former Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes, who had been sacked by Scunthorpe United after just less than nine months in the role. The first away game would be three days later and a trip North to Mill Farm to face AFC Fylde who inflicted a 5-3 loss on Bromley before that incredible sequence of win after win began.

Boxing Day would see Bromley be on their travels, a 240 mile round trip to Yeovil. As the season begins with a home game, naturally it ends with one too as Harrogate Town come to Hayes Lane. Maybe champagne corks will be a popping? That was the hope but Basil wasn't getting too carried away with it all. As soon as those fixtures were announced, the pre-season schedule was next. Six games were diarised with a trip to Kingstonian starting proceedings on the first Saturday in July. Four home fixtures were next with Mansfield first, and Lincoln last but sandwiching those were games against Bromley's senior affiliate clubs: Crystal Palace and Gillingham. The schedule would end with a trip to Bedfordshire and Dunstable Town who had George Best playing for them in the latter stages of his career back in the seventies.

The players returned back to training three days later, including the players that Basil had marked for release. Whilst each of them put in good shifts, Basil was not about to change his mind and as the calendar ticked over into July: no less than ten players left Bromley to seek pastures new elsewhere. Obviously Basil was hoping that none of them would come back to haunt him and Bromley this forthcoming season but this was the cut and thrust of football management. There was no room for sentiment as far as Basil was concerned. As he looked on with a watching brief, Basil looked at the figures. Bromley were almost £3,000 under Jerry's wage budget for the season.

Plenty of scope for a few more new arrivals then? Why not. Let's get back to work and root out some freebies, Basil said to himself as he retreated back to his office.

Chapter 81: Back to work

That holiday in Cancun was just what Basil needed, a break away from it all. Switch off the rat race and football business for a while, and soak up those rays. Except for a couple of days, it poured with rain constantly. There was only one possible solution when that happened, yeah sit at the bar and drink beer. What else could you do?

The female talent was also impressive to Basil. However, none were interested even when Basil told them he was a football manager. Basil reckoned as soon as he mentioned Bromley and not Manchester United, that was it. Who the heck are Bromley was the usual riposte although not in so many polite words. Still maybe the one would come along eventually, right?

Basil arrived back in the UK, bronzed and tanned and then back to work. It was time to plan for the 2021-22 season with Bromley, and although Jerry wanted another mid-table finish: Basil wanted to be promoted. His Bromley contract up was up at the end of the season, and depending where Bromley finished would make Basil's decision. Promotion, he would sign a new deal without hesitation but not and Basil would be weighing up options elsewhere. After all, it was definitely a "Have Coaching Badges, Will Travel" scenario for the Bromley gaffer. A club such as Bromley weren't massive, after all the stadium only held 5000 so you could only take them as far as you could. That's why he left Werribee.

On his first day back, Basil was greeted with some good news. Michael Cheek, who else, had won yet more awards. The striker who had bagged 31 goals in 2020-21, had only nabbed both the Vanarama National League's Golden Boot (his nearest rivals was 12 goals adrift) and the Player of the Year. Basil texted Cheek his congratulations, and the striker acknowledged back from his family break in Cyprus. Happy days all around, eh? Then it was down to squad planning. Although he had told Bush, Simpson and Chambers he wasn't renewing their respective deals, Basil officially let go of both Jordan Higgs and Jack Holland with immediate effect.

First to arrive, the re-signing of young winger Ben Allen on a 12 month deal. The former Gillingham youngster had shown glimpses of form under Brush, and the manager was keen to see what he could do further. The kid would either make it or not. Then as Basil started to go to work in his player search, it became apparent that Joey Jones wasn't going to be kept on by Salford and the manager's ears start to prick up in excitement. He picked up the phone eagerly.

"Jonesy, Jonesy."
"Alright Gaffer, can you make this quick? I've got to run to the gate for me flight to Tenerife."
"Yeah sure. Little bird tells me Salford aren't offering you a new contract."
"Umm.."
"How about you join us here at Bromley permanently? £1200 a week, two year contract."
"Sounds good, I'll let you know in a few days if I want to accept it."
"Sure, enjoy your holiday Jonesy."

That was one deal in the pipeline sorted, and it wasn't to be the last. Basil noticed that Celtic had released ten players at the end of the season. The biggest name of them all was Scott Brown, but as much as he would love to sign such an illustrious player for Bromley, Basil knew the signing of "Broony" was a simple no-goer. No way would "Broony" drop into the National League, and anyway the wages would be astronomical. Jerry certainly would probably collapse at the demands.

He looked again at the list. There was some young talent available, maybe some of them could be tempted. He made offers for Armstrong Oko-Flex, a winger that had eight caps for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side, and central midfielder Mark Hill. Both players were wanting more than Basil was willing to pay and that ended those interests there and then. Maybe once the wage budget had been adjusted after the impending departures then Brush might decide to go back in for each providing they were still available.

Two more names perked Basil's interest, teenage centre half Chris McQueen and midfielder Scott Cusick. The lads would fit into Basil's philosophy of attracting youngsters to make them first teamers and the wages wanted were bargain basement, each wanted less than £300 a week. Ruben Sammut, whom Basil had tried to bring in on deadline day, was still available but Sutton United were also interested. Basil faxed a deal to the players agent. and tapped his fingers together in hope. That first day back had been rather hectic.

It didn't stop there. The following day, another free agent's name cropped up. Dylan Duncan had been released by QPR and would add more quality to the midfield. Prior to joining QPR, Duncan had spent six seasons in the Tottenham academy system which further illustrated his potential. Brush offered him a no contract deal; with the hope that if he impressed enough in pre-season then it would lead to a permanent one. As soon as that had been done, Basil was advised that an audacious season long loan for Celtic's Barry Hepburn had failed as the Bhoys weren't keen to release him. Still he remained on the Bromley's boss radar.

Suddenly, Basil's mobile bleeped. It was a message from Joey Jones, the centre half had said yes. He had got the man he wanted, his first choice defensive target. The Salford defender would join Bromley permanently on 1 July 2021 on the expiry of his deal at the 'Ammies. Basil screeched in delight so loud that his PA came into his office all a flap and concerned.

17 days to go to the start of pre-season. Still time to wheel and deal more, oh the joys of being a football manager eh?

Chapter 80: Picking up the pieces

When Hartlepool United's Brad Young sprung to his right to deny Luke Coulson, it was the end of the road for the 2020-21 season for Bromley. Basil had taken them from relegation candidates to within touching distance of making League Two for the first time ever and all done in six months. It had been a remarkable turn around in fortunes for the side, and Basil felt justified that he had made the right choice in swapping the warm climes of Melbourne for wet nights in Morecambe.

As Hartlepool skipper Michael Raynes lifted the National League Play-Off Final trophy high, surrounded by jubilant team-mates, Basil and his squad watched on from the centre circle. They had been that close. Tears flowed down the former Werribee manager's cheeks, it was heartbreaking. But as he applauded the 12000 or so Bromley supporters, Basil knew that this was not the end.

Jerry put a comforting arm around Basil's despondent shoulders. He was proud of his manager.

"Basil, please don't feel like a failure. You have done wonders for us in that short space of time."
"Have I? I really wanted promotion Jerry, I wanted it so much."
"I know you did, you exceeded what I asked from you when I appointed you last December. We go again next season."
"We do?"
"We do. And like last season, I'll be more than happy if you get us into a mid-table finish. Anything higher will be a bonus."
"OK Jerry. Appreciate it."

That night, the team and staff set in the hotel bar for one last night together. The following morning, the players would be on holiday mode but for Basil there was no respite for a few more days before he jetted out to Cancun for that break. There was some decisions to make, some harsh decisions.

Jerry had set next season's wage budget at a shade under £27,000 a week. Five players were still at the Club on non-contract terms, and out of those five only Ben Allen had impressed Basil of sorts so the manager drafted up a new one year deal worth £475 a week for the winger. The rest could depart. Basil then looked at the players out of contract in the summer, three of them (Chris Bush, Robbie Simpson and Michael Chambers) were on a shade over £2,000 a week between them. More savings there. Simpson had already announced he was to retire from playing but Brush saw no value in keeping Bush and Chambers. Of the others, it was up to them with fourth choice keeper Liam Towner also being set for release.

Then it was time to assess the loanees, all five of them. They were costing Bromley £3,000 a week in wages as all had been signed with Bromley taking on the players wages. Whilst each had done Bromley a huge favour, Basil knew he wouldn't want to retain them all for the new season. Of the five, he would like to have Joey Jones back but was undecided over Faysal Bettache, Ryan Galvin and Jack Diamond whilst Henry Woods just had not featured. Jones had been that rock at centre half that the squad needed, a presence in both boxes so if a deal could be struck with Salford then that would be one target for sure. The three that Basil wasn't sure over had played alright but not brilliantly. Bettache had a good central midfield partnership with Billy Bingham but flitted in and out of games as did Galvin and Diamond hence the uncertainty.

Basil ran the ideas past Jon McCarthy, his trusted assistant. McCarthy was in agreement. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, and a rebuild was to be done. The new season would see new faces, but first that holiday in Cancun and a chance to unwind those body batteries.

Chapter 79: Achy Breaky Hart-lepool!

Basil and the team met up on the Friday morning for the normal training session ahead of the Play-Off Final. The injured players trained as normal with no setbacks which meant there was a fully fit squad for Basil to name his final sixteen from. The problem was which players to name and which players to leave out. As Basil retired to bed on the Friday night, he lay in the king size bed with his eyes skyward to the ceiling. He tossed and he turned, he couldn't sleep at all.

Basil sat up in bed and pulled a notepad from the side table. He grabbed a pen and started scribbling formations and names to them. A couple of hours later, Basil was surrounded by reams and reams of plans and plans. But nothing concrete. The following morning, the team were taken to do their final training sessions in Regents Park where Basil and his coaching team put them through their paces. After the session was complete, the players formed a circle waiting for the news that some were dreading. Sixteen names were read out by Basil, one by one. The heads were bowed low with intent, nobody was showing too much emotion.

After the sixteenth name was read, Basil then apologised to those whose names were not stated but assured them that this was the most difficult decision he had ever made as a football manager. Now he knew what it was like for people like his mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson, in all those Cup Finals he was in with Aberdeen and Manchester United. You couldn't please everyone and play them, sometimes you had to be ruthless and cut players from your squad for big games, and Sunday was the biggest game of Bromley's history so far no question. The only problem was, could the sixteen get the result needed?

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS, FINAL: Bromley 3 - 3 Hartlepool United (1 - 2)
After Extra Time: Hartlepool United win 4 - 2 on penalties.

An absolute classic, the fans were saying at the end as they departed Wembley Stadium on a dry but breezy Sunday afternoon. Bromley had won 17 games straight, including a 4-1 win against their opponents just six weeks previously, but their dreams of making the Football League for the first time ever were dashed in the lottery that is a penalty shootout. For Hartlepool United, it is a return back after four seasons away.

Bromley manager Basil Brush named a 4-5-1 formation like he had done so for that 4-1 win but with a slight tweak, the extra midfielder was placed as a holding midfielder in front of the back four instead of being a central midfielder. The starting line up showed two changes from the side that defeated Sutton United in the semi-final. Luke Coulson was deemed not fit enough to start so Sunderland loanee Jack Diamond came in for him in a direct change. The other change saw Vadaine Oliver drop to the bench with Michael Chambers making his first ever starting appearance under Brush as the holding midfielder. Hartlepool manager John Sheridan fielded his strongest possible side which meant recalls for top scorer Luke James and winger Luke Molyneux.

Molyneux opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute. Louis Yamfam attacked down the right before crossing deep for Aidan Keena, and the former Hearts striker laid the ball off to the ex-Sunderland trainee who drilled his effort across Ryan Huddart and into the far corner. Eight minutes later, Pools had doubled their lead and were seemingly well on track to winning the Final comfortably. It came from another Yamfam cross and this time Keena swivelled and fired home from ten yards with Huddart again given no chance whatsoever.

Bromley needed something to avoid being swamped, and halved the deficit five minutes before half time. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel provided a low cross into Michael Cheek who showed great awareness to see TQ Addy in some space, and the winger drilled a low shot right into the bottom corner of Brad Young's net. Five minutes after the restart, Pools restored their two goal advantage with a third. Man of the Match Yamfam swung in a corner, and it was met with a thumping far post header from central defender Michael Raynes.

That third goal prompted a change from Brush. Young defender Harrison Holgate was sacrificed for Oliver and a move back to 4-4-2 with Chambers moving into the back four. Within two minutes of the change, Bromley netted their second when Lawrence-Gabriel swung in the cross and despite leaning backwards: Cheek produced a superb controlled volley for his 31st goal of the season in just 41 games! The ineffective Diamond was replaced by Coulson as Bromley sought their equaliser and it came with 13 minutes to go. Skipper Billy Bingham measured a left wing cross onto the head of Oliver who planted a perfect header into the bottom corner with Young helpless.

No further goals came in the remaining normal time minutes; and even extra time couldn't see these two teams land the knockout blow that they both so dearly wanted. Therefore after 120 minutes action, we had to go down the route of a penalty shootout. Hartlepool went first with Keena converting but this was cancelled out straight away by Cheek. Pools remained faultless with their next two but despite Faysal Bettache netting Bromley's third, Oliver had seen their second attempt taken by him: be saved by Young. Onto round four, Raynes made it four out of four for Hartlepool which left Bromley's fate in the boots of Coulson. The winger sent his effort to the right of Young but the keeper anticipated it and pushed the ball to safety. Hartlepool promoted, Bromley denied.

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate (Oliver), Jones, Galvin (Wise); Chambers; Diamond (Coulson), Bettache, Bingham ©, Addy; Oliver, Cheek
Booked: Addy (2), Bettache (7), Jones (4)
Man of the Match: Louis Yamfam (Hartlepool United)
Attendance: 38,816
Referee: Michael Dicicco (North Yorkshire)

Chapter 78: The Final Countdown

It was the biggest week of Basil and Bromley's lives. Basil, during his playing career, had never played at the National Stadium. There had been times when he had been named in national squads but injury had robbed him each time of an international cap. Bromley themselves had only played there once in their history, losing in a penalty shoot out against Brackley Town in the 2017-18 FA Trophy final. Their opponents Hartlepool United hadn't played there at all but manager John Sheridan had, scoring the winner in the 1991 Rumbelows League Cup Final. The stage was set for a potential classic.

As the week unfolded, Basil had to deal with injuries to Anthony Wise, Ben Allen and Luke Coulson. Thankfully for Basil, all three had minor knocks which meant all three would be still in contention for selection when it came to picking the side. And that was going to be a hard task indeed. Basil could only name 16 players, including five substitutes, which meant that there would be some disappointed names when Basil named the team on Saturday morning after that final training session.

The tension was palpable, the town was buzzing though. One game stood between Bromley and a first ever season in League Two. Pools were hoping to be back in League Two and end four seasons of National League hell as their fans saw it. Almost 40000 tickets had been sold for the showpiece, with over 13000 hardy fans making the trip across the capital from the South East. Could Basil create his own bit of history after leaving Melbourne, Australia less than six months ago for a challenge in the fifth tier of English football?

There was only one way to find out. Who would be celebrating on the middle Sunday in May 2021?

Chapter 77: All I can do is dream, dream, dream....

It was a mild May evening as Basil drove into the car park at Gander Green Lane. He adjusted the collar of his Joma jacket which was emblazoned with a Bromley FC logo on its left breast and the Vanarama National League on the back, then walked to the main entrance door. Basil presented his ticket, and made his way through to the banqueting sweet where a waitress presented him with a complimentary Bovril. This will warm me up, Basil said to himself.

The game itself was pretty one sided with Sutton dominating their opponents who seemed to have fallen off the cliff following Bromley's 4-1 win at the Globe Arena two months previous. Goals from Darren Clark and Aaron Jarvis did the stuff for the U's although it was a pretty ill tempered game with referee Glen Hart issuing each side four yellow cards apiece. Plenty for Basil to think as he drove back to Bromley.

The semi-final was scheduled for Saturday with a 1:30pm kick off time. Basil and Bromley had to be ready, it was literally dog eat dog time. Lose and the season ended there and then.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS, SEMI-FINAL: Bromley 2 - 1 Sutton United (2 - 0)

A sell out crowd of 5,000 welcomed the two sides at Hayes Lane as both sides bidded to make the Final at Wembley on Sunday week. For Bromley it was a record attendance and was a welcome boost to the financial status. Sutton were backed by 250 noisy followers all bedecked in amber, chanting "We're the amber and chocolates!" to the tune of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army". The noise was literally deafening as the sides came out of the tunnel, flags waving everywhere and balloons going into orbit before landing pitch side.

For the game, Basil opted to name an unchanged side which meant he stuck with 4-4-2. After his back injury, Jack Diamond wasn't risked from the start but good enough for the substitutes bench. A handy option to have. Basil covered all possible positions on that bench: back up keeper, all four defensive options, all four midfield ones and something for up front.

The game started in the best possible way for the home side. It was less than a minute old when Louis John brought down Michael Cheek a couple yards outside the penalty area to incur the first of four Sutton bookings from referee Billy Khatib. Up stepped home skipper Billy Bingham to curl a wonderful free kick beyond Marcel Wusiewicz and send Hayes Lane bouncing. Just after the half hour, Bromley added a second with a beautifully crafted goal. From deep inside his own half Faysal Bettache sent Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel away down the right wing. The full back cut inside to the penalty area where he curled a cross to the near post. Arriving at that near post was none other than Cheek and the striker timed his run perfectly to poke home his 30th of the season.

Sutton were rattled, and it nearly became game over in the 39th minute. A swift counter attack by the home side saw Vadaine Oliver weight a pass into Cheek who thumped it into the net with Wusiewicz helpless. However the Polish stopper was delighted to see a flag waving on the sideline, Cheek had marginally drifted (and we mean marginally) offside. A massive let off for the visitors.

Given this reprieve, Sutton started to create chances of their own. They pulled one back with 19 minutes when Harry Beautyman and Tommy Wright played a quick give and go with each other. The midfielder received the ball back from the striker before unleashing a shot from outside the box that arrowed in with Ryan Huddart nowhere near it. The momentum was with the U's and they thought they had made level five minutes when Caca crossed from the right for Wright to poke in. However, just like Cheek in the first half, Wright was marginally offside.

Sutton pushed and pushed but Bromley resisted. A place in the Final on Sunday week beckoned. Their opponents? Hartlepool United; who had won their semi-final 3-1 at AFC Fylde's Mill Farm stadium.

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Coulson, Bettache (Sangaré ), Bingham ©, Addy (Diamond); Oliver (Chambers), Cheek
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Billy Khatib (Wearmouth)

Chapter 76: Changing and making plans

When Basil arrived in December, he didn't plan to be leading a Club into the play-off semi finals. So much so that he booked himself a summer break in Cancun days after starting work at Bromley. So as the team unravelled win after win, Basil thought to himself that he would be visiting that travel agent again sooner rather than later. And on the first of May, he walked into Virgin Holidays in the Glades Shopping Centre...

"Morning girls." Basil greeted the staff.
"Well if it isn't our town's superb football manager. What can we do for you Mr Brush?" came the reply from one of the staff.
"Well.."

Basil took a seat at one of the desks. Facing him was Charlotte, one of the staff members.

"Charlotte, remember that holiday to Cancun I booked last December?"
"I do Basil, I helped you book it. You go Saturday."
"I was. But as you know, we've got into the play-offs now. So I kinda need to cancel it."
"Oh. We can change the date if that helps?"
"Can we? Can we swap it to go on 22 May instead?"
"Let me check the availability." Charlotte paused, typed a few keys and clicked her mouse button. "Yep, that's all good Basil. There's a late charge though."
"How much?"
"£150.00 but since you've done so much for the town's football club, we'll cover it for you."
"Really?"
"Sure. Consider it done."

Basil got out of his chair, thanked Charlotte and the staff, then walked out. He was buzzing.

It got even better a few minutes when his phone rang. It was Cheeky (Michael Cheek), the club's top goalscorer.

"We've only gone and done it again boss." Cheeky said.
"Uh? What are you on about Cheeky."
"Check your texts boss."

Basil switched to text mode, and sure enough there was a message from Cheeky with a link. Basil clicked on the link, and it took him to the club website. There it was again in black and white. Basil had been named Manager of the Month for the third successive month and Cheeky himself had got back to back Player of the Month awards.

"I don't believe it Cheeky."
"Great isn't it? Thought that would get you smiling."
"I already was, but this just adds icing on the cake."
"Nice. See you around boss."

The play-off quarter-finals were about to start in 72 hours. Basil knew where he was going to be, Gander Green Lane in Sutton to watch the home side against Morecambe. Bromley would host the winners. Time to do some homework ahead of one Bromley's biggest games for a number of years. Preparation was never as important as it was now. Every single thing had to be ticked off to the most minute of detail. No room for mistakes, none at all.

Chapter 75: Don't you just love that winning feeling?

Two matches to go, and a place in the end of season lottery guaranteed. That's how it was for Basil and his Bromley squad. A trip to Boreham Wood would conclude the away league list before the regular season ended with a home match against Dover. As always, Basil wanted nothing more than a win. Granted, the title was beyond as the win over Stevenage had handed Aldershot the silverware but a second or third place finish would mean one less game in the play-offs. It would also give the players some well needed rest after such a gruelling end of season schedule, four games in 14 days!

No time for passengers, there's a job to be completed was the mantra as the Lads boarded the bus for Meadow Park. For Basil, it was a trip around the M25...the road to hell as a certain Christopher Anton Rea dubbed it!

Matchday 45: Boreham Wood 3 - 5 Bromley (1 - 1)

Bromley ramped up their charge for a place in League Two next season with yet another win in a goal crazy game at Boreham Wood's Meadow Park stadium. Brush named an unchanged side from the side that defeated Stevenage in midweek which meant Bromley would field a 4-4-2 formation for the third game in succession. Chances were in abundance with both sides focused on attack from the first whistle, so it came as a surprise that we had to wait until the 25th minute for the opening goal. A dangerous cross from Bromley skipper Billy Bingham was diverted into the net by Jack Diamond for the Sunderland loanee's fifth of the season.

Yet the home side were level a minute from half time in their bid to take three points for their relegation scrap. The ball was worked out to Lewis Duncan just inside the penalty area and the former Aberdeen trainee lashed a shot into the bottom corner. Two minutes after the restart, Boreham Wood were ahead thanks an effort from distance from Bilal Kamal which left Ryan Huddart with no chance. By the time we had reached the hour mark, the score had gone to 3-3 with three goals in as many minutes. In the 57th minute, an arrowing cross from Vadaine Oliver found striker partner Michael Cheek and he powered a header into the net.

We had only just restarted when the home side regained their lead. A corner from Sorba Thomas was headed goalwards by Tom Champion and skipper Jamal Byfield nodded in from close range. The frenetic scoring continued two minutes later, Cheek picking out Luke Coulson at the far post, and the winger rifled a fierce volley into the top corner. Both sides pushed then for more goals with the next one proving vital and it came eight minutes when Oliver found substitute Mohammed Sangaré in space to pick his spot and blast his first Bromley goal into the top corner. The hosts pushed for a leveller but were punished for a fifth and decisive time four minutes later when Cheek was fouled by Keiran Murtagh as he prepared to get his head onto a Bingham corner. The striker picked himself up, dusted himself down and drilled in the resultant penalty.

An incredible game, one that certainly had everything.

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones (Wise), Galvin; Coulson, Bettache (Sangaré ), Bingham ©, Diamond (Allen); Oliver (Addy), Cheek
Booked: Lawrence-Gabriel (8)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 976
Position After Game: 2nd

The week to the final league game of the season started on a bit of sour note for Brush as once more he was thwarted by the red tape of import signings. Basil had agreed to bring in Australian midfielder Dino Paola on a non-contract basis, Paola was a player he knew from their Werribee days together. However, despite the player agreeing a non-contract deal, the transfer was aborted due to him not getting a work permit. It was another blow to Basil's plans for 2021-22 but as always, the manager thought to himself: "Fine!" - he was determined to improve the squad next season.

Matchday 46: Bromley 3 - 1 Dover Athletic (2 - 0)

The regular season ended with a particular feeling for Bromley as they recorded their 14th successive win in an incredible end of season run. There was just one change to the side seven days earlier as TQ Addy came in for Jack Diamond on the left wing, the on loan Sunderland winger having tweaked his back in a training session 24 hours before. Another well delivered set-piece from Bingham and this time it was Joey Jones who thumped the header home. Six minutes from half time the lead was extended to two when the recalled Addy teed up Cheek who half volleyed in for his 29th goal of the season.

The game was as good as over midway through the second half. Substitute Anthony Wisemeasuring a cross to Oliver who placed a simple header into the net without any challenge. 3-0 and cruising. Dover did have the final say in the match however when Steven Rigg volleyed in from close range but that was about as good as it did for the visitors. The Bromley form seems to continue unstoppable, two games from their first stint in the Football League.

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones, Galvin (Wise); Coulson (Allen), Bettache (Simpson), Bingham ©, Addy; Oliver, Cheek
Man of the Match: Joey Jones
Attendance: 1,840
Position After Game: 2nd

Who will Bromley get in the play-off semi final? Who knows but who would want to face them in the form they are in at present.

Chapter 74: Steamroller

With three of their four league games at Hayes Lane, Bromley knew that their play off destiny was in their own hands. Basil was aware of it, the players were and the fans were certainly buying into it. Nobody would have thought that on 19 December last year, with the club lying in 17th and embroiled in a relegation scrap, that fortunes would change so rapidly and so positively for all.

The way things were going, Basil was making progress a season ahead of schedule. However, he was sure that he would stay in Hayes Lane until the end of his contract at least. Then; and only then; would he decide where he would go next. If that meant going overseas again then so be it. Until now, Bromley was his focus and taking them as far as he could.

Matchday 43: Bromley 2 - 0 Barnet (2 - 0)

Two goals in the first half at rain swept Hayes Lane propelled Bromley to yet another win, their 11th in succession. It lifted them to a season high of 4th, and left the home supporters thinking that anything was possible. Brush made two changes from the side that had won at Notts County on Easter Monday, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Vadaine Oliver came into the side at the expense of Luke Coulson and Mohammed Sangaré.

Before the game, there was a double cheer from the home fans as Brush and Michael Cheek received their Vanarama National League Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards respectively. Those cheers got louder as the home side took the lead after just three minutes. A Billy Bingham free-kick to the far post was headed in by Faysal Bettache under very little challenge. The second arrived in first half added time, a probing move ended with Cheek touching the ball back to Bingham who rifled in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards that gave Scott Loach no chance whatsoever.

Bingham's strike was phenomenal, considering he had been nursing a bruised knee since midway through the half. It would also mean that he would leave the game before the hour was up. Despite the absence of their skipper Bromley could have had a third when Anthony Wise, the replacement for Bingham, nodded down a cross field pass from Cheek down to Jack Diamond who finished well but the assistant's flag muted the celebrations. Barnet planned to get back into it, but Bromley were resolute and Ryan Huddart kept his 14th clean sheet of the season.

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones (Coulson), Galvin; Diamond, Bettache (Allen), Bingham © (Wise), Addy (Allen); Oliver, Cheek
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 2,282
Position After Game: 4th

There would be no respite for Basil and his players as three days later, they had to face a play-off rival in Stevenage. This was the game in hand that Bromley hoped to take advantage of but Basil just knew it would be one of the biggest games of his fledgling Bromley tenure. Win it, and the Club could reach even loftier heights. That was the message he was trying to put across as the players trained both Sunday and Monday.

Matchday 44: Bromley 2 - 1 Stevenage (2 - 1)

A 12th successive win, a National League record, moved Bromley into an unbelievable second place whilst confirming Aldershot Town as National League champions. Goals from strike partners Oliver and Cheek proved decisive for the home side in an entertaining encounter with Ben Kennedy's strike for the Boro being their sole response.

Brush made a solitary change to his side from the Barnet win; Coulson coming in for TQ Addy which meant Jack Diamond swapped over to the left wing. Other than that, Bromley were unchanged and kept their 4-4-2 formation for the second successive game. The home side were ahead in the 17th minute when Diamond measured a cross onto the head of Oliver who leapt highest to power in a header. Four minutes later, Bromley doubled their advantage. Kennedy obstructed Joey Jones as they challenged a Bingham free kick: Cheek slamming home his 26th of the season from the spot and away from the grasp of Jack Ruddy.

Stevenage needed a goal to get themselves back into the game, and they got one in first half added on time. Coulson's attempted clearance was intercepted by Charlie Carter who then fed Kennedy to atone for his penalty aberration with a curling finish beyond Huddart. The two sides then created chance after chance to enthral the crowd but in the end Bromley held on. They now know that a second place finish would guarantee them a home play off semi-final. Can they achieve it?

Team: Huddart, Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Coulson (Allen), Bettache, Bingham © (Addy), Diamond (Wise); Oliver, Cheek
Man of the Match: Ben Kennedy (Stevenage)
Attendance: 1,976
Position After Game: 2nd

Chapter 73; An egg-cellent Easter!

With just six games of the regular season to play, everyone knew how important the Easter period was. Two games in three days would test anyone at any level, never mind in the National League. It could make or break a season for a Club. Bromley were on a roll, ten games unbeaten with nine of them wins and the team seen as relegation candidates in December: were now pushing for an unexpected promotion under Basil. Basil had kept his players focused throughout, the talk of promotion and the word itself was banned in the dressing room.

Yet if they could pick up some decent points from those Easter away games then perhaps they would be allowed to dream that bit more right?

Matchday 41: Hartlepool United 1 - 4 Bromley (1 - 1)

Bromley headed north on a crisp Good Friday morning to face promotion rivals Hartlepool at the Vic and for manager Basil Brush, a return to a familiar place. Despite being born in Sheffield, Brush had been raised in the North East town and as a youngster used to go down to the Victoria Ground as it was then known to watch Pools with his uncle. Thus when he pulled on the blue and white in 2004 on a season long loan from Sunderland, it was like the realisation of a dream come true.

Almost five hours later, the Anderson Travel coach pulled up on Clarence Road to a smattering of home supporters. One of those supporters was itching to see Basil, and as the Bromley manager strode off the final step, he was engulfed in a massive hug. The person issuing that hug, none other than Basil's uncle Ron, the same uncle who had taken him to his first football matches. Obviously Ron was wanting a Pools win but he also realised the fact that his nephew had a job to do as well. It was a real family moment. That happiness had obviously transmitted itself to the Victoria Park stands too as Basil received such a rapturous welcome when he appeared in the away dugout. The Poolies remembered him with fondness.

As for the match itself, Bromley did their promotion hopes no harm whatsoever with a comprehensive win over the hosts. Michael Cheek was the destroyer in chief with yet another hat-trick, making to back to back trebles for the hitman, and left the 22 away supporters dancing in delight. The team had seen two changes from the side that had seen off Solihull Moors just 72 hours beforehand with Mohammed Sangaré being given his full debut as Brush reverted to his 4-5-1 formation.

The rout started after just five minutes, Billy Bingham with the left wing corner and a thumping far post header from Cheek that fizzed past Brad Young and into the opposite bottom corner. Pools equalised four minutes from half time when a long free-kick from Matt Challoner was misjudged by Joey Jones and left Harrison Cooper in the clear; the Middlesbrough loanee strode away and fired in a shot that squirmed under Ryan Huddart and into the bottom corner. But Bromley were in no need to leave Teesside with nothing, they wanted those three points with passion.

In the 56th minute, the visitors regained the lead and it would be a lead that they would never relinquish. Jack Diamond turned Michael Raynes inside and out before standing up a cross that Cheek powered home a header from ten yards out. Five minutes later, it was 3-1 and a Cheek hat-trick. Once more Diamond created it with a slide rule pass into the league's top scorer who drove a low shot beyond Young. With 22 minutes to go it became three in 12 minutes as Bromley added a fourth when Sangaré pinged a pass into Diamond who blasted in a powerful shot and cap a great day's work for the winger.

Team: Huddart, Coulson (Wise), Holgate, Jones (Lawrence-Gabriel), Galvin; Diamond, Bettache, Bingham ©, Sangaré, Addy; Cheek (Oliver)
Booked: Cheek (4)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 5,234
Position After Game: 7th

Basil opted not to make the journey back down South after the game, deciding instead to stay overnight in Hartlepool to have some quality family time with his aunt and uncle. Family was always important to the Bromley manager, it was what had been instilled in from those tender years kicking a ball around Grayfields or against the wall at the rear of that house on Belmont Gardens. The following morning, it was time to bid farewell and who knew: the two sides could yet play each other in the National League play-offs.

As the manager strolled into the social club that afternoon, he was greeted by a smiling Bingham. The reason for the skipper's smile, well whilst Brush was on the train back to Bromley, Bingham had been at the Club earlier to see Jerry and sign a one year extension to his current deal. The deal had seen the midfield schemer's wages triple and ensured that Bromley wouldn't lose him this summer. It had come at a cost, the wage budget was now way over what it was 24 hours before and there were some rumblings that Basil hadn't achieved that objective. But the deal had been brokered without the manager so the buck needed to stop there and then. Coupled with a raft of youngsters signing their first ever professional contracts, Brush knew he would have to balance those books in the summer with a new wage budget provided by Jerry. It was one of those things, right? He could deal with it.

Matchday 42: Notts County 0 - 1 Bromley (0 - 1)

Bromley extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 12 games and moved up to 6th place in the National League standings with a single goal win at Meadow Lane. With a match in hand to come, the league's surprise packet continued their rise under Basil Brush and now lie just three points behind second placed AFC Fylde.

For the second game in three days, Basil opted to name an unchanged side from the side that had comprehensively dismantled Hartlepool on Good Friday which meant the 4-5-1 formation was again in play. Despite picking a tight groin strain in light training the day before, Ryan Galvin was deemed fit enough to play and he had a vital role in the winner. The left back on loan from Sheffield Wednesday charged down the left wing, cut inside Dion Kelly-Evans before measuring a cross onto the head of Cheek who headed in his 25th of the season from the edge of the six yard box.

The goal was the highlight of what was a dour game with the Magpies not taking their chances when they had them presented to them. In the opposite corner, Bromley were resolute in defence and just about deserved their win. Four games to go, just four points separating second from seventh. The race is well and truly on now.

Team: Huddart, Coulson (Lawrence-Gabriel), Holgate, Jones, Galvin (Wise); Diamond, Bettache (Allen), Bingham ©, Sangaré, Addy; Cheek
Booked: Bettache (6), Jones (3), Allen (5)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 5,556
Position After Game: 6th

Easter, for Basil and Bromley, had certainly been egg-cellent for sure!

Chapter 72: That winning feeling

It was Maundy Thursday morning when the latest winners of the Vanarama National League monthly awards got announced, and Basil was busy as ever. The players were in early doors for a lightish session ahead of the Easter games which would begin with a Good Friday trip north to Victoria Park and Hartlepool United. Basil had spent half a season on loan to Pools during his playing career, and he still had family living the town as well. All of them would be on the terraces watching, and Basil wondered in the back of his mind, what kind of reception he would get on his first return as a manager of an opponent. Hopefully, it would be a good one.

The lads were being put through their pace as always by assistant manager Jon McCarthy in one group, fitness coach Ben May and Patrice Evra was taking a third with the groups alternating every 30 minutes. Jim Stannard was putting the keepers through a thorough workout in the goalmouth at the North Terrace end of the ground. Everything was going well, when Jerry came rushing out. "What does he want? Has he got a new contract for Billy (Bingham) in that suit pocket?" Basil mumbled as the Chairman ran onto the pitch like David Pleat had done at Maine Road way back in 1983.

"Jerry, Jerry. I'm trying to get the players ready for tomorrow's game!" Basil growled.
"I know, but look here." Jerry replied, his iPhone waving about once more.



Both Basil and his leading goalscorer Michael Cheek had been honoured by the League, making it a double celebration for the Club. Two Manager of the Month awards in as many months for Brush and a well deserved award for the league leading hotshot. Then Basil looked at the date, it was April Fool's Day. It was also 10:00am too which meant pranks could still be played without comebacks for another couple of hours. Brush and Cheek looked at each other, then looked at Jerry.

"This is an April Fools prank Jerry, very funny." Cheek said to the Chairman.
"No Michael, this isn't. " Jerry replied, and proceeded to load up the Vanarama National League website on his iPhone.

It was completely true, the stories were up there in black and white. In addition to Cheek's player of the month award, Bingham had been named in third place in the same award. And it didn't stop there either. Harrison Holgate and Faysal Bettache had finished second and third respectively in the Young Player of the Month category behind Sutton United's 18 year Scot Darren Clark.

"This calls for a celebration." skipper Bingham announced.
"Yeah, save it for a few ales on Saturday skipper since we don't have a game. We'll have a few socials in the afternoon in the Club House." Basil replied.
"Sounds good."

The awards would be handed out on 10 April when Barnet came to Hayes Lane. But winning on Good Friday at Hartlepool and on Easter Monday at Notts County, two of Bromley's promotion rivals, was the main thing. That and avoiding the Manager of the Month curse for a second successive month. The season defining month was about to kick in, Brush and Bromley knew they had to lift those impressive performances garnered so far to a whole new level now. No time to slip up with a shot getting into League Two as the ultimate reward in seven weeks or so time.

Chapter 71: Jeers and Cheers

The day after that latest win, Basil was in London Heathrow Terminal 3 Departures for the second time in 2021 and probably not the last either. His destination? Auckland. To arrive in the Cook Islands eventually would see him on four flights, and four flights back to the UK. The game was on the Wednesday, and then it would be time to do a quick post-match press conference, arriving back in the UK late on Friday. Thankfully Bromley didn't have a game on the Saturday otherwise Basil would have looked positively dreadful in the dugout.

Still, this was the life of an international manager.

24 March 2021, INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Cook Islands 0 - 3 Fiji (0 - 0)

Basil's second international match in charge of the Cook Islands, saw them take on a Fiji side ranked 32 places above in the FIFA world rankings. The two nations had played each other nearly nine months ago in a OFC Nations Cup Second Round Group Stage game, with the Fijians taking the honours that day with a 3-0 win. However, buoyed by what he saw against Micronesia, Basil felt his new international charges could maybe spring a surprise.

The Cook Islands squad saw a raft of changes, with injury robbing Basil of the services of Keegan Inia, Arus Sem and Lee Tereu to name just three. The manager opted to stick with his 4-1-2-2-1 formation with Maro Bonsu-Maro again been seen as the main striker after 5 goals in his first 5 internationals. Despite being under incredible pressure from the start, it took Fiji 62 minutes to break down their stubborn hosts. A miscued clearance from home skipper Tyrell Barringer-Tahiri landed at the feet of Fiji's Bruce Hughes and he blasted the ball into the net past substitute and debut cap Maanariki Pierre. A real unstoppable finish.

With the game finely poised score wise, it could have gone either way. Yet Fiji clinched their win two goals in five minutes in those closing stages. First after 76 minutes, a corner from Tito Vodowaqa wasn't dealt with and Peni Tuigulagula swept the loose ball home. Then with the Cook Islands firmly concentrating their efforts on trying to get back on terms, Fiji hit them for a third thanks to a composed finish from Rusiate Matarerega after a lofted free-kick from Filipe Baravilala had picked him out in the penalty area. So a second 3-0 win for Fiji against their hosts, and plenty for Basil to deliberate over as he flew back to England (via Auckland again) later that day.

Team: Elikana (Pierre); Maoate-Cox (Hallin), Joseph, Aiturau (Mohammed-Nazeem), Barringer-Tahiri ©; Ngatoko (Sila); Ruka (Burrow), Areai; Moutiaki, Simiona; Bonsu-Maro (Hall-Batty)
Man of the Match: Tito Vodowaqa (Fiji)
Attendance: 872
Referee: Jean-Baptiste Wananije (New Caledonia)

If Basil was feeling a tad disappointed after the loss, that was nothing to what was going to happen in the following days as he received a double transfer setback. First of all, his pleas to Jerry to push open the wage budget ended in abject failure as the Chairman refused to sanction the planned transfer of Ruben Sammut. Maybe in the summer, now? Secondly, Austrailan central defender Diogo Ferreira had decided to stay Down Under and move to Heidelberg United: a move Basil only found out whilst in the first class lounge at Auckland Airport.

Could there be some good news, please? Basil sincerely hoped so. As he prepared for Bromley's final game of March at home to Solihull Moors, there was a knock on the door and in walked Michael Cheek and the striker was looking pretty pleased with himself. Whilst the manager was away, the Club had offered Cheek a new deal until the summer of 2023.

"Here you are boss, signed and sealed." Cheek said.
"What the..."
"Yeah whilst you were away, Andy (Lonergan) offered me this new deal and after talking it over with the family...well I couldn't say no to it."
"That's marvellous news Cheeky, you really are of our most influential players. Glad you're staying."
"No problems gaffer, more goals to come. See you game time tonight"

Basil was so pleased to see the signed contract in front of him, so much so he sent an internal message over to Jerry but as regards Billy Bingham. Basil wanted his skipper to stay, so the message was clear: make it happen Mr Chairman! Could it get better with a win over the Moors and complete a second successive undefeated month?

Matchday 40: Bromley 4 - 1 Solihull Moors (3 - 0)

Top scorer Michael Cheek celebrated his new contract with a fantastic hat-trick, his second of the season following one at home to Barrow in early January, to propel Bromley to another win and complete a second successive undefeated month. The same treble took Cheek to 21 goals for the campaign and cemented his place at the Vanarama National League score charts. For the game itself, Basil made three changes to the side that won at Ebbsfleet United. Out went Anthony Wise, Frankie Raymond and TQ Addy with Ryan Galvin, Ben Allen and Vadaine Oliver replacing them as Bromley adopted their 4-4-2 formation.

It was an entertaining game with both sides creating chances a plenty but in the end, it was Bromley's more accurate finishing that made all the difference on the night. The home side took the lead in the 18th minute when Jack Diamond sped forward with a run from his own half into the Solihull penalty area. That run was halted by a challenge from Moors' Sam Gibson but as the ball squirted free Cheek showed his predatory instincts to race onto it and beat Ryan Boot at his near post.

Two goals in four minutes just after the half hour put the game beyond Solihull. In the 31st minute, a low cross from Faysal Bettache was turned in at the near post by the in form Cheek then ten minutes from the break Billy Bingham provided a corner which was headed home from six yards out by Harrison Holgate. Solihull put up a battle but they had to wait until the 89th minute to get on the scoreboard when Jake Beesley crashed one in off the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Still Bromley and Cheek would have the final say in the third minute of time added on when substitute Addy weighted his pass into Cheek who had slipped away from his marker just enough to slide the ball low into the corner past the advancing Boot.

The game also saw the Bromley fans welcome a debutant to the side as midfielder Mohammed Sangaré made his first appearance for the Club since signing for the Club in January. He came on as 73rd minute substitute for Bettache.

Team: Huddart, Coulson, Holgate, Jones, Galvin (Wise); Allen (Addy), Bettache (Sangaré ), Bingham ©, Diamond; Oliver, Cheek
Booked: Allen (4)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 1,602
Position After Game: 7th

Chapter 70: And the train keeps on rolling

Seven wins out of seven, and just one goal conceded in that time. Perhaps Basil and Bromley would afford themselves some time to dream the impossible? Yet Basil, despite Jerry's excitement, remained calm. There was no need for him to get excited just yet as football could kick you down when you didn't want it. Time to stay focused and take every game as it came around.

Basil also the impending transfer deadline to deal with. Thursday 25 March 2021 was circled in a thick red marker on the manager's wall planner, as after this date Bromley's transfer dealings would end for another season. At least there was no such thing as transfer windows in the National League, eh? A quick look at his squad told Basil what he needed to know, and where he could possibly strengthen. The Monday after Stockport saw Basil make the first of two transfer overtures that week.

Target one was 23 year old midfielder Ruben Sammut. An internationalist for Malta, Sammut had come through the Chelsea youth ranks but failed to make an appearance for the London giants. He had recently been on loan to Chesterfield so was available for a nominal fee. Relegation threatened Darlington wanted him but so did Basil, so after a bit of wriggle room with finances, the Bromley gaffer made his move. Now it was down to the player. Later in the week, saw Basil make an approach for target number two. That was experienced defender Diogo Ferreira whom Basil knew from his Werribee days. He could be signed on non-contract terms which meant no wages, but would the former Porto reserve team player consider a move to the other side of the world to further his career? That was the question which Basil awaited an answer to.

Matchday 38: Wrexham 2 - 3 Bromley (0 - 0)

A frantic end to an absolute classic was how the supporters described it as Bromley made it eight wins from eight with a thrilling win in North East Wales. Basil had made two changes from the side that defeated Stockport; out went Jack Diamond and Vadaine Oliver with Jack Holland and Ben Allen returning to the starting eleven. The Bromley manager decided to use a 4-1-2-2-1 formation at the Racecourse Ground, unsure if he had gambled too far as the team hadn't really played this too often. It would either work or blow up in Basil's face spectacularly

The first half saw the teams go into the interval, goalless. Wrexham had had the better of the chances but not made the most of them so Bromley could consider themselves pretty fortunate indeed. The Red Dragons took the lead eventually in the 61st minute when Jay Harris lofted the ball over the top and the experienced Simeon Jackson nipped in to loft the ball over the stranded Ryan Huddart. And that's how it remained until the final eight minutes when the game went mental with four goals.

In the 82nd minute Lilywhites skipper Billy Bingham produced a moment of magic when he curled in a free kick from long range which left Wrexham keeper Rob Lainton grasping thin air. But the drama was still to come. As the fourth official prepared to show how much added on time there would be, the visitors grabbed the lead when a cross from Luke Coulson was headed home by top scorer Michael Cheek. Yet Bromley weren't finished there as they added a third in the second of five minutes added on. As Wrexham pushed for a leveller, Cheek produced a great defensive header to halt the Red Dragons at a set piece; the ball landed at the feet of Bingham who launched a one man counter attack with a charge forward that had Wrexham in retreat. The skipper then applied the finish with a strike that Lainton got a hand to but couldn't keep out.

A first ever Wrexham goal from Largie Ramazani made it a nervous finish, but it was just too late for the home side. The promotion charge continues unabated.

Team: Huddart; Coulson, Holgate, Holland (Oliver), Wise; Jones; Allen (Diamond), Bettache (Raymond), Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek
Booked: Coulson (4)
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 5,651
Position After Game: 8th

After the game, Basil was on the bus home when he received a text from Sammut. The former Chelsea trainee was willing to join the Lilywhites and reject Darlington. Great, but then came the surprise. With no money in the transfer kitty, and the fact the planned new signing was under 23 and contracted still to the Blues, there would be a nominal fee of £2.3K to pay to secure his services but that would have to affect the prudent running of the wage bill. Basil wanted to sign him but the additional financial implications were now kicking in, with that in mind the transfer was halted for a week whilst Basil tried to get Jerry to give him more flexibility. Otherwise it would be off and hopefully a signing for 21-22 if the player was still available.

Damn finances! Meanwhile, Ferreira hadn't made his mind up. That one could take a bit of time, Basil thought. Still he was happy with what he had so far.

Matchday 39: Ebbsfleet United 1 - 2 Bromley (1 - 0)

Bromley moved into the National League play-off picture with yet another win from behind, this time at Stonebridge Road. It was the Lilywhites ninth win in succession as their resurgence under Basil Brush continued. Brush opted to go back to 4-5-1 and made two changes from the win at Wrexham seven days previously. Diamond and Frankie Raymond were brought back to the starting line up with Allen and Holland omitted.

Ebbsfleet took the lead in time added on at the end of first half. A deep cross from Andy Kirk was headed into the bottom corner by top scorer Josh Umerah. It was a well deserved lead for the Fleet as the visitors were clearly not their fluent best. The game turned though on its head in the final 16 minutes as Bromley snatched the win from the jaws of defeat. The equaliser came after 74 minutes when Cheek played in the recalled Diamond thirty yards out. The Sunderland loanee hit a fierce potshot on goal which Jordan Holmes in the Fleet got a left hand to but was unable to keep out. Then with just three minutes to go, Bromley bagged their late winner. A corner from Bingham caused Fleet all manner of problems and Lawrie Wilson could only head his clearance against substitute Allen and see it rebound into the net.

Team: Huddart; Coulson, Holgate, Jones, Wise; Diamond, Bettache, Raymond (Oliver), Bingham ©, Addy (Allen); Cheek
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 2,041
Position After Game: 7th

After the game, Brush sped away. There was packing to be done, time to get that passport out once more.

Chapter 69: March-ing on together

The rain was lashing down as Basil boarded the team bus outside Hayes Lane, bags under his eyes so big you could fill a Tesco shop in them. He had very little sleep, and the worse was yet to come in March as he would embark of games at home and overseas with Bromley and the Cook Islands. But he promised Jerry that they wouldn't be too much trouble when he had the interview. However, now considering, perhaps they were yet there were other managers who had done dual roles such as his mentor: Sir Alex Ferguson. "Fergie" had, in 1985, taken over the temporary charge of Scotland after the sad passing of the legendary Jock Stein on the touchline in Cardiff. Under that brief tenure, Sir Alex managed Aberdeen whilst dealing with a World Cup qualifier against Australia and the eventual tournament in Mexico.

But this was different, yet Basil was confident he could deal with it. With a stopover, the journey would last almost six hours and the same back. Time to rest those weary eyes. Thankfully the boys were in a similar place so snooze time for all, bar Geoff the driver of course.

Matchday 36: Morecambe 0 - 4 Bromley (0 - 2)

The rain was still lashing it down as Bromley arrived in Morecambe. Basil and a few of the lads, Michael Cheek specifically headed to the Eric Morecambe statue on the seafront before the game for a quick selfie or two. The comedian was a bit of comedic legend to Basil, and Basil flashed his spectacles in typical Eric Morecambe style with a "Wahey!" as Cheek played photographer. 23 away fans all coddled together in the Bay Radio Stand Terrace, hiding their eyes from an incessant downpour. As for the team, Basil named an unchanged line up from the side that had beaten Sutton and also an unchanged formation to take on the league leaders.

The game saw Bromley produce their best performance by far under Brush, as they made the league leaders look more like league strugglers. The great away day started as early as the sixth minute when Frankie Raymond lofted a free kick into the penalty area and Harrison Holgate rose above everyone to direct his header into the far corner of the net with Mark Halstead in the Shrimps goal, stranded. A second arrived after 19 minutes; the hugely impressive Luke Coulson drove to the byline before planting a cross onto the head of Cheek to steer his header into the bottom corner and again with Halstead left floundering.

Morecambe simply had no response to Bromley's attacking play, and the visitors bagged a third two minutes after half time. This time it was skipper Billy Bingham who created it with a free-kick to the far post and Faysal Bettache headed it in. The rout was completed four minutes from the end when substitute Ben Allen scampered down the right before clipping in a cross that fellow substitute Vadaine Oliver headed in easily at the near post. It made it six wins on the bounce for Bromley, and six clean sheets: apparently a Vanarama National League record as Basil was told as he boarded that bus home.

Team: Huddart; Coulson, Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Diamond, Raymond (Bush), Bettache, Bingham ©, Addy (Allen); Cheek (Oliver)
Man of the Match: Luke Coulson
Attendance: 1,510
Position After Game: 8th

Basil smiled as the coach pulled away from Christie Way, Morecambe. But this job was far from done indeed, more challenges awaited him and his ever improving team. One of those challenges was to agree terms on a new deal with skipper Bingham. Bingham was wanting £3K a week, tripling his wages, but Basil knew that this would put the Club in financial peril as he'd stretched the wage budget to the maximum. He couldn't do it as much as he appreciated Bingham as a player and a leader. Unless somehow Jerry would increase the wage budget which knowing Jerry, was like getting blood out of the proverbial stone. Hopefully the skipper would agree to wait until the end of the season when maybe, just maybe, either his demands would have lowered or the budget had increased. That was Basil's hope.

Matchday 37: Bromley 2 - 1 Stockport County (1 - 0)

There was a real buzz abounding Hayes Lane as Bromley played their 37th league game of the season. Before the game, Basil was presented with his Manager of the Month gong by a representative of the league sponsor. Obviously Jerry was in shot, milking it as if he had achieved it himself. The home support serenaded Basil as he picked up the award: "There's only one Basil Brush.." to the tune of Winter Wonderland.

The match itself was against former Football League side Stockport County. County had been in the second tier of the FL structure just 20 seasons ago but they freefalled so much that they slipped into the National League North at the end of 2012-13 season with crippling debts but were now on the hard slog back. For this game Basil made two changes from the convincing midweek win at Morecambe. Loanee Ryan Galvin had picked up an abdominal strain in training the day before and after assessment, was going to be out for around four weeks, and Raymond was sacrificed for a change of formation. Anthony Wise replaced Galvin and Oliver came in for Raymond to allow Bromley to play 4-4-2.

Bromley took the lead after just three minutes. A Bingham free kick was met by Bettache who looped his header over Ben Winterbottom and into the net for his second goal in as many games. It was a scrappy game to be fair but the home side scored a second after 57 minutes. Joey Jones played a ball over the top like Franco Baresi, and into the path of Cheek whose low shot beat Winterbottom at the near post. It was the striker's 150th goal of his career and 17th of this season itself. The Hatters pulled one back a minute from time thanks to a superb long range strike from Elliot Osborne which could win Goal of the Season and ended Ryan Huddart's clean sheet streak. Yet Bromley held on to make it seven wins out of seven.

Team: Huddart; Coulson, Holgate, Jones, Wise; Diamond (Allen), Bettache (Raymond), Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek (Holland), Oliver
Booked: Bettache (5), Diamond (1), Cheek; Holland (3)
Man of the Match: Elliot Osborne (Stockport County)
Attendance: 2,083
Position After Game: 8th

Chapter 68: It's just getting more better, maybe just maybe?

The morning after the Sutton United game, Basil started packing a suitcase. No, he wasn't about to walk out on Bromley but with no first team game on the Saturday Basil would be out of the country on international business. Basil's destination? Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

Why was he going there? Well, Nikao Sokattak were in action against Hekari United in the OFC Champions League Group Stages. Nikao were the holders of the Cook Islands Round Cup and it would give Basil a feel of seeing some players in action before the national side took on Fiji in a friendly match on 24 March 2021. He would soon have to name a squad for that, with the help of Tokoa Newnham of course, but it would go to show to the Cook Islands FA that he was serious about the role they had given him last October.

Predictably Hekari dominated the game from the onset but they simply couldn't finish their chances which gave hope to Nikao that they could get something out of it. It had the hallmark of a surprise result written in the proverbial stars, and you know what...that's exactly what happened! The game was in its 87th minute when Thomas Manuarli's out swinging corner was headed goalbound by John Paul Teetai. Hekari hesitated and central defender Romano Meutaua lashed home from six yards. Still there was time for drama as Hekari scored with virtually the last kick of the game but the New Zealand officials ruled it out for offside. The home crowd went bananas so as soon as the final whistle went, Basil was out of there and to his hotel for a rest prior to flying home that same night.

Despite suffering jet lag chronically, Basil was back behind his desk on Monday with preparations for Bromley's next game. That was 24 hours later at the Globe Arena against table toppers Morecambe. As he planned meticulously as always, there was a knock on the door and in entered Jerry with a huge smile on his face. Basil looked at Jerry who was thrusting his iPhone into Basil's face:

"Basil, Basil. Look at this, look at THIS!"
"I'm looking Jerry, I'm looking. Jerry, stop waving your iPhone around FFS! I'm trying to read it."

Basil stared at the Twitter message on Jerry's iPhone:



The manager then opened the link, and there it was in its whole entirety. The full story. Basil read it, his eyes bulging with excitement and Jerry's face beaming with joy.



"Congratulations Basil, so knew you had this in you."
"Thanks Jerry. I couldn't have..."
"You could and you did. The presentation will on the pitch before the game on Saturday against Stockport. Anyway must go, meetings and that. I'll leave you to your planning."

And before Basil could say, thank you, Jerry was back out of the door as quickly as he had entered through it. Basil rocked back in his leather desk chair, hands behind his head and reflected. He looked to the skies and said to himself: "This one's for you Da!"

A wry smile flooded his face, and Basil then opened the top left desk cupboard door. He pulled out a glass then a bottle of Jura before pouring himself a measure, nothing too much as he didn't want to be pulled over by the police.

Yeah the reputation was going in the right direction. But still more work to do..

Chapter 67: Creeping up on the outside

After three clean sheets on the bounce, Basil was rather content with how Bromley were performing. Granted they would have the odd blip like they did at AFC Fylde, the signs were that Bromley were starting to buy into what Basil demanded from them. Slowly but surely they were building up form like a well oiled machine and closing in on the seventh and final play-off position which when Basil took, seemed very much improbable indeed.

The Monday after the Wealdstone game, Basil was at another press conference in Hayes Lane. It was time to unveil his second permanent signing.

Mohammed Sangaré - M C: Free Transfer


The latest arrival at Hayes Lane was eight times capped Liberian internationalist Mohammed Sangaré. Sangaré had been released by Newcastle United in the summer without making a first team appearance for the Magpies in five seasons at St James Park. He had been on trial at Bromley for almost a month before Under 23's manager Brendan Moloney suggested to Basil that the midfielder should become a permanent member of the squad after producing some very eye catching performances. The 22 year old has signed a contract until the end of next season. Basil had this to say: "I'm very pleased to bring in Mohammed as my second signing. He has done exceptionally well when on trial and we like what we see in him, he will be challenging those in the first team soon that I do believe."

A few days later though, Basil had a setback to deal with. First choice right-back Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel twisted his ankle during training, and the damage was pretty bad. Head physiotherapist Sean Wickenden confirmed the tenacious but attack minded full back would miss three weeks of action, a massive blow to the side and for the player himself to contend with.

Matchday 34: Chesterfield 0 - 2 Bromley (0 - 0)

The only away game in February saw Bromley travel to Chesterfield. This was a bitter sweet trip for Basil as the Spireites had overlooked him for their then vacant managerial position in September, opting to choose former Exeter and MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale instead. Tisdale lasted just 137 days before being sacked with the team still involved in a relegation scrap. They were under the temporary tutelage of former Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Rotherham defender Glynn Snodin. With what happened to Tisdale, Basil afforded himself a wry smile as he walked into the away dressing room at the Proact Stadium.

For this fixture, Basil decided to stick with the 4-4-2 that had beaten Wealdstone with the one enforced change, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel out injured, 18 year old Anthony Wise coming in for his Bromley debut. It was a tight game with both teams looking for that all important breakthrough, and it was Bromley who made it in the 62nd minute when a ball over the top from Ryan Galvin was collected by Jack Diamond who took one touch before chipping it over Luke Coddington and into the roof of the net. As Chesterfield pushed for a leveller, Bromley netted their second and clinching goal with a minute to go when a free kick from Billy Bingham was powerfully headed into the net by Joey Jones to cap a towering performance by the centre half.

Team: Huddart; Wise (Bush), Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Allen (Coulson), Raymond (Bettache), Bingham ©, Diamond; Oliver, Cheek
Booked: Wise (1)
Man of the Match: Joey Jones
Attendance: 4,559
Position After Game: 8th

The last game would be just three days later due to opponents Sutton United being in FA Trophy action at the weekend. Whilst the timing was not perfect, meaning there would be lots of tired bodies, there would be an extended time for the players to recover afterwards. Basically a bit of six and two threes as Basil's father used to call it. Could Bromley lift themselves one more time to finish the month with yet another three point haul?

Matchday 35: Bromley 3 - 0 Sutton United (1 - 0)

Bromley made it 13 points out of their last 15 with a comprehensive win over near neighbours Sutton United at Hayes Lane. Top scorer Michael Cheek was the destroyer in chief with a brace whilst there was a cracking goal from TQ Addy to delight the home support further. It was a result that made it seven wins out of eleven since the former Werribee City manager was appointed in late December and lifted the Lilywhites within five points of the play-offs with just eleven games left to play.

Brush opted to move back to 4-5-1 for the game which meant changes, in fact he made three of them. Out went Vadaine Oliver, Wise and Ben Allen with Addy, Faysal Bettache and Luke Coulson coming in. With Addy on the left wing, Diamond showed his versatility by switching to the right.

Bromley took the lead ten minutes before the break. A superb crossfield pass by Bingham was collected by Diamond whose first time cross was brilliantly volleyed home by Cheek. Ten minutes after the restart, Bromley had their second. Some fantastic passing football was abruptly ended by Rio Glean with a forceful challenge on the Sunderland loanee. Cheek stepped up to send Wusiewicz the wrong way from twelve yards and score his 15th of the season.

The game was as good as over after that, but the home side weren't finished with their scoring as they added a third twelve minutes from the end. Diamond found fellow winger Addy at the edge of the area and he took one touch before unleashing a piledriver that flew into the net with Wusiewicz given no chance whatsoever.

Team: Huddart; Coulson, Holgate, Jones (Bush), Galvin; Diamond, Raymond, Bettache (Oliver), Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek (Allen)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 2,730
Position After Game: 9th

Chapter 66: Let's build a bit of momentum

Basil had one thing to say to the Bromley team as they boarded the team bus in Somerset to head back to South East London, "Lads, let's build a bit of momentum." and he meant every single word of it. The team has gotten themselves up to 14th which the board were delighted with but Basil wanted more. He wanted the team to kick on further and move up that table towards the play-off spots. Sure it was a tough ask to haul those above Bromley in but Basil had that self-belief that nothing was impossible.

Anything would be considered possible. Why have targets but actually exceed them? As Basil sat in his office the following Monday after the Yeovil game, he thought of printing out and placing positive messages across the dressing to inspire the team. He had seen it have a positive effect when he was a player so why not bring it into the managerial career of his own. Positive message after positive message, encouraging the team to take the next step: the next step towards greatness he saw it as.

Matchday 32: Bromley 0 - 0 Harrogate Town (0 - 0)

Basil made one change from the side which took maximum points from Yeovil as the team embarked on a month which would see them play three of the four games at home. That change saw Luke Coulson come into the side on the right wing as Ben Allen was dropped due to some less than impressive performances. Other than that, Bromley were fielding their 4-5-1 formation which was working well whilst Harrogate were playing a basic 4-4-2.

Despite the promptings of skipper Billy Bingham, Bromley ended up having to share the spoils on a windy afternoon. Neither side could find that killer instinct in front of goal with Basil content that his central defensive partnership Harrison Holgate and Joey Jones kept Town's prolific marksman Jack Muldoon very quiet indeed. It was a point but it could have been three. The game also saw the debut of new loanee from Sunderland, Jack Diamond, as he entered the fray as a 55th minute substitute.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Coulson, Raymond, Bettache (Oliver), Bingham ©, Addy (Diamond); Cheek
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 1,234
Position After Game: 13th

It was a busy week before the next game as the League decided to announce the January 2021 award winners in midweek, just seven days after December 2020's had been released. Bromley wouldn't win anything this time out although top scorer Michael Cheek did finish second in the Player of the Month awards for the second successive month. Basil told "Cheeky" not to feel too disheartened, after he was appreciated at his own club and that's all that mattered really...anything else was a bonus! Then 24 hours before the Lilywhites next game, Basil was delighted to bring in his first permanent signing.

Josh Boorn - S C: Free Transfer


That first permanent signing is 18 year old striker Josh Boorn. Josh came through the youth ranks at Luton Town but was released by the Hatters at the end of 2019-2020 season without making a first team appearances. Before signing a contract which takes him up to the end of next season, Boorn was spotted playing Sunday league football by Lilywhites Chief Scout Paul Martin who recommended him to be snapped up. Basil Brush had this to say about the new acquisition: "I'm delighted to bring Josh to the Club as my first permanent signing. He's a good size, 6 feet and just 18 with some very good striking abilities. I was surprised when Luton released him but Josh knows he has a second chance here and is determined to play his way into my plans. Definitely one for the future."

Matchday 33: Bromley 1 - 0 Wealdstone (1 - 0)

Bottom of the table Wealdstone tried to arrest their slide towards National League South but in the end was hosts Bromley who made it three games without defeat thanks to a narrow win. After a goalless draw seven days prior, Lilywhites boss Basil Brush opted to go for an attacking 4-4-2 formation against the basement dwellers which meant Michael Cheek and Vadaine Oliver formed a double pronged spearhead. The inclusion of Oliver was one of three changes with Sunderland loanee Diamond making his first start and Allen being restored to the right wing. Dropping out were Faysal Bettache, TQ Addy and Luke Coulson.

In fact, the only goal of the game featured two of the included players. Allen spread the ball out to Diamond on the left wing who waited before playing the ball into the path of top scorer Cheek who slid a low shot past Stone to beat the keeper at his near post. Hardly the most polished performance but another step forward in the right direction as the Basil Brush Bromley revolution continues to roll onwards.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Holgate, Jones, Galvin; Allen, Raymond (Bettache), Bingham ©, Diamond; Oliver (Addy), Cheek
Man of the Match: Daniel Phillips (Wealdstone)
Attendance: 1,449
Position After Game: 10th

Chapter 65: Sometimes you can't always be a success

As the month of January ticked closer to being completed, Basil sat back in his office chair...content shall we say. He'd finished his first month at Bromley, and the team were slowly buying into what he demanded from them. He fired up his work laptop, and connected to the internet just to see how Werribee were doing. Had things gone pear shaped after Basil's departure? In fact, not they were still doing rather well. So he typed up a nice email to Wads to pass on his fondest wishes and that he (Basil) still had a soft spot for them despite being on the other side of the world now.

In between the last game at home to Barrow and the next away to AFC Fylde, Basil added another name to his now increased back room staff. He had found a Head of Youth Development, and arriving from north of the border was Scot Stevie Campbell. Stevie had been enticed to come from Brechin, near Dundee to take up the role that Basil was so keen to fill. He had experience in this role before with both Dundee clubs as well as at Inverness Caledonian Thistle as well as acting as a number two at Glebe Park. Just the ticket. With the squad also thin on numbers, the first team squad only had 18 players with the rest scattered in the Under 23s and Under 18s, Basil was also scouring the loan and free transfer markets in the hope of finding a gem and keeping the wage budget still firmly under control.

Matchday 30: AFC Fylde 5 - 3 Bromley (3 - 2)

There were goals a plenty at Mill Farm as hosts AFC Fylde and visitors Bromley put on an attacking show that must have really satisfied the neutrals but not been good for the heart rates of the managers and supporters of the two sides. Bromley manager Basil Brush named an unchanged side from the side that thumped Barrow 4-0 seven days previous which meant the team continued with the 4-5-1 formation for the third game in succession. However, Vadaine Oliver had been become the latest victim of the flu bug which had hit certain members over the last month.

Fylde started with a bang with two goals in the opening eight minutes. In the second minute, the hugely impressive Tom Walker netted from the edge of the area after a slick passing move before Angolan winger Érico Sousa drilled in a second six minutes later. Bromley looked shell shocked to say the least. Yet Bromley picked themselves up and stunned their hosts with two goals of their own in two minutes to make it 2-2 after just 22 minutes. First of all in the 20th minute, a superb defence splitting pass from Faysal Bettache found TQ Addy who beat Montgomery at his near post with an angled finish. Then Bettache himself scored the second, a curling effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The home side regained their lead a minute before half time when James Craigen's corner drifted all the way through to the far post and Gary Oliver slid in to convert. The striker bagged his second three minutes after the restart, Walker charging down the left before delivering a low cross to him who made it 4-2 with a low finish. Bromley had to fight back and fight back quickly if they were to get anything out of the game. They got within one in the 67th minute when Joey Jones bulleted home a far post header from an curling free-kick by skipper Billy Bingham. Then as they pushed forwards for a fourth and equalising strike, Fylde put the game beyond them when former Macclesfield Town midfielder Danny Whitehead lashed one in from long range with four minutes to go.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Jones, Holgate, Galvin (Holland); Allen (Coulson), Bettache, Raymond, Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek
Booked: Lawrence-Gabriel (7)
Man of the Match: Tom Walker (AFC Fylde)
Attendance: 1,518
Position After Game: 16th

The midweek saw Basil manage to bring in his first signing, and he was adamant it would not be the last as there were still certain spots in the team which lacked depth.

Jack Diamond - M/AM L: On loan to the end of the season from Sunderland


A young winger who will add competition to the left wing slot currently occupied by TQ Addy. Has come through the Academy of Light, and this represents the third loan spell of his fledging career. Made eight appearances towards the back end of the 2018-19 season with Spennymoor Town and a full season long loan last season at Harrogate Town, scoring four goals in 45 league and cup matches. Made his Black Cats debut as a substitute for Lynden Gooch in their 3-1 home win earlier in the season and scored his first goal for them in an Papa John's Trophy group encounter against Everton Under 23s. Will be wearing squad number 16 at Hayes Lane.

Matchday 31: Yeovil Town 0 - 2 Bromley (0 - 1)

Bromley took advantage of some slack finishing by their hosts to record a vital away win to boost their chances of not being drawn into a relegation dogfight. Goals from top scorer Michael Cheek and Frankie Raymond did the damage against the Glovers for whom new Dutch manager Foeke Booy will be far from impressed with his team's chance to conversion ratio. The Lilywhites surprisingly named an unchanged side for this game, with new loan signing Jack Diamond from Sunderland not deemed fit enough to start.

The opening goal came after 20 minutes play. Ben Allen headed a pass into Cheek who took one touch before unleashing a half volley into the roof of the net beyond Liam O'Brien. The former Coventry City keeper had no chance with that one and he certainly had no chance with the second and decisive goal, which came six minutes from time, Raymond curling a sublime free-kick into the top corner.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Jones, Holgate, Galvin; Allen (Coulson), Bettache (Rush), Raymond, Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek (Holland)
Booked: Allen (3)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 2,756
Position After Game: 14th

The following day saw the belated Vanarama National League monthly awards be handed out for December 2020, and Basil was pretty pleased it had to be said. Top scorer Cheek finished second place in the Player of the Month category whilst loanee Bettache went one better. The midfielder's superb effort against Havant and Waterlooville secured the Goal of the Month crown for him to much applause from Basil, his backroom and team-mates when it was presented to him at training.

Chapter 64: No rest, no play

The New Year echoed with bangs and fireworks a plenty. Basil had gone down to the centre of London for a few days to celebrate 2021's arrival. Like thousands, Basil stood in the cold night air on the Embankment watching the London and the Thames light up in a serious explosion of colour and splendour. There was no Jessica Miesel, nobody actually to snuggle up close to and gaze into "come to bed" eyes, just pure strangers whooping and hollering as the display unfolded. After spending the previous year in Australia, experiencing it back in the UK: well, it was nice to return to normality for a while.

The following day, Ne'er Day as Basil's father used to say it, Basil was in his office planning for the next game for Bromley. It was a long trip north in 24 hours which meant an early departure from South East London. Destination, Darlington. Basil read the online edition of the Northern Echo and as part of the game preview, it mentioned Basil's loan spell at Hartlepool United when he was a player. Hartlepool and Darlington, even though the two towns were 25 miles apart, enjoyed a bit of fierce rivalry. So Basil braced himself that he might get a bit of banter in his direction tomorrow when he took his place in that visiting dugout at Blackwell Meadows.

But before that, there was a transfer to deal with. Bolton Wanderers of League Two wanted to sign David Boateng, and the player had expressed a wish in making the move permanent. Because the 19 year old defensive midfielder was out of contract since the previous manager not decided to offer him a full time deal, the youngster could move and Basil would be powerless to stop it. As it was, the Trotters agreed terms with the player and he left there and then. That was the cruel side of football. But the same day brought some good news as the Club managed to expand their off pitch team with 27 year old Dean Jones arriving at Hayes Lane as a Sports Scientist. Jones had been the standout candidate from the recent advertisement, and only the best would do. He wouldn't be the last new arrival in January.

Matchday 28: Darlington 1 - 1 Bromley (0 - 0)

Bromley picked up a valuable point in their bid to clamber out of the relegation dog fight but it could have been much more if they hadn't been so wasteful in their finishing at Blackwell Meadows. Barracked by the home support constantly through the ninety minutes, Basil made just a single change to the side that defeated Havant and Waterlooville. David Boateng had departed for pastures new, Bolton, with Frankie Raymond coming into the starting eleven and forming a central midfield trio alongside Billy Bingham and Faysal Bettache. TQ Addy and Ben Allen stayed on the wings with Michael Cheek continuing as the lone striker.

After a goalless first half, Bromley took the lead in the 54th minute when Salam pushed Harrison Holgate as they challenged for the ball after an inswinging free-kick from Bingham. Referee Constantine Hatzidakis pointed straight to the spot, and Cheek stepped up to drill the penalty kick right into the bottom right hand corner: absolute perfection. With 22 minutes left, the home side equalised. Salam charged into the area and fired in an angled effort that Ryan Huddart could only parry out to Jordan O'Brien and he rammed his shot into the vacant net.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Jones, Holland (Holgate), Bush; Allen, Bettache, Raymond (Oliver), Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek (Higgs)
Booked: Holland (3)
Man of the Match: Jordan O'Brien (Darlington)
Attendance: 1,464
Position After Game: 18th

With there being a fortnight between the Darlington game and the next one, a home one against 8th placed Barrow, Basil sought the time to continue his backroom staff overhaul with new faces coming into Bromley. Tuesday the 5th proved to be the most hectic with two new names arriving to fill roles. The first new name was the appointment of Director of Football, and filling that role was former Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Andy Lonergan who had retired from playing in the summer after a spell at Liverpool. Also coming in that was a boost to the medical team with Deanne Goring joining the Club as an extra physiotherapist, this would ease the pressure on Sean Wickenden who had been rushed off his feet since arriving in the summer.

The following day, it was the turn of the scouting network to receive a boost as Joe Taylor was appointed as an additional scout. Then Basil brought in George Stevens 24 hours later after this as a Chief Data Analyst, Stevens would watch the team's game and see what was good and what was bad before submitting a report to Basil. All the top clubs had this model in place, so why not Bromley? Then the biggest arrival came on Saturday the 9th as Basil and Bromley brought in their big name acquisition as a coach. For arriving in Bromley was none other than 81 times capped French internationalist and five times Premier League winner with Manchester United, Patrice Evra! Yes, the very same one. Evra was swapping the bright lights and party scene in Barcelona for coaching on potential wet days in Bromley! What a coup!

Matchday 29: Bromley 4 - 0 Barrow (1- 0)

Bromley produced their best performance under the short time they have been managed by Basil Brush; with a comprehensive dismantling of Barrow at Hayes Lane. Barrow were ripped apart with some scintillating football from the hosts and didn't help themselves with two Bluebirds players being sent for early baths by referee Paul Rees. Brush made two changes to his side that drew at Darlington, both in the back four as he persisted with the 4-5-1 formation. Coming into the starting line up were Holgate and Ryan Galvin, the latter now fully recovered from flu which had left him bedridden over Christmas and New Year and out went Jack Holland and Chris Bush.

The rout started in the 19th minute when Ben Allen stood up a cross from the byline and Cheek planted a header into the far corner. It was the beginning of a great day for the former Ebbsfleet marksman. With the second half less than a minute old, he and Bromley had a second when Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel's low cross was tapped home at the near post by the striker. Two minutes later, he completed a hat-trick when he got his head onto a Bingham corner. The striker's elation was felt all round Hayes Lane. Then Barrow really started to unravel as they were reduced to nine men before the game reached the hour mark. Lewis Hardcastle and Josh Kay both saw red for second bookable offences, leaving their manager and supporters watching in disbelief.

Goal number four arrived in the 64th minute. Another Bingham corner and this time substitute Vadaine Oliver thumped home a header into the back of the Barrow net. After that Bromley played the game within themselves, keeping it simple at front and back. The boys had earned their Monday off after this!

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel, Jones, Holgate, Galvin; Allen, Bettache (Coulson), Raymond (Oliver), Bingham ©, Addy; Cheek
Booked: Cheek (2)
Man of the Match: Michael Cheek
Attendance: 1,130
Position After Game: 16th

Chapter 63: Off and running

Basil looked the fixture for the remainder of December 2020. A long trip north to Chorley to begin with then back to back Christmas home games against Aldershot Town and Havant and Waterlooville. Assessing the table, Basil thought that if he could win a couple of games then that would be progress and a good start. The question was though, could he get the players to buy into what he wanted almost straight away?

A tough ask, yes. But fingers crossed, right?

Matchday 25: Chorley 1 - 2 Bromley (1 - 0)

Backed by 44 loyal away supporters, the Basil Brush era at Hayes Lane began with a win at Victory Park in Chorley. The Lilywhites owed their win to a quickfire second double, with on loan defender Joey Jones being the unlikely hero.

Bromley lined up in their new manager's preferred 4-1-4-1 formation with Michael Cheek playing as the sole striker. Chorley took the lead in the 27th minute when veteran attacking midfielder Louis Dodds curled in a free-kick from the left which was headed home by Marcus Carver. However, two goals in as many minutes saw the points head back to South East London. In the 69th minute Luke Coulson's free kick was netted from an acute angle by Jones. The on loan QPR defender was in the right spot shortly afterwards to score the winner when a Jack Holland header was parried by Matt Urwin into his path six yards out.

Team: Huddart ©; Holgate (Coulson), Holland, Bush, Galvin; Jones; Raymond, Bettache; Allen (Rush), Addy (Boateng); Cheek
Man of the Match: Joey Jones
Attendance: 934
Position After Game: 16th

Basil's plans to name an unchanged side for the Boxing Day clash suffered a setback when left-back Ryan Galvin turned up at the light session on Christmas Day with flu like symptoms. Keen to ensure the rest of the side would not be affected, Basil sent the defender home straight away, The loanee would miss both Christmas games, forcing a bit of a reshuffle.

Matchday 26: Bromley 2 - 3 Aldershot Town (2 - 2)

At a very wet Hayes Lane on Boxing Day, it took a wonder strike to give Aldershot all three points and in the process ensure that Basil Brush's first Bromley home game wouldn't be a winning one. Brush made two changes from the side that won at Chorley; Coulson and club captain Billy Bingham came in for the injured Galvin and Frankie Raymond who dropped to the bench to accommodate the skipper. The Shots though netted the first goal which came after just nine minute when Libyan midfielder Mohamed Bettamer glanced a header into the far corner from a Joe Muscatt delivery.

Bromley were level just five minutes later. Ben Allen saw his curling free-kick parried by Walker but straight to Jones who poached in his third in two games from inside the six yard box. Aldershot regained the lead in the 22nd minute when a weak defensive header by Harrison Holgate was blasted first time into the net by Alfy Whittingham. The fourth goal of an action packed first half came nine minutes before half time when Allen crossed for Michael Cheek to score with a thumping header. The winner though came twenty minutes from the end when a Robbie Tinkler cross was headed away by Holgate but only as far as Muscatt who arrowed a volley first time into the top corner. Try as they might, Bromley couldn't equalise for a third time and the visitors move up to fourth in the table.

Team: Huddart; Coulson (Boateng), Holgate, Holland, Bush; Jones; Bettache (Raymond), Bingham ©; Allen, Addy (Reay); Cheek
Man of the Match: Alfy Whittingham (Aldershot Town)
Attendance: 1,853
Position After Game: 17th

Matchday 27: Bromley 3 - 1 Havant and Waterlooville (2 - 1)

The final game of 2020 saw Bromley record their second win under Basil Brush's new regime with a well earned triumph over the Hawks. Once more Brush made two changes, both positional. Coulson and Holgate made way for Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, back from injury, and David Boateng: the latter playing the holding role in front of the back four with Jones dropping into central defence alongside Jack Holland.

Bingham had an influential role in the opening goal after 23 minutes, a teasing centre from the skipper and Allen poked in his first ever Bromley goal from close range. The Hawks equalised eight minutes before half time though when central defender Craig Robson glanced in a header from a Roarie Deacon set-piece. However, Bromley regained the lead on the stroke of half time with a sensational strike from Faysal Bettache. The QPR loanee ran at the Hawks defence before unleashing a thunderbolt from 25 yards that gave the keeper no chance whatsoever.

Bromley secured their win with a third goal just a couple of minutes after the restart. A low cross by Lawrence-Gabriel found Cheek in space who slammed it home at the second time of asking after his initial effort had been blocked. After that Bromley cruised to the win, and there was still time for a cameo appearance from Vadaine Oliver who made his first appearance after four months out with a hip injury.

Team: Huddart; Lawrence-Gabriel (Higgs), Jones, Holland, Bush; Boateng; Bettache, Bingham ©; Allen, Addy (Raymond), Cheek (Oliver)
Booked: Jones (2), Bush (2)
Man of the Match: Billy Bingham
Attendance: 1,098
Position After Game: 17th