My main aim is to get back into full-time football and Bromley can help me, says Harry Harding

HARRY HARDING says he is “definitely happy” to be back at Bromley after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.


Harding is an inventive midfielder who was on work-experience from Championship club Reading.  He first joined Bromley as a fourteen-year-old, breaking into the first team squad at sixteen, before signing for The Royals.

The Blue Square Bet South club have been quiet during the close season with regards to team personnel, but they lost talented left-back Harrison Dunk and midfielder Wes Daly to Cambridge United and Basingstoke Town respectively.

Warren McBean, who didn’t enjoy his best campaign last season, appears to have left the club.  The striker played the entire second half for Dover Athletic in their 2-0 home win over Hastings United last night.  Dover manager Martin Hayes is searching for a new striker after selling Adam Birchall to League Two side Gillingham yesterday and McBean has been training with the Crabble club.

Mark Goldberg, who is back for his third spell as Bromley manager, showed his hand when his side beat League Two side Gillingham 2-1 at Hayes Lane at the weekend, with former Tonbridge Angels midfielder, Rory Hill scoring both goals against one of his former clubs.

Although no other confirmed signings have been announced by the club, only Paul Agu, Uho Udoji, Marlon Patterson, Harding, Reis Boyle, Tutu Henriques, Ryan Dolby, featured for the club at various times last season.

New faces, on trial, include Hill, Joe Dolan, Orlando Smith, Danny Hockton, Arron Rhule, Neil Simpson, Danny Waldren, Nathan Green, Elliot Jones, Rob Hughes, Tama Tuna and Nick Beasant.

Harding has been confirmed as the club's first official new signing as the club prepare for their Blue Square Bet South opener at Hampton & Richmond Borough on 13 August.

“It has been a bit of a drawn out process and took a while to go through but now it’s finally done, I’m happy,” said Harding, when speaking to www.bromleyfc.net.

While the academy graduate admits to having offers elsewhere, the midfielder confesses the reasons why Bromley was sold to him.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted by other offers but obviously my main goal is to get back into full-time football as quickly as possible and I believe from the discussions I’ve had with Mark (Goldberg) that Bromley is the best place for that, and it’s a great place for me to show what I can do as I have done in the past.”

Having come through the Bromley academy before signing for Reading, Harding believes that his return will help boost the current academy player's hopes of getting a first team place at Hayes Lane.

He said: “I would hope so. Obviously Murray (Jones) is working with the first team again so I'm sure that there will be a few of the younger players who will see the academy not as just something academic, but something that can help them move forward with their game and get into the first team.”

Finally, the midfielder unfortunately found himself released by Reading at the end of last season and admits to having a difficult time over the summer as he was unsure what his next career steps would be.

Harding said: “It was difficult. To be honest, after doing so well at Bromley last season, a lot went on and at stages I was told that I would be getting a new deal but it didn't materialise.

“I just love football so it was very difficult and it's the first summer that the phones have been ringing and the first time that I've been involved with how stressful it can be, but luckily everything has been sorted.”

Bromley coach Neil Smith, 39, believes Saturday’s game against tenants Cray Wanderers will provide his side a stern test.

“Cray are obviously in the division below, done really well last season and will want to do as well again,” he said.

“Like we were pitting ourselves up against Gillingham, they will be in a similar position against Bromley, to see how far away they are.

“You need competitive games as well.  It’s alright having all these professional teams coming down, but we want teams who are going to put themselves up against us who are similar to what we will be playing week in, week out and seeing how far we are away with fitness.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about getting fit for the 13^th August.”

Cray Wanderers, meanwhile, have signed former Bromley goalkeeper, Andy Walker, from relegated club Maidstone United, and despite losing leading goalscorer Laurent Hamici to Carshalton Athletic, boss Ian Jenkins has signed winger Sam Long, following his release from Dover Athletic, and striker Tommy Whitnell returns for his second spell with the club.

Meanwhile, the Wands begin their third Ryman Premier League campaign with a home game against AFC Hornchurch on SUNDAY, 21 August. 

The Wands then travel to Concord Rangers on Tuesday 23^rd August and Leatherhead on Saturday 27^th August, before Hamici returns to the club that put his name on the map, as Carshalton Athletic visit Hayes Lane on Bank Holiday Monday, 29^th August.

With only two Kent sides in the Ryman Premier League this season, Cray Wanderers will host Margate on Boxing Day, and will therefore travel to Hartsdown Park on Easter Monday.

Cray Wanderers will end the season with a home game against Horsham on 28 April.  The Hornets are managed by former Faversham Town boss Justin Luchford, who has ex-Thamesmead coach, Hugo Langton as his number two.

Additional reporting courtesy of Jeff Hutton – www.bromleyfc.net  

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Bromley  v  Cray Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 16^th July 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF