The Diehard Fan: Roy Oliver
Roy Oliver has been supporting Bromley for 64 years. The 77-year-old is the membership’s historian and an unique ‘Bromley Boy’, starring within the well-liked e-book and have movie ‘The Bromley Boys’.
My first full season was in 1960. I noticed all the house video games however I did not go to any away – I used to be solely 13.
My dad had first taken me down there within the 50s. We might flip up at half-time as a result of it could be free to get in then – cash wasn’t at all times loads. My nan used to run the tea bar.
I began going to 2 or three away video games, the native ones like Dulwich and Tooting after which in 1962-63 I used to be going to many of the video games. After that, I went to each recreation and it is nonetheless persevering with right this moment.
I used to be on the supporters committee for 36 years and I am nonetheless concerned with every little thing down there now. We have been volunteers so in the summertime, you probably did the pitch, the weeding, the portray, something that wanted doing,
One of many greatest issues about watching a crew like Bromley, particularly to me, is the friendships you make. Everybody is aware of everyone else. Everybody talks to one another.
My sons name me the entire madman historian. However I’ve at all times been within the historical past. I at all times liked historical past in school so discovering out about soccer golf equipment…like our first shirts have been on the seventh of October 1892. They have been gentle blue on one aspect, and olive inexperienced on the opposite.
Bromley have been one of many greatest beginner golf equipment within the nation after the struggle and thru the 50s. There have been beginner internationals in that aspect. All the highest gamers needed to come back to Bromley after which some went on to greater golf equipment like Stan Charlton who went to Arsenal.
However the center 60s as much as the center 70s have been dreadful years. The bottom was in horrible situation. Fences have been falling down. Sponsorship wasn’t a lot. After which John Biddle got here from Cray and the upturn began. We fleeted round going as much as the Isthmian Premier after which coming again down once more. And this continued proper as much as about 2004. 22 years later, we’re now within the EFL. Staggering.
There was the hearth that occurred in 1992 too when the entire stand burnt down, the membership room and every little thing. It was fairly devastating. We needed to play all our house video games away.
But it surely’s a humorous recreation, you recognize. Supporters are very fickle. They help the crew after they’re profitable, they usually disappear after they’re dropping.
