It’s Not Just a Cat

 

When rumours started to circulate last week than Gareth the Stadium cat at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane ground was going to be moved on to pastures new there was a general wave of disappointment and concern for the old moggy, but it wasn’t just the animal’s welfare that was the cause for annoyance it was what he stood for. 

Bromley FC are in a great position at the moment, sitting fourth in the National League at the highest level they have ever played at, with eyes on a promotion to the Football League. The old Hayes Lane ground has had a remarkable make over including new stands, floodlights and ongoing work on hospitality facilities. They run successful Ladies, Under 23, Academy & children's teams, plus a superb Community programme that reaches out to people across the whole borough. There is so much to be positive about and attendances have gone from a few hundred to around 2,000 for a home game in a decade.   

With progress comes change though and that’s not always easy for long standing fans like myself to go along with. In recent times the club has changed the badge, the kit (no more black shorts) and club colours (now incorporating gold). The old photos of teams past that used to hang in the bar were left in a pile in the club shop and eventually sold off to fans just before the pandemic. Spectators can no longer pay cash on the gate to see a game, tickets are purchased in advance from the website, there’s no more deciding at 2pm ‘I fancy seeing Bromley play this afternoon’. The board carrying names of supporters who sponsored seats in the old benches end back in 2014 to ensure the club could compete in the play offs has disappeared and the pictures of cup winning teams that adorned the walls of the entrance to the hospitality venues have been painted over for a more corporate neutral feel. 

Little things really, but it felt like the past was being air brushed out. Then came the news of Gareth’s intended relocation, a uniquely non-league quirk of a cat living in the ground and generally being part of the fabric of the club. The cat has been living at Hayes Lane for years and was named after former player Gareth Williams who was a red headed striker from the 2007 promotion winning side. 

At times it’s felt like when you get into a band who plays in small club venues and then they move up to playing in front of a few thousand in arenas and you find yourself sharing the experience with a whole lot of people you don’t know and have a very different take on what the band stand for. You still love the band and their music, but it’s not going to be the same.                         

Gareth’s impending fate felt like a bridge too far in the club’s move to a more professional feel and within hours of the rumours reaching social media #savegareth was a thing. Within days of the impromptu campaign the club had changed it’s mind and the cat was staying put. It was good news, not only for Gareth himself, but for the fact that it proves the club still listens to it’s fans old and new with their concerns. The club are in the process of setting up a fans group to liaise with them and discuss issues like this. It has also since emerged the name of fans who sponsored seats will be recorded in the new facilities at the back of the Glyn Beverly stand when work in complete.

So although things have change beyond recognition at Bromley as it’s moved forward in the last few years, the spirit and a soul is still there.    

Col.  

PS. 

Less than a month after I wrote this Gareth was evicted from Hayes Lane and moved to Beckenham Town FC, where he is reported to be very happy. Maybe that soul i referred to is in more trouble of being lost than I thought.