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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

No rest for Bromley as club starts preparing for life in League Two

The dust has barely settled from the most famous day in Bromley's history, but the club is already preparing for life in League Two.

After beating Solihull Moors on penalties in the National League Play-off Final at Wembley on Sunday, Bromley have made it to the Football League for the first time in their 132-year history.

Unsurprisingly, the players partied into the early hours of Monday morning and several of them have flown abroad to continue their celebrations in the sun.

For the rest of the club, however, it is business as usual and work is already under way as Bromley prepare for life in the EFL.

Work is set to begin on tearing up the artificial pitch at Hayes Lane, which must be returned to grass due to EFL regulations, and the diggers are due in this week. Perhaps it is wise for the players to be away, as the noise from the pitch rebuild will not soothe any hangovers.

Manager Andy Woodman left his players to it after a few drinks on Sunday and spent yesterday with his family. He was planning to be back at work today, though, for talks with chairman and owner Robin Stanton-Gleaves, and together they will map out how next season could look.

"I have ambitions to manage as high as I can and I know Bromley have ambitions," said Woodman. "Hopefully we can follow one or two clubs that have gone up to the EFL and then up again. Hopefully, we can follow that."

Bromley had more than 23,000 fans at Wembley and Stanton-Gleaves has proved to be an astute owner. He has steadily improved infrastructure and facilities, with such a philosophy likely to continue in League Two.

Promotion had been an "obsession" for Woodman, who spent much of this season walking his dog in the early hours as he planned for matches.

The dog, like the players, can hope for a few quiet mornings now — at least until August.

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