Former Millwall defender going for third win at Wembley – and move to Bromley has re-ignited his love of the game

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Bromley defender Byron Webster is dreaming of a third career victory at Wembley – with another trip to the national stadium guaranteed if they can beat York City in tomorrow’s FA Trophy semi-final.

The 35-year-old has won the League One play-offs with Yeovil and Millwall in 2013 and 2017 respectively.

Webster came through the youth ranks at tomorrow’s opponents but revealed how bullying nearly made him quit football.

The veteran centre-back asked to be released in February 2007, finishing off that campaign playing non-league for Harrogate Town and Whitby on a co-registration before signing for Czech club Banik Most the following August.

Webster made 21 appearances for the Minstermen.

“I loved it there because it was just around the corner from home,” said Webster. “They had a good academy – Jonathan Greening and Richard Cresswell had come through there and as a youngster you wanted to be just like them.

“We had David Stockdale as our keeper. He was in my youth team. We had some good players. Eventually I got into the first-team but a manager came in and, looking back, he was a big bully.

“I didn’t enjoy it any more, so I asked to leave. I was a young lad and it affected me, now it would be water off a duck’s back.

“I think the manager was an old-timer and he had a problem with younger players, even Stocky left as well.

“I’d lost interest in football but then I went abroad and it kickstarted my career again.”

Webster has made 31 appearances for the Ravens this season and has been offered a new deal.

Lions legend Alan Dunne, who has been first-team coach at Bromley since 2017, helped make the move happen in September 2020.

“I feel good,” said Webster. “Touch wood I’ve had no injuries this season. I’ve always looked after myself. I’ve had the odd hamstring injury, which are 10-dayers [out], but I’ve been fit and healthy.

“I left Millwall [in the summer of 2019] and signed for Carlisle but it just wasn’t the best move for me. I’d been at Yeovil and Millwall, both fantastic clubs where everyone is pulling in the same direction and I didn’t feel it was happening there.

“It was a shock to the system, I’d not experienced that in the last eight years. Then Covid struck.

“I didn’t know if I would carry on. My dad and mum have probably been the biggest influences on my career and they said to me that you’re a long time retired – just keep on playing.

“I passed up a few options to stay in the league and then spoke to Dunney. He told me to come down to Bromley and I’ve not looked back.”

Webster has passed his UEFA B coaching badge and wants to move into that field when he hangs up his boots.

“Hopefully when my career finishes I can give Moro [Steve Morison] a call and see if he needs anyone to pick up cones,” said Webster. “He’s doing a fantastic job at Cardiff.

“We do get on well and we spoke about it at Millwall – but there are no guarantees. You can’t just say: ‘Mate – give me a job’. It’s not how it works. You have to make sure you benefit whoever you work for.

“When I’ve not enjoyed my football is when I’ve thought about retiring because as footballers we all sacrifice a lot. It is a good job, but it is also a tough job at the same time.”

It’s why you have to savour the good times. If Bromley can get past York at Hayes Lane this weekend then they will face the winners of Wrexham and Stockport for prestigious silverware.

Neil Smith was in charge when the club lost 5-4 on penalties in the 2018 FA Trophy final to Brackley Town, the tie finishing 1-1 after extra-time.

“If we win there is a pot of gold at the end – to play at Wembley again,” said Webster. “I did it with Yeovil, then got injured in the warm-up at Millwall [missing the play-off final against Barnsley] and then won it with them [against Bradford]. I’ve had some good times there.”

When the Lions were victorious in 2017, Webster and Jake Cooper both ended up getting off the team coach and using the public bicycle hire scheme to get back to the hotel.

“Me and Moro had been drug-tested – we’d been taken to a room and missed all the food,” recalled Webster. “I was starving and it was a boiling hot day. I didn’t feel well, we were stuck in traffic and I said: ‘I need to get off here’.

“Me and Coops went to McDonalds and then it was like ‘s***, how we going to get back now?’ No taxi would stop for us so we decided to get on the ‘Boris Bikes’.

“We made our way to the hotel in Tower Bridge. It was a good couple of miles. I remember cramping up. And I didn’t realise you had to dump the bikes at a station.

“So we had to cycle around to drop them off. It’s quite funny, looking back at it.”

Dulwich Hamlet remained in the National League South play-off zone after a 2-2 draw at Concord Rangers on Saturday.

Taofiq Olomowewe and Danny Mills scored for Gavin Rose’s side, only for an 85th-minute penalty by ex-Charlton winger Danny Green to earn the Essex side a point.

Tooting & Mitcham are in serious peril of relegation from the Isthmian League South Central Division.

The Terrors lost 2-0 at home to Binfield on Saturday and are 17th in the 19-team league.

Isthmian Premier League strugglers Cray Wanderers lost 2-1 at home to Kingstonian last weekend.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD