Smith Plans To Have A Ten-Year Play-Off Party Next Summer

Everything, that is, except seeing his team finish in a National League promotion position.

It’s an itch he is determined to scratch by the time he celebrates ten years at the club come August.

Under his stewardship, one of the longest serving managers in the division has earned placings of 10th, 9th, 12th and last season a Covid-ravaged 13th.

So much has changed since a few hundred cheered his team on when he started as assistant manager under Mark Goldberg back in 2011.

But speaking ahead of this weekend’s big BT Sport match at Solihull Moors, Smith can’t rest until one thing has been ticked-off his list.

Speaking to the National League’s Oliver Osborn in a Zoom chat, the Bromley boss said: “We want to be in the play-offs come the end of the season, we want to do it this year.

“It’s something we’ve not been able to do yet and it is something we really want to achieve. The Chairman believes we can be there, and so do I.

“We were only talking about it the other day, someone who hadn’t been to the club for a long while was visiting. It’s very different here now.

“It’s nearly ten years since I came through the door and the place has totally changed. New pitch, new stands, everything.

“We were playing in front of 300 fans and fighting relegation when I first came here. The club is really moving forward, but without being silly.

“To be a part of a club driving forward is a pleasure. We haven’t got a massive budget, you get what you’re given and you deal with it, but to have 2,500 fans at times last season and to take 20,000 to Wembley in the FA Trophy final - it’s amazing.”

But to get the top seven this time around, his players need to become more street-wise.

Although sixth, Bromley have been inconsistent - especially at home where they have now not won in five.

Losing on Tuesday to winless Yeovil Town was an eye-opener for Smith, but the good news is few are better on their travels.

They will need to show that impressive away form again with Solihull Moors yet to even concede a goal at home so far. This is going to be an intriguing match-up.

“I was disappointed by Saturday and Tuesday - in midweek it was two set pieces, which we are normally good at but we let ourselves down,” he said.

“In the second half we created enough chances to get ourselves back into the game but couldn’t take them. It’s our downfall at the moment, both boxes.

“The away form looks really good. We’re actually not doing anything different on the road. When sides come to us they may sit back a bit, but when we go away they are coming for us and we have found those spaces to exploit.

“We’ve been clinical with our finishing, but at home that just hasn’t been there. Hopefully our results away give us a chance on Saturday.”

Smith says Moors have a new way of playing under Jimmy Shan and the manager believes it will be a good watch for those tuning in on BT Sport.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Smith adds. “Solihull have started really well and they may have just come off the back of a dodgy result, but they are such a strong side.

“They play a formation that suits them. They love to play, and they are less direct than they used to be. They have changed their way of playing, so we have to prepare ourselves.

“We will need to be solid at the back and not concede silly goals like we have been.

“But we won’t change our game - we have to stick to our beliefs.”

With Christmas around the corner, the Hayes Lane chief has reminded his staff to tread carefully.

“I have spoken to the players, we know Christmas is a special time but they have just had three months with their families,” he added.

“We have to be careful. We have to keep our discipline - maybe going around and seeing uncles and aunts may not be able to happen outside of their bubble this year.

“That’s life at the moment. They will be able to spend a bit of time with their families, but the main focus has to be on the football and of course staying safe and well.

“If that goes well then we can have another Christmas in the summer if we get into those play-offs!”