‘I enjoy the battles’ – Former Millwall stalwart Alan Dunne enjoying tactical tests as Bromley continue to progress

Millwall legend Alan Dunne enjoyed a battle on the pitch as a player but he gets even more satisfaction from a tactical fight in the dugout as he looks to create even more history in his assistant managerial role at Bromley.

The 42-year-old former defender joined the Ravens towards the end of his playing career before being promoted to assistant manager when Andy Woodman was appointed as Neil Smith’s successor in 2021.

Dunne and former Crystal Palace goalkeeping coach Woodman have masterminded an FA Trophy win and ended Bromley’s 132-year wait for EFL football after winning promotion via the National League play-offs last season – beating Solihull Moors at Wembley.

Their next task is to stabilise the Hayes Lane-based side in League Two while coming up against the likes of Port Vale, Doncaster and Notts County – three sides who spent big in the summer and are looking to make a League One return.

“I enjoy the battles,” Dunne, who was not afraid of a tough tackle as a player, told the South London Press.

“It’s every week. I’m a winner and I’ll do anything I can to win a game of football. When your pre-match analysis comes off, it’s good.

“When you lose, you think: ‘When I was out there as a player, I could affect it.’ As a coach and an assistant, the feeling of watching the lads get success is good.

“You invest your time in them day in and day out, you want them to be successful and have the days you had as a player in front of their own fans.

“It brings joy to see other people achieve what league football is about. We have won two trophies and there is nothing better in football.

“It’s what you’re in the game for. Winning is everything.”

Woodman had been head of goalkeeping at Arsenal and worked as a coach with Newcastle and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but his first job as the top boss came with Bromley in the National League after replacing former Fulham midfielder Smith.

Dunne was initially a first-team coach before Woodman asked him to be his number two.

“Woody is a motivator,” said the ex-Leyton Orient right-back.

“He’s a big character and a man-manager. He’s been around football at some big clubs and we get on well.

“I do more of the tactical analysis and he gets people going, managing the lads and the group.

“I challenge Woody and I want to be challenged. Nobody wants a ‘yes’ man. We will agree on something and we will make it work.

“I’m loyal to the club and the manager. We have had success with how we work.

“We work well together. It’s very ying and yang. We both have a similar DNA and philosophy.

“It works along with having an owner in Robin Stanton-Gleaves and our chief executive Mark Hammond, who are invested in us. We all play our part in wanting to grow this club in league football – that’s our aim.”

Bromley finished in the National League play-off spots in two of their two seasons under Woodman and Dunne before promotion.

They reached the semi-finals in the season before promotion and lost to Chesterfield in extra time.

But after big spenders Wrexham and Notts County were promoted at the end of the 2022-23 season, Bromley seized their opportunity.

“We were unlucky in the play-offs the year before,” said Dunne.

“It was disappointing going so close at Chesterfield, but our goal was to go up the season after.

“To do it in the play-off final at Wembley – after a season’s worth of hard work, disagreements and debates – there was nothing more proud. It’s the best way of going up.

“It’s a great day. Me and Woody did what nobody has ever done at this club – taking it into league football.

“The whole town has benefited from it and the club is where it should be. We’re proud of that.”

Centre-back Byron Webster, who was convinced by Dunne not to hang up his boots after leaving Carlisle and to join Bromley, scored the winning penalty to fire the club to League Two.

The former Millwall captain was smiling at Solihull keeper Nick Hayes before scoring the spot kick.

When asked what was running through his head as the ex-Yeovil defender walked from the halfway line to the penalty spot, Dunne said: “I thought:
‘Who has put Byron on the penalties?’

“The smile and the composure said it all. You never know until it’s taken. I played with Webby – he’s a leader. It was written for him. I know what he brings to the table. He’s a credit to himself professionally.

“He’s calm and collected.”

So how do you celebrate the biggest trophy of the club’s history and of your early coaching career?

“It was probably my proudest moment as an assistant,” said Dunne.

“When you’re in charge of implementing the tactical style of play and recruiting the players, it’s a different feeling than being on your own as a player.

“Me and Woody shared a glass of wine after. It was an emotional moment. I couldn’t even tell you what we said to each other. We just knew we did it.

“We were with our families and we had the trophy upstairs at Wembley. We had a photograph together – it was a feeling of achievement.

“The National League is the hardest league to get out of. It was surreal that we had gone up and done it through a penalty shootout.

“Nobody can take that away from us – we made history with the club.

“We don’t want to sit on it and we were back to work not long after.

“Our next challenge is to establish ourselves and climb this table. We want to look up and see how we can compete at the top end.”

Dunne made 338 appearances for Millwall between 2000 and 2015 after progressing through the club’s academy.

His role at Bromley has seen him work with a handful of Lions loanees, with the two clubs having a strong relationship since Woodman took charge.

The latest player to make a loan stint from The Den to Hayes Lane is Kamarl Grant, 21, who played a role in helping the Ravens win promotion last season and returned for another stint at the start of this season.

“They’re good boys the loan players – we have had a good pedigree of loan players over the years,” said Dunne.

“When I watch Kamarl and Danny Imray (on loan from Crystal Palace), they have got talent but it is just about getting them to put it together in men’s football.

“Kamarl is still young and needs to learn certain parts of his game, but that’s what he’s here for.

“You have to be really at your game at Championship level. A season with us is what he needs and I can help him so that when he goes back to
Millwall, having played nearly 400 games, I can understand what is needed of a defender there.

“It’s about your body language and making sure that when you put the shirt on, you play for the club and the badge – you have to be proud of it.

“It brings me joy working with them. They have all the tools to be top players, you just have to polish up the areas that they need to work on.

“That’s what I get up for in the mornings.”

On the other end of the coaching spectrum, Dunne also works with the experienced Michael Cheek, 33, who is playing in his first League Two season after competing in the non-league circuit for his entire career.

Webster, 37, and Corey Whitely, 33, are also key members of Woodman and Dunne’s plan to stay in the division.

“It’s not so much coaching with them,” he said. “We can polish them and they learn, but it’s more about getting the best out of them and what is right for them.

“It’s about building trust and the likes of Webby are great for that. It’s more about managing them.”

Dunne, who studied for his UEFA A licence at 33, has credited Ray Wilkins and Kenny Jackett as two inspirations for him switching into the coaching game.

“I like stability and I’m happy as an assistant,” he said when asked if he saw himself being the main man on the touchline in the foreseeable future.

“I’m still learning the game at the moment. I have no plans of being a manager in the near future.

“I’m trying to help this club try and be better day by day. That’s my goal and I let the rest take care of itself.

“I would never say never, but I’m very happy with what I’m doing now.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD