BROMLEY ON THE ORIENT: WE’RE ALL HUNGRY TO SUCCEED, SAYS BROMLEY SKIPPER TUTU HENRIQUES

BROMLEY skipper Tutu Henriques says he will be the calming influence as the Kent club bid to grab all of the headlines and knock League One side Leyton Orient out of The FA Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The versatile Henriques, 29, a fitness instructor and the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South club’s longest serving player, says he wants all the pre-match hype to cease and the First Round clash at Brisbane Road to get underway.

Bromley have NEVER beaten a Football League side in The FA Cup and it’s been 66 long years’ since the club won a First Round tie.

When asked how he was feeling this evening, Henriques said: “More than excited!  You don’t get many opportunities in the season to play against such opponents and I think there’s a nice buzz going through the camp at the moment.”

The Ravens have got to this stage with victories over three of their Kent rivals (Welling United, Margate and Dartford).

And there is a firm belief at Hayes Lane that the club can produce one hell of a famous giant-killing.

The skipper said: “I don’t see why it can’t be us, with Leyton Orient sitting eighteenth and having the ability to concede a few goals home and away, there’s some promising little bits for us to feed on so we have to build confidence and try to expose the weaknesses and most importantly stay in the game for as long as we can.”

Bromley confirmed at lunchtime today that they have sold 1,400 tickets (of a 3,000 allocation) and fans’ have until 9pm on Friday evening to purchase the most sought after ticket in town.

Henriques said:  “I think when Bromley fans’ travel in numbers they’re actually quite vociferous so we expect a good sound, a good atmosphere and with the occasion and how special The FA Cup is to pros as well as semi-pros it should be quite an event and a day really.”

Henriques spoke how his team-mates can beat Leyton Orient.  Most of his comments have been cut out – we don’t want Leyton Orient to pick up on inside information!

“It’s initially having to start the game on a solid footing,” he said.  “We’re away from home so it’s a matter of seeing what they offer in regards to how they’re attacking, what they’re trying to do, keeping everything tight and literally trying to build foundations from that. (CENSORED).  Time will tell whether it will work!”

Henriques played for Bromley in their previous FA Cup First Round defeats to Gillingham (2006) and Colchester United three’ years later.

And the calm, level-headed skipper will be immensely proud as he leads the Bromley team out on to the Brisbane Road pitch in front of a big away following, housed in the East Stand.

“For me, yes, most definitely.  It’s absolutely massive.  It’s such a prestigious game for Bromley Football Club and our borough so to be able to lead the ten other guys’ out onto the pitch and be in that atmosphere and in that moment.

“Football brings that opportunity for you to prove yourself against an opponent and overcome the battle on the day on that moment so it’s absolutely massive leading the boys’ out on Saturday.”

Henriques appeals for calm heads from his team-mates and for one to be that hero that will be shown in years to come, just like Ronnie Radford (Hereford United) and Matt Hanlon, of foes Sutton United.

He said: “That’s one issue with football, it’s trying to stimulate yourself more than that’s required on such a day it’s easily to over stimulate yourself and just tip over that scale when you’re uncontrolled in what you’re doing so it’s my job as captain to be aware of what’s happened and how individuals’ are playing, as I’m familiar with my team mates as we’ve been training together since pre-season so I know what level to expect.

“It’s a massive occasion so they’re going to be affected by it.  They want to prove themselves, they’re hungry to succeed, the boys, so it’s guiding them and challenging that energy.  We know our tactics, what we want to do and know what we have to do and hopefully it’s enough to beat Orient on the day.”

Henriques added: “It’s a massive occasion and in the context of the season it could be our biggest day of the season so we’re treating it like that.  We’re giving due care in our preparation and ensuring we’ve got the strongest team out on that day.

“I’m excited! As calm and level headed as I may be, I can’t wait for the talking to be over and the actual action at kick-off.”

Saturday is EVERY player in Black and White to stand up and be counted and play their game of their lives and end the club’s 66 year miserable run in The FA Cup.

Backed by a huge following, every person on and off the pitch must believe that Bromley will be that non-league club that produces that famous FA Cup giant-killing that will be remembered for years’ to come.

“That’s the reason I’ve always been playing football,” added Henriques.  “I’ve always enjoyed making history with the club so for me it’s taking the boys’ out as captain, which I haven’t done in the First Round of The FA Cup – yet – even though I’ve played a couple of fixtures in the First Round.

“It’s intertwined in the semi-pro history so if we can sneak through a couple of more rounds, build up the history, build up the legend and just enjoy the story really.”

It really is time to banish 66-years’ of FA Cup hurt!

“I’m a firm believer in destiny, that’s what I thought in the previous game against Dartford.  We lost in the (Kent Senior) Cup Final against them, we lost in the league so I went there believing it was time for things to change and it was our time to go through.

“But we have to go there with faith and belief that we’re successful on the day.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game and will bring you the match report and reaction over the course of the weekend.

For ticket details please visit www.bromleyfc.tv/facup

Leyton Orient  v  Bromley
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Round
Saturday 12th November 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Brisbane Road, Leyton, London E10 5NF