COLCHESTER United boss Danny Cowley will come up against a familiar face this weekend.
And the U’s boss knows all too well the threat Bromley striker Michael Cheek will pose.
Cheek was a fresh-faced youngster when he impressed at Braintree Town under the Cowleys, in the formative years of his career.
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The former Stanway Rovers and Heybridge Swifts striker spent two years with the Iron between 2015 and 2017, scoring 42 goals in 98 appearances in that time before moving on to Dagenham and Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Bromley, whom he joined in 2019.
Since then, the experienced forward has made a name for himself by scoring goals and has scored more than 100 goals for the club.
The 33-year-old played his part in helping them win promotion from the National League for the first time in their history, scoring twice as Bromley beat Solihull Moors on penalties at Wembley.
He is now aiming to continue that record, as he tastes Football League life for the first time.
Cowley said: “Michael Cheek is a boy we know well.
“He’s never far away from goals and it’s been great to see him do consistently well in the National League where he scores 20 goals a season, in that division.
“We had him as a young player and he did brilliant for us, at Braintree.
“For him to now play in the Football League, he’s so deserving of the career he’s had.”
Cowley is expecting Bromley to pose a tough test when they visit the JobServe Community Stadium for the first time tomorrow.
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The Ravens are managed by former U’s goalkeeper Andy Woodman, who led them to promotion to the EFL last season.
“Bromley have done brilliantly in recent times, navigating their way through the non-league pyramid and got to the National League, which is the toughest of divisions,” added Cowley.
“It’s so hard and they’ve done unbelievably well.
“I went to Wembley and watched them in the play-off final and they’re a very, very well-organised team.
"They have a very good mentality and very different to play against, awkward opponent.
“They have a real threat on the counter attack and have a real threat from set pieces.
“We anticipate a really tough game.
“Andy Woodman has done fantastically well there.
“I watched them on Tuesday night against Cambridge and they ended up winning on penalties.
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“It was a rollercoaster of a game with six goals and a penalty shoot-out, so I definitely got my value for money.
“Bromley are a very good team with a lot to admire.
“I can see why they got promoted and I think they were very well deserving of that promotion.
“I think Andy Woodman and his staff there have done a really good job.
“They’ve got a lot of players who’ve had to work really hard and fight really hard for this opportunity and it looks like they’re going to make the most of it.”
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