Former Cobblers goalkeeper Andy Woodman is in charge of Bromley in the EFL for the first time

Former Northampton Town goalkeeper Andy Woodman managed Bromley in the EFL for the first time.

Woodman, who is the Ravens manager from 2021, saw his side win the National League play-off final, his side beating Solihull Moors on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wembley.

Bromley will compete in League Two for the first time in their history next season, with the south London club finishing third in the regular season before beating Altrincham and then Solihull Moors on their way to League Two alongside the champions already promoted from the league. Chesterfield.

At Wembley, Bromley twice led through a pair of goals from top scorer Michael Cheek, only for strikes from Joe Sbarra and Jamey Osbourne to cancel out each advantage. With no further goals in the 90 minutes or extra time, it meant that for the second year in a row the play-off final would be decided by penalty kicks.

In the shootout, Bromley keeper Grant Smith saved to keep out Tyrese Shade and Joss Labadie. Ashley Charles had a spot kick saved by Solihull keeper Nick Hayes but Bromley scored their other spot kicks to earn the win that booked them promotion.

Woodman spent four years as a player at Northampton Town where he made over 160 league appearances for the Cobblers between 1995 and 1999.

Since retiring, Woodman has been goalkeeping coach at West Ham, Charlton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Arsenal and had a brief spell as manager of non-league side Whitehawk.

In a post-match interview with BBC Radio London, Woodman expressed his delight at promoting the club into the top 4 divisions of English football for the first time.

He said: “This was an unhealthy obsession for me. It was about changing history at this football club and making sure that when we are long gone, myself, my team and my staff, we will forever be the people who got us into the Football League.”

Bromley and Chesterfield will be promoted from the National League to the EFL for next season. They take the place of Forest Green Rovers and Sutton United, who endured relegation from League Two.