Bromley’s Head Coach, Andy Woodman is relishing the “challenge” of League One football this season.
Having guided Bromley up to League One for the first time after they finished last season as League Two champions, Woodman and his Ravens are now preparing for their first season in the third tier.
The 54-year-old manager though is wary of the reality that awaits his team as he explained in an interview on the club’s YouTube channel that they need to step out of the shadow of established EFL clubs based within London and embrace the season ahead.
“I don’t think any of us are kind of really get our heads around the magnitude of what we’ve done until it starts. I really don’t. I know these clubs. I’ve been to these clubs and I’ve been to these clubs with big clubs, you know, where I’ve been involved like Newcastle or Arsenal.
“So, I know what we’re facing and I probably still don’t really realise what we’re facing. Um and it probably hasn’t really dawned on me what we’re up against. Um, but that’s what we’re about, isn’t it, Bromley? You know, we are the little Bromley and we’ll be playing that card like you’ve never known this year.”
“Um, it’s time for us to come out of the shadows a little bit more, I think, and I think we should embrace it. Un I know our supporters are looking forward to it and they can’t wait to embrace it. Um, I know my staff are and I know my players are. So I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“It’s going to be a challenge. There’s no doubt about that. But I’m really confident. I’m really I’m never not confident, but I’m weirdly very confident this year. And I don’t want to shoot my mouth off, but I’m very confident.”
Bromley are currently on a warm-weather pre-season training in Albufeira, Portugal, and Woodman feels that the camp is key to ensuring that his new signings can integrate with the original group at their own pace, having initially saw a divide at their first meal on the first day.
“I mean, everyone bangs on about team spirit and the group being together and you can’t force that. You know, if you force it, it doesn’t work. You literally have to be isolated in an environment. And um you have to kind of let them just integrate naturally and become their own friends and their own group.
“You see the leaders come out, you see the ones that do things lead in different ways. Um and you just see people’s characters a little bit more. Uh which is great.
“You know an example of that is the first day we sat down for dinner and it was all the original group on one table and all the new guys on another table. Um and I’ve kept an eye on that because I wondered how that had progressed and now that was day one and now everyone’s mixed in and everyone’s bantering.
“We’ve got a group that go padel when they got a moment. We got a group that sit beside the pool. Um and then the other day, they went and watched I think the England game. We went out to dinner and arranged a dinner together out and that was all of those little ingredients were important.”
“Um, one to bedding in the new guys and two to make sure that, you know, we’re getting some tight team spirit amongst the group.”
Woodman also addressed his managerial style as he explained that his life experiences and staying true to oneself is key to having a range of methods to deal with different players, in order to extract performances from individuals as part of the overall team effort.
“Yeah. And I think that’s again recognising the player. Some players need to be shouted at or certainly psyched up, some players don’t. They need an arm around the shoulder. Um, and I think you recognise that with your team and the players you’ve got and sometimes you get it wrong.
“Trust me. But then I think you should never go away from what you are to, you know. So what I am is what I am. And I think anyone that knows me, I’m a winner. You know I’ve always been the underdog throughout my footballing career.
“Um probably from my background as well, you know, of everything that’s gone on in my life. Uh, and that won’t change. You know, the winner in me will always come through and I will never change that. Um, I think what’s important is that to make sure people see that and I channel it in the right direction and then you got to hope that you’ve got the right people with you that will follow suit and trust what you’re telling them.
“And to date, they have and they’ve believed everything I’ve said to them and they’ve followed suit with me. And um, I do think that my will to win, my desire to win, my desire to not come second in anything translates onto the pitch and everyone around the club.
“And I think probably that’s probably been the best thing for me at this football club. And I must say, you know, again, you could say that’s driven from me from the top, but there’s a man above me that drives that as well, and that’s the owner. So we’re very in line with that, even though we don’t always seem eye to eye on many, many things, but that’s healthy.
“You know, I want to push the owner to get me the best and make sure that I’ve got no excuses. And equally, he’s going to give me everything within his remit that he can to have no excuses. Hence why we’re pushing this club forward together.”
Woodman also noticed that fans had been “agitated” at the pace of new signings on various social media platforms but clarified that the challenge has been down to needing to bring in appropriate players but is focused on the end rewards.
“Um I would go as far to say that this has probably been the hardest off season. Um and that’s not a negative, by the way. That’s cos we know we’ve got to get it right. Um, and we’ve worked tirelessly to make sure we get the right players and we’re still working tirelessly and I, like I say, I’ll work till the end.
“Um, but we’ve been meticulous. We’ve had to be because obviously, you know, where we’re at, what we’ve got resources and what we want to fit into how we play. Um, so this has really been a very, very tough off season, you know. Um and actually one I’ve enjoyed, so I’m not moaning about it
“You know, it has been enjoyable. It has been stressful. Has been challenging but I know what’s at the end of the rainbow is the rewards and that’s what drives me to make sure we get the rewards for all of us.”
Looking ahead to the season ahead, Woodman quipped light heartedly that he wishes to be back in Portugal with Premier League football within sight and continuing the journey which doesn’t stop at League One.
“No. It doesn’t. And um be nice if we’re sitting here next year saying this is our lucky hotel. We’re one league away from the Premiership or one season away from the Premiership. That would be great, wouldn’t it?”
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