Wellington AFC

WELLINGTON Football Club is going through one of the most momentous periods in its long history, chairman Ken Bird told the AGM last night (Wednesday).

Mr Bird said the first team’s success in winning the Toolstation League Division One title meant that facilities at the club’s Playing Field headquarters needed to be brought up to premier division standard.

“We need to ensure we build on the success we have enjoyed and that is not going to be achieved without a huge amount of hard work,” he added.

Treasurer Tony Bull reported a loss of just over £1,000 on the past season.

He said this had been caused by an increase in the club’s heating and lighting bill of nearly £3,000 while playing expenses and travelling had risen by almost £1,300.

On a positive note, bar profits had gone up by nearly £2,000 and gate receipts by more than £1,000 while £8,600 had been raised from advertising and sponsorship.

HIGHLY-RATED utility player Marcus Vaughan has joined Wellington following their promotion to the Toolstation League’s premier division.

He put pen to paper after last night’s first pre-season training session – along with most of last season’s title-winning squad.

Vaughan’s signing is a major coup for Wellington as he was attracting interest from a number of other clubs.

Training continues tomorrow night and then every Tuesday and Thursday at the Playing Field.

WELLINGTON’S players report for pre-season training tonight (Tuesday).

All of last season’s championship-winning squad are expected back with the exception of striker Nick Woon, who retired from Western League football at the end of last season.

Wellington will train on Tuesdays and Thursdays with manager Leigh Robinson conducting the sessions, assisted by his new number two Steve Perkins.

WELLINGTON Football Club are looking for local companies to back their ambitious ground development project.

The club must spend £100,000 on improving facilities at the Playing Field after they won the Toolstation League’s first division to win promotion to the premier.

The work includes providing a 100-seater grandstand, hard-standing behind both goals and a six-foot fence down one side of the pitch.

“This is a huge project for us and needs to be completed before our first home game in September,” said chairman Ken Bird.

“We have applied for grants from various bodies but still need support locally – for example a firm could sponsor the new grandstand and have their name featured on it.

“The fence has to be taken down and put up either side of every game and so that will mean extra expense. It all adds up.”

Anyone wishing to discuss sponsorship opportunities at Wellington AFC should contact vice-chairman Graham Aspin on 01823-664167.

STEVE Perkins is the new assistant manager of Toolstation League Division One champions Wellington.

The 30-year-old, who works as an FA skills coach, takes over from Danny Phillips, who left to join Bridgwater Town last month.

Perkins, 30, resigned as manager of Minehead in December after two-and-a-half years in charge.

Wellington boss Leigh Robinson said: “We’re delighted to have Steve on board.

“He is an excellent coach with some impressive FA qualifications.

“He came to me when the position became available which showed great enthusiasm.”

Wellington, officially, begin pre-season training on Tuesday.

THE annual meeting of the Toolstation League at Clevedon Town’s Hand Stadium last night also saw the draw for the Les Phillips Cup.

Wellington will be home to premier division Radstock Town in the preliminary round with the winners travelling to play division one side Clevedon United.

Meanwhile, two new clubs were elected to the league – Gillingham Town and Wells City.

ABOVE: Wellington AFC formally received the division one trophy at the Toolstation League’s Convention Dinner in Torquay on Saturday night. Pictured, from left, are league secretary Ken Clarke, Wellington manager Leigh Robinson, Toolstation president Rod Webber, skipper Simon Ingram and league vice-chairman John Pool. PHOTO: Tony Salvidge