Until very recently, it was about the same history as Boreham Wood, Dulwich Hamlet, and any number of other non-league clubs who have never made the Football League. Bromley was formed in 1892, played in a bunch of London-area leagues, won some obscure Cups and leagues—especially in the 1950s—and recently has made a surge upward. In 2014–15 they…

Nearby Sutton United is a rival, but for this season Bromley went and got promoted to the Football League, while Sutton went back down to the National

Bromley Ladies play in the amateur London and South East Regional Women’s Football League, which is at tier 6 of the pyramid. Home games are at Hayes

There’s a band called Dogstand who recorded several songs about Bromley, including a version of Newcastle United’s “Blaydon Races” about walking down Mason’s Hill to see the Bromley

Hayes Lane is your very standard non-league ground—two stands and two terraces—with home supporters who switch ends at halftime to be behind the goal the boys are shooting at. Capacity is 5,150, of which 1,300 are seats. But it’s the pitch that most people know about; it’s a 3G surface, which replaced grass in 2017. It’s one of very few in the…

GETTING THERE: The station you want is Bromley South, which is about 20 minutes from London Victoria and 35 minutes from London Bridge. That’s a mile from the ground, so either walk it or take bus 119 (Purley Way) or 314 (New Addington) from just outside the station to Hayes Road, about a 5-minute walk from the ground. PUBS: The best option is…