When Bromley have announced that Director of Football Jerry
Dolke would be stepping down from his role at the end of the season it heralded
the end of a very special era at the club.
Dolke played for Bromley from 1987 to 1990 and was a very
popular figure with the supporters, he then returned to take over ownership of
the club in 2001 and steered Bromley from the bottom of the Isthmian League
Division One South all the way to the National League in 2015, winning several
cups and promotions along on the way.
Not only did things improve significantly on the pitch, but
the club also re-secured ownership of the Hayes Lane ground and made huge
improvements to the facilities. The upstairs bar and the five a side pitches
behind the benches end were massive strides forward at the time and the ground
looked like it had bene given a much needed face lift. In 2019 Jerry passed
over the ownership to Robin Stanton-Gleaves and took up his current role with
The Ravens.
Jerry and his wife Julia have been part of the fabric of the
club since 2001 and their hard work and dedication has been at the core of the
rise up the pyramid and establishing it’s place in the local community, while
maintaining a superb relationship with the club’s fans. Jerry played for the
Hayes Lane Ultras FC supporters team on occasions and also donated a full first
team kit to the team, which they wore with pride. He also organised an annual
game on the pitch at the end of the season for HLUFC against his veterans team.
The announcement that Jerry would be leaving was greeted
with an out pouring of gratitude from supporters on social media and also
sadness at the end of a very special era at Hayes Lane.
Hopefully Jerry will be recognised in some form by having
part of the new buildings/stands at the ground named after him. To be honest he
actually deserves a statue!
Colin Head
