HAYES LANE ULTRAS FC – TEAM HISTORY

HLUFC were formed as a supporters team for fans of Bromley F.C in 2002 by Tim Stokes, playing a few games in the Catford 6-a-side Power league, before in the April of 2003 they made their 11-a-side debut in a supporters game against Dulwich Hamlet Supporters F.C at Coney Hall Recreation Ground, drawing 1-1. The origins of the team though go back to 1990 when the then Bromley Hardcore Supporters F.C were formed by Ben Salmon and Colin Head to play other supporters teams in full sided and five a side tournaments. Their first match was away to Margate Supporters in October 1990, but on arrival at the coastal town it was clear that BHSFC had been pitted against the Margate Youth Team! BHS lost the game 7-1, but the enthusiasm was not dented and the team went on to play more games that season, beating Dulwich Hamlet 6-4 at Norman Park before losing the return 4-1, drawing 3-3 with Bishop Stortford and Football Utopia Fanzine.
The next season saw the team record a 0-0 draw away to Enfield before trouncing them 13-2 in the return at Norman Park! The decision was then taken by the guys in charge of the team, Nick Evans, Colin Head & Lloyd Chambers, to apply for membership of the Orpington & Bromley Sunday Football League and BHSFC went on to play a series of friendly matches against league teams and other clubs applying for membership. After initially being refused entry BHSFC were accepted into the OBDSFL and placed in division six, one change had to be made though, the name of the team was deemed to be offensive by the league committee and a new one chosen for us to play under. This was the first time Hayes Lane Ultras was suggested, but in the end Bromley City F.C was chosen as it incorporated the shirt sponsors name indie punk band Mega City Four.
From September 1992 until April 2001 Bromley City FC competed in the OBDSFL fluctuating between Divisions six, five and four on a regular basis, gradually though the number of players who regularly attended Bromley FC games dwindled and it could no longer be called a supporters team by the time it folded in the summer of 2001. The club had been run by secretary Colin Head from 1991 to 1998 before Col’s illness mean that Ben Salmon took over and then James ‘Ted’ Martin for the final season, which saw the club reach the semi final of the league cup.
From the ashes HLUFC rose and with a new generation of supporters available to chose from and the intention of just playing half a dozen game a season and at least fielding a team of guys who were not strangers to the occasional Saturday at The Nest! Colin Head took over the running of the team once more, with the assistance of Mark Cooper, Mark ‘Sven’ Avenell and Dave Garvin on the coaching staff. Old Bromley Hardcore Supporters regulars have featured in the new team and the team’s best results have been achieved when the mixture of old and new has been right. Hopefully things are set for a bright future for Hayes Lane Ultras FC and it can go on a represent the supporters of Bromley FC for another generation.

Col.
March 2004

HISTORY UPDATE MARCH 2008
HLUFC are now playing on average one game per month throughout the season and after joining the IFA Internet Supporters League they have met a varied number of supporters teams from around the south east. Colin Head is still in charge of running the side assisted by club captain Martin Ramsey, with occasional assistance from the now retired Martin Roberts and injury expert Dave Garvin. Home games are played at Norman Park, Hayes Lane, Bromley, only a few hundred yards down the round from the home of Bromley FC. With most games taking place on Saturday mornings prior to the senior team’s fixtures.
Bromley FC have also helped the side letting them play for free on the main pitch at Hayes Lane on two occasions and also donating last seasons first team kit to the club to go along with the red kit kindly provided at some discount by veteran defender Ben Salmon. The old black & white striped shirts that Mark Avenell and Dave Garvin bought originally is still also in use by the six a HLUFC side team that plays on Monday nights at The Priory in Orpington.
After a couple of poor seasons results wise things picked up in 2006/07 and have been respectable in 2007/08. As some of the BHSFC old guard are joined in the senior status ranks by HLU members we have been able to welcome a new generation of players from The Bromley Aces youngsters, including the Hutton brothers of which Tim at 15 became the youngest player to score for HLUFC in a recent win over Hampton.
The future looks good for Hayes Lane Ultras FC with a larger squad to chose from than at any other time in the clubs history and lots a good group of people willing to help run things.

Col.