Wellington AFC

Wellington started their pre-season friendlies with a 1-1 draw away to Somerset County League side Worle.

New manager Kevin Evans used 18 players during the game with a number of new faces lining up alongside the majority of last season’s squad.

Wellington bossed the first half without being able to score and it was Worle who came closest to  scoring with a shot by Ian Leadbitter, which hit the post.

It was a similar story after the break with the home side going ahead with a long-range effort by Barry Flynn after 73 minutes.

Wellington hit back to equalise six minutes later with an equally well-struck shot by Simon Elsley.

WELLINGTON’S new boss Kevin Evans was delighted with the turnout at his first training session as manager of the Toolstation League club.

Over 30 players attended with the majority of last season’s first team squad present.

“I was over the moon with the way the first training session went,” said former Weston St John manager Evans, who recently took over from Ian Jackson.

“To get over 30 for the first session was great and everyone worked very hard. There were 11 or 12 of what I would consider the first team there with a few still to come back due to holidays and other commitments.

“Some players may drift away but there could be a few returning to the club and I’ve also sounded out one or two St John players I’m waiting to hear back from.”

Evans has arranged five pre-season friendlies which are all away. They are: Sat, July 15 Worle (2pm); Sat, July 22 Burnham (2pm), Thurs, July 27 Barnstaple Town (7.45pm); Sat, July 29 Chard Town (2pm); Sat, Aug 5 Westland Utd (Weston-s-M) (3pm).

WELLINGTON Football Club made a profit on the past season, treasurer Tony Bull told the annual meeting last night (Wednesday).

Mr Bull said the surplus of nearly £1,000 represented a turnaround as the Toolstation League division one club had lost £4,000 the previous season.

The long-serving treasurer told the meeting that the clubhouse account showed a profit of £19,330 with the clubhouse bar surplus increasing from £26,411 to £29,075. The playing side of the club had cost £18,474 with nearly £13,000 being spent on team expenses and travelling.

Match officials had also cost the club more than £4,000 and payments to leagues and clubs £3,500. On the positive side, more than £6,700 had been raised in advertising and sponsorship, an increase of more than £1,000, and £2,224 in gate receipts, up from £1,713.

Chairman Ken Bird said it had been a roller coaster season for the club on the playing front and had resulted in a disappointing final league position.

But he hoped the appointment of Kevin Evans as first-team manager and John Norman as reserves player-boss would provide some much-needed stability.

He thanked everyone, who had helped the club during the season, particularly the officers and committee and the team of voluntary bar workers.

Wellington’s changing rooms are undergoing a series of improvements during the close season. Players report back for pre-season training on Tuesday, July 4.

NEW Wellington manager Kevin Evans has set his sights on a mid-table position in Division One of the Toolstation League.

The 48-year-old, who was appointed last week, is also confident he can bring stability to the team after the upheaval of last season.

Weston-super-Mare based Evans was in charge of Toolstation League rivals Weston St Johns last season.

He has previously coached at Western League clubs Torrington, Bishop Sutton and Elmore and took over from Ian Jackson who resigned at the end of the season.

“My main aim is to finish higher than last season and I’m confident we can achieve a mid-table position,” he said.

“I faced Wellington three times last season and they seemed to lack consistency.

“I want to bring some stability to the playing side which was missing because of the changes of manager last season.

“I want to give every player at the club a chance to impress and will only bring in new players if they will improve the side.”

Evans is set to start his first season in full charge of a club.

He took over as manager of St Johns in February and had to combine that with his duties as chairman and secretary.

“I decided I had taken St Johns as far as I could and, when the Wellington job came up, I thought it looked a good challenge and somewhere I could test myself as simply a football manager,” he added.

Evans said he has contacted the majority of last season’s first team squad and no one has informed him they are leaving.

Training starts July 4 and takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

He has, so far, fixed up two friendlies – away to Barnstaple (July 27) and Westland Utd (August 5).