Two fans at last Bromley FC final going to Wembley again

Londoners were still recovering from the misery and destruction of the Second World War, but for some, Bromley FC were about to offer an escape.

Along with Romford FC, Bromley made it to Wembley Stadium for the FA Amateur Cup final of 1949 – the first time the competition had been staged under the famous old twin towers.

Now, 69 years on, Bromley are returning to Wembley to face Brackley Town on May 20 for the FA Trophy final.

Incredibly, two fans who were there for the last Wembley final will be present to see the Ravens grace the national stadium once again.

John Butler, now 79, was just 10-years-old when his dad took him to see the big match against Romford.

He told News Shopper: “I can’t believe it – I don’t know where the time has gone!

“People were beginning to need some excitement other than pressures of the war. I remember being in a concrete shelter while my mum and dad played cards.”

John said he recalls being overwhelmed at seeing 99,000 fans flood inside Wembley for the match.

He described how after the 1-0 win, supporters flocked to Bromley Town Centre where the team brought back the cup in front of thousands of fans.

“It was something to be proud of,” John said. “There was a lot of bombing in the area, and people were so pleased to get out and celebrate something.”

John will be taking his 13-year-old grandson to May’s showpiece final for his first trip to Wembley.

He said: “It is going to be emotional going back after 69 years. I am lucky to be healthy enough to do it.

“I don’t know how many years I have left, but this will make my life worthwhile,” he laughed.

John Sanders, 83, will also be in the Wembley stands once again – albeit the revamped version.

Photo - John with his grandson 

He said 1949 was a year he will never forget.

“I don’t think I missed a match that season, and I have the match programmes to prove it,” he said.

John used to go the Bromley games with a group of friends who lived locally.

He was a 14-year-old teenager who still remembers the historic 1-0 win over Romford.

He told News Shopper: “I remember the captain, who lived opposite me, getting injured. We were down to nine men and there were no subs in those days.

“We were virtually kicking the ball to the back of the stands as far as we could just to waste time.

“It went well for us but not too well with the Romford supporters!”

John is now looking forward to going back to Wembley with two of his sons and his five grandsons.

He said: “It will be emotional going back. There is always a joke in my family that when England won the World Cup and Geoff Hurst scored, I threw my baby son William into the air and caught him.”

Will he do the same if Bromley score the winning goal at Wembley in May?

“He is a big lad now, so I don’t think I will manage it this time,” John laughed.