Wellington AFC

I AM delighted to report that it has been another successful year for Wellington AFC – both on and off the pitch.

The successes on the playing side have been well documented – with the first team finishing in their highest position for ten years, the reserves completing a promotion and cup double and the third team recording their best ever placing.

I would like to congratulate and thank all of the managers, assistants, other helpers and, of course, the players for their achievements.

The playing success did not even stop with the senior sides – we also enjoyed league and cup success in our thriving youth section. Again, a particular thank-you to our hard-working youth team managers.

As you will all know, the end of the season saw the resignation of first-team manager Kevin Evans and I am absolutely delighted that we were able to act so quickly in appointing his assistant, Leigh Robinson, to take over.

As I said in our press statement, I believe that in Leigh and John Norman we have two of the brightest young managers around and, with Dave Beatty, providing invaluable support, I believe we can look forward to the 2007-08 campaign with great confidence.

Last season served to whet our appetite for a return to the premier division of the Toolstation Western League and that has got to remain our ultimate goal.

We have some exciting plans in place to develop our facilities and ensure we are up to the necessary standard for promotion and have already held an initial meeting with league officials.

Moving on to events off the pitch and you will hear that the past 12 months have once again been profitable.

You all know that this club does not run itself and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped, worked for and supported Wellington AFC during the past season. I am particularly grateful to our officers and committee – they are the backbone of the club and have also provided me with tremendous support for which I am deeply grateful.

The list of people who make this club tick is extensive. It is still remarkable that we are opening virtually every night with voluntary bar staff and there is so much more work going on by unsung heroes behind the scenes including considerable support from the local business community. Many thanks to you all.

Wellington AFC is a thriving club and I am both proud and delighted to be part of it.

KEN BIRD

KEN Pearson is the new secretary of Wellington AFC, taking over from Dave Grabham who has stepped down after nine years in the job.

Mr Pearson, a former Wellington player, has been a leading figure in Taunton Saturday League club Wyvern for many years.

Chairman Ken Bird said he was delighted the club had been able to attract someone of his calibre as Mr Grabham would be “an extremely hard act to follow.”

WELLINGTON reported back for pre-season training on Tuesday night with almost 50 players taking part including most of last season’s first-team squad.

New manager Leigh Robinson has arranged away friendlies with Toolstation premier clubs Chard Town on July 24 and Willand Rovers on July 31.

Meanwhile, Robinson has confirmed that centre back Jason Manley has left the club to become manager of Somerset County League Premier Division outfit Ilminster Town.

WELLINGTON Football Club made a profit of more than £3,300 last season, treasurer Tony Bull told the annual meeting last night (Wednesday).

Mr Bull said the clubhouse account showed a surplus of £21,128 – an increase of nearly £2,000 on 2005-06 – but the playing side had cost the club £17,799.

The main expenditure was team expenses and travelling, which increased from £12,905 to just over £15,000.

Chairman Ken Bird said it had been another successful year for the club – both on and off the pitch.

“The first team finished in their highest position for ten years, the reserves completed a promotion and cup double and the the third team recorded their best ever finish.”

He added: “Last season served to whet our appetite for a return to the premier division of the Toolstation Western League and that remains our ultimate goal.”

2007/2008 LES PHILLIPS CUP draw

Preliminary Round

Biddestone v Shrewton Utd (Biddestone FC folded 12th June 2007)

Weston St Johns v Oldland Abbotonians

Bishop Sutton v Larkhall Athletic

Bridport v Minehead

Wellington v Bradford Town

Clevedon Utd v Street

Keynsham Town v Bitton

Roman Glass St George v Devizes Town

Hallen v Cadbury Heath

Sherborne Town v Brislington

Willand Rovers v Chard Town

Shepton Mallet v Dawlish Town

First Round

Bristol Manor Farm v Elmore

Backwell Utd v Welton Rovers

Westbury Utd v Roman Glass St George or Devizes Town

Hengrove Athletic v Radstock Town

Melksham Town v Keynsham Town or Bitton

Bridport or Minehead v Odd Down

Weston St Johns or Oldland Abbotonians v Bishop Sutton or Larkhall Athletic

Corsham Town v Wellington or Bradford Town

Calne Town v Truro City

Frome Town v Torrington

Portishead v Sherborne Town or Brislington

Bideford v Clevedon Utd or Street

Longwell Green v Ilfracombe Town

Almondsbury v Shepton Mallet or Dawlish Town

Biddestone or Shrewton Utd v Willand Rovers or Chard Town

Hallen or Cadbury Heath v Barnstaple Town

LEIGH Robinson has taken over as manager of Toolstation League club Wellington following the resignation of Kevin Evans after only one season in charge.

Evans quit after taking Wellington to seventh place in the division one table, their highest finish for a number of seasons.

Newton Abbot-based Robinson was assistant manager to Evans, although he was appointed boss of Devon club Ottery St Mary only last month.

“We are delighted Leigh has accepted our offer to become manager of Wellington,” said chairman Ken Bird.

“As well as being a talented coach, he is extremely popular with the players and within the club as a whole.

“His appointment is a natural progression if we are to build on everything we achieved last season.

“With Leigh in charge of the first-team and John Norman running the reserves – now in the Devon and Exeter premier division – we feel we have two of the most promising young managers around and that we can look forward to the future with real optimism.”

Mr Bird said that the club would also like to thank Ottery St Mary for the professional way they had accepted Wellington’s approach for Robinson, adding: “They have been very good about it.”

Wellington are holding their annual meeting in the clubhouse on Wednesday, June 20 (8pm).