Neil Harris verdict on Wembley win for Millwall defender – and why he had total confidence in ex-Lion Webster from the spot
Millwall head coach Neil Harris has expressed his delight at Kamarl Grant being part of Bromley’s National League play-off win over Solihull Moors on Sunday – as well as explaining why he had total faith in ex-Lion Byron Webster’s penalty-taking.
The Ravens won promotion to League Two after a spot-kick shootout success with centre-back Webster producing the vital conversion to seal an EFL place for the first time in the club’s history.
Grant, 21, joined Bromley in February and made 13 appearances, including featuring for every minute of their play-off campaign.
“It will be a special moment for him and his family,” Harris told the South London Press.
“It is also a great experience for our young players to go out and play a part in something as special as a Wembley final. To play in those pressurised moments when there is so much at stake for so many people – you can’t buy that.
“When people talk about loans, some of them can be unproductive and they are easy to point out – where players go out and don’t play too many times.
“You have to look at one like this, which is so positive.
“He has had a lot of football and will have grown as a person and as a professional. To have that game understanding – in tense moments – is so vital for his career moving forward.
“I’m really pleased for a local neighbours of ours, Bromley, to be in the EFL. I know they have invested heavily in the infrastructure and wanted to get there. They have put a lot of time and effort into the playing structure. And there are some old friends of ours, in Alan Dunne and Byron Webster, who played a huge part.”
Picture : Keith Gillard
Webster showed ice-cool nerves when it came to his penalty, producing a raise of his eyebrows and a smile when Solihull keeper Nick Hayes tried to unsettle him.
Webster, 37, has won the FA Trophy with Bromley and was also in the Lions side which prevailed at the national stadium against Bradford in 2017.
Harris said: “I was watching the game with the family and as soon as Byron stepped up, I said to the children: ‘He won’t miss’. Every shootout we got to, or any play-off game we prepared for and we practised penalties, Byron put himself forward. He knew exactly where he was going and was as composed as you’d like. He’d say: ‘Gaffer, I won’t miss’.
“I knew where it was going and any goalkeeper he has practised against knew where it was going. He is so reliable with it. You could see the confidence in him and that just comes with experience – Byron has been involved in big games at Wembley before.
“Byron has lived that. I’m really pleased for Byron and the hard work that Dunney, in particular, has done at that football club behind the scenes.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
