Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Bromley have topped the League Two table since December
ByChris PeddyBBC Sport, London & South East- Published18 April 2026, 17:02 BST
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Bromley have been promoted to League One for the first time in the club's history after Notts County's 2-1 defeat by Barnet.
The result means the Magpies now cannot catch the Ravens and Andy Woodman's side are assured of a place in League Two's top three with two games to spare.
Defeat at MK Dons last weekend followed by a goalless draw at home to Cambridge United meant Bromley had to wait for their moment but have now been promoted without having to kick a ball this weekend.
In just their second season in the English Football League, the Ravens will be guaranteed the League Two title if they win their final two games at Salford and at home to Walsall.
Do that, and they will also become just the second team ever to go the entire season unbeaten at home and win the fourth-tier title, after Terry Cooper's Exeter City side of 1989-90.
Bromley's highest high in 134 years
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Bromley won promotion to League Two for the first time in their history via the National League play-offs two years ago
Promotion to League One continues a remarkable rise for the Ravens who, as recently as 2015, were playing in National League South.
They won promotion to League Two two seasons ago when they beat Solihull Moors on penalties in the National League promotion final and followed that success by finishing 11th in the fourth tier in their first-ever EFL season.
Woodman's side began this season with a seven-match undefeated streak, which had them third in the table by the middle of September.
They hit top spot when they beat Crawley Town in December, a result that kick-started a 21-match unbeaten run, and have led the way ever since.
Saturday's defeat at title rivals MK Dons and a goalless draw with Cambridge United on Thursday showed the job was not done yet, but their success on a day on which they haven't even played highlights how they have led from the front and been rewarded for their stunning form in 2026.
Key to their success, as ever, has been striker Michael Cheek, who has scored 16 league goals. Only Aaron Drinan of Swindon Town has more this season, with 22.
Cheek, 34, has scored 130 league goals in 289 matches across the National League and League Two since moving from Ebbsfleet United in 2019.
He has been sorely missed as injury has kept him out of action for the past few weeks.
Another feature of their stunning season has been their imperious home form, turning Hayes Lane into a fortress.
They have picked up a mammoth 50 points out of 63 available.
Another memorable moment for Woodman
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Andy Woodman has led Bromley from the National League to League One with two promotions in three seasons
And then there is the manager. A goalkeeper in his playing days, Woodman, 54, had been head of goalkeeping at Arsenal before taking over as manager at Bromley in March 2021.
At the time, the club were 10th in the National League and he steered them to a seventh-place finish and defeat in the play-off eliminator against Hartlepool United.
Silverware came the following season as Bromley defeated Wrexham in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.
They again finished seventh in 2022-23, this time reaching the play-off semi-finals, when they were beaten by Chesterfield with an extra-time goal from Liam Mandeville.
But the following season was to be Bromley's year, with them beating Solihull on spot-kicks after drawing 2-2 over 120 minutes on another famous day at Wembley.
Woodman made his intentions clear immediately, insisting Bromley were not simply going to try to stay in the EFL but were gunning for promotion to League One at the first opportunity.
And they were not far away, finishing four points short of the play-offs and ending the season strongly with three wins from their final four games.
This season he and his players have achieved their goal emphatically. They have been the league's dominant side, leading the way for 110 days and counting, 24 days more than any other club.
More to follow.
