Bromley and Leicester City lock horns in League One in a fixture that, 10 years ago, would have seemed inconceivable on a Football Manager save.
Tuesday's hosts have endured a difficult start to their debut League One campaign -- placed 22nd in the standings after nine games -- but it's a position that every Bromley supporter would have dreamt of just three seasons ago when they were battling to escape the National League.
Any pre-season suggestion that Leicester would comfortably win the third tier title have been disproved less than 10 games into the season, with manager Russell Martin encountering criticism just weeks into his reign at the King Power Stadium.
We've looked back on the contrasting fortunes of each team as the two sides prepare to meet at Hayes Lane.
The rise of Bromley; from the National League to the EFL
Before earning promotion to the National League in 2014/15, Bromley had never surpassed the sixth tier of English football, and so that in itself was an impressive feat. But what was to come, even their most optimistic supporters couldn't have predicted.
Their rise to the Football League wasn't swift. In fact, they spent eight years in the National League before eventually securing promotion when winning the play-offs under the stewardship of Andy Woodman in 2023/24.
Survival in the fourth tier would have been received positively by supporters given that it was the club's first-ever campaign in the EFL, so fans were unsurprisingly elated when Bromley managed an 11th placed finish in 2024/25, finishing just four points outside of the League Two play-off spots.
Bromley acclimatised to the demands of the Football League in their first season, but even then few expected them to develop so significantly the following campaign.
The Ravens enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign, losing just seven games all season and enjoying a 21-game unbeaten run between December 2025 and March 2026 that ultimately spearheaded them to an unlikely promotion and the League Two title.
The demise of Leicester City; from Premier League champions to League One strugglers
From the 5000/1 'Impossible Dream' to back-to-back relegations to the third tier in the space of a decade.
In 2016, Leicester achieved the greatest underdog story of all time as they were crowned champions of England. Orchestrated by the 'Tinkerman' Claudio Ranieri, the Foxes had Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez wreaking havoc in attack, N'Golo Kante covering every blade of grass in midfield and a watertight rearguard that religiously put their bodies on the line.
Dilly ding, dilly dong. Vardy’s having a party. The King Power Stadium was filled with the vocals of Andrea Bocelli, and UEFA Champions League football descended on Leicester. While they were never going to be able to emulate the heroics of the 2015/16 season, the Foxes were at least competitive in the Premier League years that followed.
Brendan Rodgers had the club on the periphery of the top four in two consecutive seasons. In 2021, despite missing out on UEFA Champions League football in agonising fashion once again, the Northern Irishman guided the Foxes to a first FA Cup title in their history.
However, success often comes at a price. Leicester were eventually made to pay for their overspending during the Rodgers era. Recent years have brought a vicious cycle of unsustainable financial losses, on-pitch setbacks and failed recruitment.
In 2022/23, Leicester had a squad that included Youri Tielemans, James Maddison and Vardy which never should have gone down. While Enzo Maresca was able to oversee an immediate return to the Premier League, the Foxes were not the same force.
Maresca's departure did not aid Leicester's cause, but the appointment of Steve Cooper as the Italian's successor was a failure. As was the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Would Leicester have gone down had they stuck with Marti Cifuentes? Regardless of your opinion, the Foxes had declined whilst the Spaniard was at the helm.
Gary Rowett was introduced in his customary firefighting mission but he was unable to douse the raging flame tearing through the club. Even when Leicester received their six-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules in 2023/24, it seemed unimaginable that the former Premier League champions could be relegated again.
But so it proved, and the points deduction was costly; five points separated Leicester and West Brom in 21st, although the Albion were deducted two points for breaching PSR rules themselves.
The club have undergone a clearout and Martin has been tasked with leading their rejuvenation. But with a fanbase that's divided by emotional detachment and mounting frustration and uncertainty concerning the ownership situation, Leicester's revival is going to be far from straightforward.
Bromley & Leicester league positions since Foxes' Premier League title win
Leicester City | Bromley | |
2026/27 | 14th*( League One) | 22nd* (League One) |
2025/26 | 23rd - relegated (Championship) | 1st - promoted (League Two) |
2024/25 | 18th - relegated (Premier League) | 11th (League Two) |
2023/24 | 1st - promoted (Championship) | 3rd - promoted (National League) |
2022/23 | 18th - relegated (Premier League) | 7th (National League) |
2021/22 | 8th (Premier League) | 10th (National League) |
2020/21 | 5th (Premier League) | 7th (National League) |
2019/20 | 5th (Premier League) | 13th (National League) |
2018/19 | 9th (Premier League) | 12th (National League) |
2017/18 | 9th (Premier League) | 9th (National League) |
2016/17 | 12th (Premier League) | 10th (National League) |
2015/16 | 1st (Premier League) | 14th (National League) |
* 2026/27 League One season ongoing.
