‘My son’s happy I’m in the new EA FC 25 game!’ – Ex-Millwall defender Byron Webster on EFL return with Bromley
BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk
Byron Webster is gearing up for life back in EFL football with Bromley after a four-season absence from League Two.
The 37-year-old will captain the Ravens in their first Football League season in their 132-year history after firing the South Londoners to penalty shootout National League play-off final success against Solihull Moors in May.
But for Webster’s son Henry, being able to buy his dad in the next EA FC 25 game, which changed it’s title from FIFA in 2023, might be the biggest plus about winning promotion from the fifth tier.
“I’m in the twilight of my career,” former Millwall defender Webster told the South London Press. “To be back in the league is fantastic. Not just for myself, but for my family too.
“My little man, Henry, he’s buzzing that I’m back on FIFA. He says he’s going to put me on the bench, so he’s happy about that.
“When I joined Bromley, it was after lockdown and I didn’t have a good time at my previous club (Carlisle). I was ready to jack it in. It wasn’t until Dunny [Alan Dunne] gave me a phone call and told me to come down, I enjoyed it again.
“The chairman has built the club and progressed it – that’s what he said would happen.
“He’s been true to his word and it’s been good to be a part of the journey. I have loved every second of it.”
Webster converted the winning penalty in the shootout against Solihull, stepping up as the fifth and final taker.
“I’m very boring,” said Webster. “I came straight home after the game. I didn’t get in any celebrations. I was physically knackered and I wanted to get back home to chill out and get some food.
“We had a good party in the next couple of days. When you see faces and messages coming through a couple of days after, you then know how big it was.
“I didn’t know how big it would be. I was very laid back about it. I have had success with Yeovil and Millwall – they were big days. But the Bromley promotion blew all of them out of the water.”
The former Yeovil defender grinned when reaching the penalty spot and coolly slotted past Nick Hayes to book Bromley’s spot in League Two.
“I don’t know why I was so calm,” said Webster. “I got told as I was walking back to the team that I was fifth taker. I don’t know if it was the fact there was no time to think about it, or what, but for some reason, I was more nervous afterwards.
“Speaking to my daughter, she said: ‘Dad, if you had missed that, you would have been hated.’
“Maybe because I’m a simple guy and I don’t think that much, that was the reason. When you overthink things, it can have a negative impact on you.”
Social media picked up on Webster wearing the EFL armband as he took the spot kick. In fact he had been wearing it for the entire season.
“It was the only one in the club,” revealed Webster. “We had a kitman who came from Charlton and he brought it with him.
“It was that one or this orange one with a big captain sign on it – I didn’t like it. I chose the EFL one. I wore it all season – it wasn’t a one-off.
“It wasn’t until the last few games that a couple of teams picked up on it. I found it funny that people thought I went off before the penalties and put a new armband on.
“If I had stepped up and missed it with that armband on, I would have been the biggest numpty around.”
Webster penned a new deal in the summer after his previous deal expired.
“It was more about if Bromley wanted me,” said Webster, who signed his contract in late June. “There were a few options on the table. It was also a decision for me and if I wanted to stay on and play.”
Webster’s career has taken him from York City as a youngster to the Czech Rebuplic and down to South London and Millwall.
He has made more than 475 competitive appearances and has completed his 22nd pre-season.
“I’m not one of them that wants special treatment – I just get on with it,” said Webster. “The older you get, you know your body and what you need to do. We have woked hard and played a lot of games. We have been away in Portugal.
“It’s been good and the training has been hard. It [pre-season] has changed completely. There is a lot more thought and science behind it now. The ball comes out a lot quicker too.
“Footballers go into work mode. You have your pre-season and everybody can’t wait for it to finish. They’re real games, but they’re not – nobody wants to get injured.”
Bromley’s first ever EFL game sees them head to Harrogate tomorrow.
Andy Woodman’s side then host AFC Wimbledon as they look to begin plotting their route to securing their League Two status after such a long wait to secure it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the fans with smiles on their faces,” said Webster. “Being the weirdo that I am, I’m looking forward to seeing the ups and downs. I like to see how people react and how characters are built.
“It won’t be plain-sailing for us. At the end of the year, it will be good to see where we are. Hopefully we can achieve our objective.”
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