We don't want a relegation battle to be part of our agenda, says Bromley boss Mark Goldberg

The Lillywhites finished in fifteenth-place in the Conference South table last season and Goldberg wants to turn around the fortunes of the Hayes Lane outfit this season.

Goldberg reported that his players have returned for pre-season training in fine condition leading up to Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly against Gillingham.

The Gills, who were League Two champions last season, opened their pre-season campaign with wins over Faversham Town (4-2) and Ashford United (2-1) last Saturday.

“It’s been good so far,” said Goldberg.

“We’re pleased with how our squad is shaping up in terms of their fitness. They’ve all arrived probably fitter than what we expected, which is what we asked them to do, but very pleased that they’ve done their own preparations in order to turn up and be ready.

“We feel that the team bonding is already taking shape, although it’s very early, we’ll be well prepared as we enter into the games programme.”

Bromley would have had three training sessions going into the game against Martin Allen’s side.

When asked what he wants to gain from pre-season, Goldberg replied, “I think we’ve only kept six or seven of last season’s squad so a lot of new faces but they’re all players who we know well that we’ve either played against or watched them enough to know what they’re capable of and how they’ll fit in to the way we’d like to play.

“It’s a question now of using the games programme to ensure that we gel as a squad in time for the season.

“I want to learn about the players that we have introduced to the squad and I want to learn how best to play them in what positions.  I want to learn the best system that we should be playing with the players that we have and I want to learn about the players themselves, not just their ability but in terms of their temperament and how they’re able to cope with different situations.

“Pre-season is a very paramount importance to any management team and we’ll be making sure to maximise the opportunities that we’ll be prepared and be ready for the start of the season.”

Goldberg has not finalised his squad at this moment in time and players on trial will be keen to impress during pre-season.

He said: “We’ve got the core squad in place but we’ve got four or five players there who may well join the squad who have been invited to our pre-season programme.”

The Conference published their fixture lists this morning and Bromley will travel to Woking to tackle Hayes & Yeading on the opening day of the season (17 August).

Bromley then welcome Ryman Premier League champions Whitehawk (who hail from Brighton) to Hayes Lane three days later, before playing their first Kent derby of the season, at home to Tonbridge Angels on 24 August.

“I don’t think we should read too much into who you’re playing and whether you’re away or at home,” said Goldberg.

“We have got to get off to a good start. Whichever teams we’re plotted against, as it happens the fact that we’ve got the first game being away to Hayes & Yeading and then Whitehawk and Tonbridge at home I feel that we should be relatively pleased that we haven’t got any of the real big guns in our first ten games other than Eastleigh I think on Saturday 7^th.”

Goldberg believes his side will be performing much better than in recent seasons.

“Well I’m hopeful that we can improve upon our last years’ situation that we were fighting too often during the season in the relegation battle so we just want to make sure that this year the relegation battle isn’t part of our agenda and if we can see ourselves in the top half of the table and we’ve got something to fight for at the end of the season then that will be a massive bonus.”

Bromley’s second pre-season game will see a short trip to Southern Counties East Football League neighbours Beckenham Town on Saturday 13 July, which has a 1pm kick-off at Eden Park Avenue.

The artist formerly known as the Kent League will have 17 clubs after both Crowborough Athletic and Rye United won their appeals today to stay in the Sussex County League.

Both Goldberg and Bromley’s owner Jerry Dolke are both former Beckenham Town players and are looking forward to the game.

Goldberg said: “Beckenham is a local and old club of mine and Jeremey’s. The pitch there is fantastic and it will be a great opportunity again to prepare and to see what we need to see at this stage of the season, but also against some friendly opposition.”

Meanwhile, former Charlton Athletic, Bromley and Hastings United striker Bradley Goldberg, 19, scored on his Dagenham & Redbridge debut as a substitute during their 4-0 win at Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town last Saturday.

The striker has been invited back to training with the League Two side and his father said: “He’s in training today and we see how this week goes. It was a good start for him but he’s now got to get the opportunity to be able to play more games and to show what he’s capable of.

“This year, if he’s going to progress in football in the way that he’d like to, he’s got to find a manager that believes in him and will play him.

“Just last year, men’s football was so important for him. Hastings was a great opportunity for him to show what he was  capable of and he’ll have that same opportunity a level up, or a couple of levels up I should say.”

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley  v  Gillingham
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 6^th July 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF