Bromley's New Boy Whitely Ready To Put In The Hard Yards For EFL Repeat

After putting in the hard yards for the past few years, he fulfilled his ambition of becoming an EFL player when Newport County signed him last summer.

Having grafted to become one of the division’s most eye-catching attackers with time at Dagenham and Ebbsfleet, it was just reward for a player who fine-tuned his performance.

But within six month he found himself back in the league he left behind with Bromley.

Due to injury and a lack of match minutes in League Two, Whitely, 28, has no qualms at all about a return.

Especially with the situation as it is at the top.

“It’s unique really,” he said ahead of this weekend’s big BT Sport match at Barrow. “I don’t know too many players who get to join a title push after having a frustrating few months.

“It was a no brainer for me really. I’m a London boy and the chance to come here, be close to friends and family and be a part of a team challenging at the top end of the table was one I jumped at.

“A few teams wanted to talk to me but Bromley just stood out. It’s a loan deal until the end of the season so hopefully both clubs will be in the Football League come May!

“I think it’s true that players play better when they are around people they know.

“It’s not just my friends and my family down here. I know so many of the Bromley boys having either played with them or against them. It’s a home-from-home for me.

“I’ve had to wait a bit longer than I wanted to get involved but it’s not a bad game to get up and running - even if it is quite a trip!”

He hasn’t been away for too long but one thing has changed.

“From what I have seen and heard, Barrow are now a really good footballing side,” he added.

“They play the game really well and I think that shows with the results they have managed to put together. They have adapted their style.

“They are at the top on merit and will really be beginning to start fancying themselves to stay top of the table. When you are up there, that’s your mindset at this time of the season.”

Bromley will close the gap to just two points if they walk away with the points.

But it’s still too early to say if a home win - meaning an eight point Barrow advantage with two games in hand - would mean they are out of the running.

Whitely said: “It’s far too soon for anything to be decided.

“What we have got to do is just get our heads down and get on a good winning run. There’s so many matches ahead of us and we only need to focus on ourselves.

“I’ve loved my first week here, training has been good and you can see the ambition they have at Bromley.

“Since I last played here everything had gone up a level. The squad is stronger, the ground is a lot better - there’s a new stand gone in and there are a lot of good things going on.

“I think the club are ready for the next step and I hope to help them achieve that.”