Bromley goalkeeper hopes one of his teammates can carve their name into FA Cup history by having their own Ronnie Radford moment against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Radford’s remarkable long-range strike on a muddy surface at Edgar Street in February 1972 brought non-league Hereford level with the top-flight Magpies.
Hereford replacement Ricky George went on to score the winner in extra time, with the late John Motson delivering all of the unforgettable commentary for Match of the Day.
EFL new boys Bromley won a dramatic first-round tie against Rochdale 4-3 after scoring twice in stoppage time, and then defeated Solihull Moors to reach the third round for the first time.
Sunday’s journey to St James’ Park will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and via the red button, providing the Kent club with valuable additional exposure in addition to the increased FA Cup prize money.
Grant Smith, who began his career in the junior setup at Reading and then Fulham before moving on to Brighton and Lincoln, feels Bromley can capitalise on their own national spotlight moment.
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“Football is a very short-sighted sort of mind, where all it takes is one of our players to have one good game on the right stage, in front of the right viewers – and then suddenly everyone will be talking about you,” Smith told the Associated Press news agency.
“Suddenly you are an outstanding player, and all these different types of clubs are interested in you, and it’s as if your entire season has been fantastic.
“For some of our boys, maybe that’s what they’re thinking, and that might boost their stock a little.
“Hopefully we can have maybe five, six or seven of our players doing that and we could give Newcastle a good game.”
Smith, 31, added: “The essential thing, though, is that the publicity for the club is incredible, and the income will undoubtedly benefit the club in the future.
“A lot of non-league and lower-league clubs rely on getting a couple rounds through the FA Cup to generate income, which may set clubs up for the following several years.
“So everything about the FA Cup this season has been positive and hopefully, come Sunday, we can continue the run.”
Bromley go to Newcastle after losing 4-1 at Crewe last weekend, ending their 10-match undefeated streak.
Smith, who joined Bromley in the summer of 2023 following two seasons at Yeovil, admits Andy Woodman’s squad hasn’t had much time to contemplate on what awaits them on Tyneside because to their hectic festive schedule.
“Over the Christmas and New Year period, it is absolutely hectic,” said Smith, who made two penalty shoot-out saves to help Bromley win the Vanarama National League play-off final against Solihull at Wembley Stadium last season.
“We’ve had so many games coming up so quickly that we haven’t even had time to sit back and say, ‘Oh God, we’re playing at Newcastle soon,’ so it’s been one game at a time.”
“Now all those games are out the way, we can really look forward to the weekend and be looking to perform.”
Bromley will be missing Kamarl Grant due to suspension after the on-loan Millwall defender was sent off late at Crewe for a second yellow.
