Aaron Roberts | Bromsgrove Sporting

Bromsgrove Sporting completed a superb survival from relegation in the Southern Premier Central, as win at St Ives Town & Stratford Town in two of their final three league games led Tim Flowers side to an 18th placed finish.

Roberts receiving a commemorative shirt to celebrate the milestone of 350 appearance for the club

The Rouslers, who had their highest ever league finish last season under Scott Adey-Linforth, had a campagin of transition this year when the latter was sacked in early December, and subsequently Chairman Rod Brown appointed former Premier League title winner, Flowers. Although Bromsgrove didn't end a day in the bottom three since mid September, the dreaded relegation always threatened.

Tim Flowers side entered into the game away at St Ives Town on the 11th April just the one point above their opponents, and the Sporting boss even called it a do or die kind of game, winner takes all. In the end, Bromsgrove won 2-0, and it ended up being the case with the Saints being relegated the subsequent weekend, after a 2-1 win for Flowers side at Stratford.

Bromsgrove relied on some key players during their run in, loanee George Wynne, goalscorer Luke Benbow, alongside two crucial goals in two big wins from Shay Willock, but captain Aaron Roberts was the main wearing the armband pioneering the whole operation on the pitch. I had a chat with the Rouslers captain to discuss the importance of staying up, the secrets behind the sides last minute change of fortunes, and an observation of his own performances.

Aaron Roberts featured more for Bromsgrove than any other of their defenders

"Staying in the division, with the way we operate is the bare minimum of what a club our size should expect. That said it’s been another season of chopping and changing for us both manager wise and with changes upstairs. The gaffer has worked tirelessly to improve and keep us in the league and is correct in saying how important it was due to the new consortium being announced with huge plans to push the team on and off the pitch.

"I’m a big believer in football that you make your own luck. In the games we were narrowly losing prior to a good run, there were signs of resilience in the performances and lots of chance creation with an improved performances in the yards we were covering as players. I think the last month we have clicked at the right time to see it over the line and draw a line under this season.

"I think personally I’ve always been my own biggest critic, no matter how I perform, I always want more from myself and I emphasise what I didn’t do so well. I think since becoming captain I’ve improved as a leader in and out the dressing room and tried to help push the younger and players new so we can get some solid results. I think going forward we will see some fresh faces as with every new season, but I think these will be really exciting signings for the fans, maybe even players we felt were out of reach for the last few years.

"I would like to thank all the fans who have supported us home and away for another year. My personal relationship with them is well known, and I would love to see as many of them as usual there next season ready to cheer the lads on to a new beginning in the 2026/27 campaign."

So where did it go so right for Bromsgrove towards the end of the campagin to help them cement their place in the Southern Premier Central for yet another season. The Rouslers improved massively in the last 21 league games of the campaign compared to the first 21, both goals conceded and scored.

Over the course of the campaign, Bromsgrove have exclled in numerous aspects of their game. The side had 20 different goalscorers this season, and only Kettering Town & Stourbridge (21) had more. The Rouslers also faired well in scoring goals through subsitutes, only Spalding United (18), Harborough Town (17) & Real Bedford (12) scored more than Bromsgrove's 12.