[Div3North]

Bromley FC

v

Accrington Stanley

2024/25 Prediction League Game 41 v Bromley (away)

If I were to ask you the name of the first-ever Black Premiership referee, you would no doubt all tell me, after some head-scratching and remembering, that it was Uriah Duddley Rennie; born in Jamaica in 1959 (now 65) he moved to Sheffield in 1965 and began refereeing in 1979 in local leagues, then operated in the Northern Premier League until 1994, at which time he was appointed to the Football League List. He was given his first Premiership appointment on 23 August 1997, a game between Leeds United and Crystal Palace at Elland Road. He became a FIFA referee in 2000, and joined the Select Group of professional referees the following year. Between 1997 and 2008 he refereed over 300 PL games, and he was on FIFA’s list as well: he practised both kick-boxing and aikido, and has a master's degree in business administration and law. He is also a magistrate in Sheffield. Not a man to be toyed with, he once hit the headlines by sending off (for two yellows) one of England’s favourite players in that player’s 100th game for his home-town club ………….. but who – Starter for Ten – was that player?

Formed in 1892, Bromley – not to be confused with Bromley Cross – played in various non-pro Leagues, eventually joining the Conference South in 2007–08. They won the in 2014–15 to earn promotion to the Bananarama Proper. After two unsuccessful play-off attempts, as well as winning the FA Trophy in 2021–22 in this period, they won the National League play-offs in 2023–24 to reach the EFL for the first time in their history, beating Solihull 4-3 on pens ………. Nicknamed The Ravens or The Lilywhites, they’re managed by Andy Woodman, a former GK at Northampton, Brentford, Colchester and Oxford (to name just a few) ……….. his son Freddie is apparently a GK at PNE

They won their first two starts in the League. Currently they’re 13th in League Two with 40 games played and a record of 13 wins, 13 losses and 14 draws for 53 points and a +1 GD (52/51) ………… they beat us at Ours 2-1 on 7th December (our goal by Ben Woods), made Round 3 of the FA Cup, losing 3-1 at Newcastle, but lost 2-1 to the Real Wombles in the EFL Cup Rd 1, and didn’t get out of their Trophy group …………. Leading scorer is Michael Cheek with 19 in the League and 20 overall, having been a Raven since 2019

Their home record is W6 D7 L7 GF27 GA16 but they haven’t won in their last five outings; we haven’t won in four – and we’ve had enough Goalless Desmonds to last for a few seasons, thank you very glad ……………..

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 5th April (Happy New Tax Year) ………… we aren’t out of Le DooDoo yet, so another of Val’s vaunted Vigintis wouldn’t come amiss …….. don’t want to be caught with us trousers down again, do we?

And Uriah Rennie booked Alan Shearer at St James’ Park in the first half of Newcastle’s game with Aston Villa for "catching" Colin Calderwood with a swinging elbow: he escaped punishment for a like offence against Gareth Southgate in the second half, but on 71 mins he was yellow carded again for “an innocuous challenge” – also on Calderwood – and off he went. He’d never been sent off before, although two years later he was red-carded a second time at Charlton, but that one was rescinded three days later on appeal …………….. the home faithful were incandescent about the Villa sending – off, but it stood. Rennie, by the way, was struck down by illness in October last year, but is expected to take up his appointment as Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University around now …..

Good luck to everyone! ………… Keep the Faith! ……… And thanks for playing !.....