Wellington AFC

WELLINGTON will formally receive the Toolstation League Division One trophy tomorrow night (Saturday).

The presentation will take place at the league’s Convention Dinner at The Palace Hotel in Torquay.

The ten-strong Wellington party at the prestigious function will include manager Leigh Robinson and captain Simon Ingram.

Striker and leading scorer Nick Woon, who has just retired from Western League football, will also be there.

WELLINGTON’S assistant manager Danny Phillips has left the Toolstation Division One champions to join Bridgwater Town.

The former Taunton Town assistant has accepted the same role at the British Gas Business League Division One (S&W) club.

Phillips, 29, was released as assistant to Gary Domone at Taunton at the end of the 2006-07 season due to budgetary restraints.

He moved to Wellington straight away as assistant to Robinson, a close friend and work colleague, and now leaves to join Bridgwater who are managed jointly by Craig Laird and Paul Rich.

WELLINGTON have been drawn away to League One side Yeovil Town in the first round of the Somerset Premier Cup.

The newly-crowned Toolstation League Division One champions will appear at Huish Park on Wednesday, October 8.

Boss Leigh Robinson said: “I’m thrilled to bits with the draw. It gives everyone a massive incentive in pre-season and will create great competition for places, because everyone will want to play at Huish Park.

“Hopefully, it will also help attract new players to the club.”

In recent seasons, Yeovil have fielded mainly U-18 and reserve players in the Somerset Cup, although first teamers coming back from injury are often given a run out in the competition.

Meanwhile, Robinson has confirmed his assistant Danny Phillips has not decided whether he will remain at the club next season.

Phillips, a former assistant manager at Taunton, is believed to want to find a club closer to his Bristol home and has already been contacted by at least one other club.

However, Robinson preferred to focus on the club’s players.

He said: “While Danny and I are good friends and enjoy working together, the most important thing is we keep players at the club.

“We’ve had a great season and I’d like him to stay but, as far as I know, he hasn’t made up his mind.”

SOMERSET Premier Cup first round (to be played week beginning Oct 6): Radstock Town v Welton Rovers; Street v Bath City; Frome Town v Odd Down; Clevedon Town v Portishead; Bridgwater Town v Team Bath; Chard Town v Bristol Manor Farm; Yeovil Town v Wellington; Weston-super-Mare v Taunton Town; Minehead v Shepton Mallet. Second round (week beginning Nov 17): Bridgwater Town or Team Bath v Minehead or Shepton Mallet; Bitton v Chard Town or Bristol Manor Farm; Weston-s-M or Taunton Town v Brislington; Frome Town or Odd Down v Street or Bath City; Keynsham Town v Clevedon Town or Portishead; Radstock Town or Welton Rovers v Yeovil Town or Wellington; Clevedon United v Bishop Sutton; Paulton Rovers v Larkhall Athletic.

NICK Bowrah has been appointed player-manager of Wellington Reserves for next season.

He replaces John Norman, who broke his leg during the season and has now stepped down as boss to concentrate on playing.

WELLINGTON Reserves player-manager John Norman, who broke his leg during the season, has stepped down as boss to concentrate on playing.

The club hope to make an appointment at this Sunday’s committee meeting.

Meanwhile, Wellington are hoping to pull their third team out of the Taunton Saturday League and join the reserves in the Devon and Exeter League.

WELLINGTON Football Club celebrated their best-ever season with their annual dinner and presentations in the clubhouse.

Manager Leigh Robinson received the Toolstation League division one trophy from club president Alan Shire.

And there were special presentations to Nick Woon to mark his retirement from senior football and John Norman, who is stepping down after two seasons as manager of Wellington Reserves.

Secretary Ken Pearson collected the Brown Rosebowl for Clubperson of the Year.

And captain Simon Ingram was voted first team supporters’ player and players’ player of the season.

Other award winners: Young player, Ryan Lewis; most improved, Jack Adams and Dan Woodgate; first team top scorer, Nick Woon; reserves manager’s player, Craig Aspin; players’ player, Greg Jackson; top scorer, John Norman; third team manager’s player, Jason Hawkings; players’ player, Ian Warren; top scorer, Dan Woodgate.

TRIUMPHANT Wellington WILL be playing in the Toolstation League’s Premier Division next season.

Rumours have been circulating that the newly-crowned Division One champions would not be able to carry out the necessary improvements to their Playing Field ground to make the step up.

But chairman Ken Bird confirmed this week: “We have now obtained planning permission from Taunton Deane Council to carry out the work and it’s all systems go.”

Wellington need to provide a 100-seater grandstand, fence off the far side of the pitch on match days and provide hard standing at both ends.

Meanwhile, manager Leigh Robinson has toasted his side’s success in his first season in charge.

He said: “It has been a magnificent achievement for the team and the club – even more so when you bear in mind Wellington has never won the league before, making us the best side in its history.

“Our players deserve all the credit for the way they have dedicated themselves to Wellington AFC – it has become a huge part of their lives, not just on Saturdays.”

Wellington’s annual dinner and dance in the clubhouse tomorrow night (Friday) is a sell-out.

Toolstation League division one: Shepton Mallet 1, Wellington 2

NEWLY-CROWNED division one champions Wellington finished the club’s most successful ever campaign with league win number 27 at Shepton on Saturday.

And immediately after the final whistle, skipper Simon Ingram was presented with the trophy by Toolstation vice-chairman John Pool and the squad – including manager Leigh Robinson – received their medals.

Wellington had thumped Shepton 12-1 at the Playing Field back in March and were given a much sterner test in the return game.

They went ahead after ten minutes when Alex Pounde span off his marker in typical style and pulled the ball back for Woon to make no mistake.

But playing down their sloping pitch, Shepton equalised midway through the first half as the ball was chipped over the visitors’ defence and Haydn Alkins burst forward to drive past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Chances were few and far between in an often scrappy game but Wellington sealed the points just before half-time as their two leading scorers combined for what proved to be the winner.

Woon found Ingram just outside the area and he cut inside before sending a spectacular shot flying into the top corner, giving keeper Owen Dunn no chance.

The second half was something of a non-event although Woon’s late departure allowed Wellington’s assistant manager Danny Phillips to make a cameo appearance.

That summed up a joyous day for Robinson, Phillips, goalkeeping coach Wayne Hitchcott and the players.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Daniel Short, Scott Holland, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Nick Woon, Alex Pounde. Substitutes, Graham Burne and Danny Phillips (used), Wayne Hitchcott (not used).

WELLINGTON clinched the Toolstation League division one title for the first time in their history last night (Wednesday).

They drew 3-3 away to Minehead to earn the point which ensured they finished ahead of nearest rivals Sherborne and Larkhall … and still have one game to play.

The league trophy and medals will now be presented after Wellington’s final match of the season at Shepton Mallet on Saturday.

Minehead stunned the champions-elect by taking the lead after 26 minutes when Lee Smythe produced an exquisite chip over keeper Ryan Lewis.

But Wellington hit back by scoring three times before the break.

First, Scott Holland glanced home a Jon Crowford corner and then Danny Cockram headed in a cross by Alex Pounde.

Craig Herrod scored the third from close range after keeper Chris Meredith had failed to hold a powerful shot by Cockram.

But if Wellington thought the game was won, Minehead certainly didn’t and they hit back to snatch a point with two fine second-half goals by the lively Smythe and skipper Luke Taylor.