Page 11 - Raynes Park Vale v Welling Town (FA Vase) 25.09.21

T ODA Y ' S VISIT ORS other trophy and promotion. Gaining the park, to semi-professional foot-
TODAY'S VISITORS
WELLING TOWN season and setting the early pace, we years, including numerous promo-
ball in stadiums, in a little over three
a huge points advantage early in the
were slowly clawed back as others
tions, title wins and cup victories
made up their games in hand, but a
strong run in the last two months of
Founded as recently as 2014, er, the real the season ensured another historic
Welling Town FC started out as a peak of title win, lifting the Southern Coun-
Sunday side playing on a Coun- the season ties East First Division title at the first
cil pitch at Hall Place, Bexley in was win- time of asking, and therefore pro-
the London and Kent Suburban ning the motion to their Premier Division for
League. Achieving two promo- Kent Jun- 2019/20. As a result of our new found
tions in as many seasons, the club ior Cup, a level we were also drawn in the FA
then expanded to include a second competi- Vase and FA Cup for the first time.
Sunday side, with both playing in tion with Losing at the first hurdle
the Woolwich and Eltham Sunday over 160 During 2019/20 we made our debuts
Football Alliance. entrants, ranking us as the top amateur in the FA Cup losing at the first hurdle
Kent County Football League side in Kent. A rare treble had been to AFC Uckfield, as well as the FA
The move to Saturday football was achieved, scoring over 130 goals in Vase, where we faired better winning
inevitable and we were accepted in to the process, and losing just one match four ties before being eliminated by
the Kent County Football League in in 53, over a 21 month period. Chatham Town in a 1-0 away defeat
the summer of 2016 despite having Success on the field in the 3rd Round proper – in front of
no past playing record in Saturday Meanwhile, our success on the field, nearly 300 people.
regional football on the basis of our had been mirrored by an application Covid-19 lockdown along the way, and we’re told moving
good Sunday record, excellent con- off the field to the FA to move in to the Our debut league season in the SCEFL from one to the other in such a short
duct and professional set-up demon- semi-professional ranks for 2018/19. Premier started well as we went on an period is unique, and now plays at it’s
strating ambition and organisation After many months of paperwork, 8 game unbeaten run from Septem- highest ever level.
beyond many sides at that level. calls and meetings, the agonising wait ber through November 2019, which Further expansion
First ever silverware was over, and we were approved for including cup games, saw a significant In the last 36 months we have also
Our debut season in 2016/17 saw us membership of the Southern Counties unbeaten run and a strong top 6 posi- branched out to include a reserve side,
win promotion and the West Kent East Football League First Division, tion, before a poorer run from De- an under 23s/academy side linked
Challenge Shield beating four teams Step 6 of the non-league pyramid, for cember until the Covid-19 lockdown with Charlton Athletic Community
from higher divisions in the process – the new season ahead. ending the season prematurely, saw Trust, as well as a couple of youth
our first ever silverware. Pushing for another trophy us finish in a highly commendable 9th teams, with further expansion planned
A rare treble Not wanting to have gone to such place above many established sides at for the future.
The 2017/18 season was extraordinary lengths in gaining entry just to make this level.
– winning the Kent County Second the numbers up, we were determined Highest ever level
Division, as well as defending our to prove our worth and be up towards The club has therefore progressed
West Kent Challenge Shield. Howev- the top of the table pushing for an- from recreational Sunday football in