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Tonbridge Angels manager Steve McKimm on their FA Trophy last-16 clash with Bromley

Tonbridge are out to make more history in the FA Trophy this weekend.

Angels’ run to the last 16 is the furthest they’ve ever been in the competition.

Tonbridge Angels manager Steve McKimm celebrates their 3-1 win at Dorking last weekend Picture: Dave Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels manager Steve McKimm celebrates their 3-1 win at Dorking last weekend Picture: Dave Couldridge

They’ve already taken the scalps of two National League sides, in Torquay and King’s Lynn, and bid to make it three at home to high-flying Bromley on Saturday.

The Ravens are fourth in the table, five points off the top with a game in hand, and last month manager Andy Woodman was approached by Gillingham.

He stayed put, and Gills turned to Neil Harris instead, with Angels boss Steve McKimm in no doubt about the size of the task facing his side.

Torquay may be a bigger name but Bromley are a stronger side this season.

“We’ve played King’s Lynn, who are down the bottom, Torquay, who are mid-table, and now we’ve got Bromley who who are flying high at the top,” said McKimm.

“They’re doing really well, they’ve got a very good squad and a good management team.

“Obviously it got noticed he was good because Gillingham wanted him.

“It’s an ambitious club, they’ve always had that ambition to do better, they’re pushing hard and I don’t see why they can’t get to the Football League.

“It will be extremely tough for us but we’ll do our homework, as we always do, and give it our best shot.

Tommy Wood, pictured celebrating one of his two goals at Dorking, is a man in form for Tonbridge Picture: Dave Couldridge
Tommy Wood, pictured celebrating one of his two goals at Dorking, is a man in form for Tonbridge Picture: Dave Couldridge

“The players and staff together have made history for our club but we don’t want to sit there and bask in that, we want to try and get to the next round.

“Make no bones about it, it will be very difficult, but it’s a one-off game and you never know.”

Tonbridge will be two wins from a Wembley final if they upset Bromley - runners-up in the Trophy in 2018.

But McKimm believes last season’s FA Cup first-round tie against Bradford is still the bigger game.

“I don’t think it’s bigger than Bradford, that was a bigger game for the club,” he said.

“Yes, the FA Trophy is a realistic chance to get to Wembley but we hadn’t been to the first round of the FA Cup for nearly 50 years, and that was something for our club to achieve.

“Football is about making memories. The players made history last year in the FA Cup and this season’s squad have done it in the FA Trophy."

Striker Tommy Wood is a dangerman for Tonbridge after scoring seven goals in as many games since ending a barren spell.

Delight for Joe Turner after scoring at Dorking in Angels' 3-1 victory Picture: Dave Couldridge
Delight for Joe Turner after scoring at Dorking in Angels' 3-1 victory Picture: Dave Couldridge

The former AFC Wimbledon striker turned down approaches from lower-league clubs during that period and is getting his rewards.

"No one sulked, no one kicked up a fuss and wanted to leave when we were going through a bad run," said McKimm.

"To me, we've got a squad of 18 and I've always said if players aren't happy, then just come and see me and you can move on. I'd never want an unhappy player at our club.

"We were never looking to get rid of anybody. Our job as a management team is not to throw people overboard, it's to work with them and make them better and give them confidence.

"It's a cop-out to change things willy-nilly. We stuck with what we had, added a couple of loanees and the boys are coming good, but there's a long way to go."

There has been some movement in the squad, with striker Jake Embery going to Isthmian Premier side Leatherhead on dual-registration.

He played 90 minutes in a goalless draw with former club Margate on Tuesday night and the Tanners' busy schedule will help his match fitness before returning to Tonbridge.

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