A new book: From Hashtag United to Wembley
(all profits go to charity)
Where I saw Bromley
FAT FINAL v Wrexham (Wembley) 1-0
(all profits go to charity)
FAT FINAL v Wrexham (Wembley) 1-0
It was a long road to Wembley that started at Hashtag United in September. The final was a fascinating contest between two competitive sides. In the second half, Bromley gradually got on top and deservedly won with a well-taken goal from Michael Cheek. A couple of late scares made it an exciting finish, but Bromley fans were treated to a great day out at Wembley.
In the 1980s and early 1990s and regularly watched Bromley, following them in their Isthmian league days. I never thought about the prospect of my Wembley train ending with Bromley taking the Cup home. I still fondly remember the days of Joe Francis, Dean Wordsworth, Mark Tompkins and Ollie Adedeje.
Or, perhaps, almost the magic moment. I was one block away from where Bromley received the Cup and held it aloft. I asked an steward if I could move to the next block to get a better picture for the book. He immediately overacted by summoning extra security resources!
The book describes my journey following the 2021-22 FA Trophy. I chose to start at Hashtag United v Chipstead in the First Round Qualifying of the FA Trophy. From there, I followed the winners of each tie, finishing at Wembley, where I saw Bromley lift the trophy after beating Wrexham. It was a magical journey that enabled me to visit 9 non-League grounds plus Wembley and meet supporters from 12 different fantastic clubs.
I travelled to each game by train and stayed at or close to the venue of each tie for at least one night. Each chapter takes a light-hearted look at my travels, my exploration of each town or city, as well as covering my match-day experience. I also met many interesting people on my travels, enjoying a beer or two with the locals at each venue. The book captures the spirit that I believe only exists in non-League football and describes some truly enjoyable and memorable moments.