Welling up
Words: Tom Stanworth
Images: Tom Stanworth
As a South East London-based groundhopper, I was yet to visit Cray Valley Paper Mills and Welling United – but didn’t envisage getting to both of them on the same afternoon and witnessing penalty shootout drama.
There’s a huge choice of clubs to see in and around London. Arsenal is my team and I get to matches when I can, but I love getting to non-league games which, in my opinion, is where the heart and soul of English football really resides.
A Saturday 3 o’clock game is a huge part of my weekly routine. I find that getting to games and taking photos is incredibly helpful in getting headspace after working from home all week in a demanding job.
My original plan was to see Cray Valley Paper Mills vs Horndean at The Artic Stadium. I want to see more of The Millers, having recently joined their fans in the away end at The Valley for the epic 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup, and I’m keen to follow their upward trajectory.
I arrived at the ground and got as far as the turnstiles which were unexpectedly unmanned, before finding out that the game had been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Foolishly I’d failed to check social media updates before setting out.
Not wanting to miss out on a match, I used the Futbology app “nearby fixtures” feature and made the four-mile journey to Welling United’s J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium (aka Park View Road) in record time via the B15 bus and a brisk walk, arriving bang on kick-off for the FA Trophy match vs Brackley Town.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
The journey took me on a trip down memory lane, passing my old secondary school and various lunchtime hangouts.
The FA Trophy is competed for by teams in tiers 5-8 of the English football league system, with the final being played at Wembley on Non-League Finals Day each May, along with the FA Vase finalists from tiers 9 and 10.
Welling United play in tier 6 and face another battle to stay in the National League South this season. They’re currently in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety but have shown an upturn in league form lately, including the 4-1 win over runaway league leaders Yeovil in their previous home game.
Their characterful Park View Road Stadium is described as “not fit for purpose” with “poorly built” facilities which “suffer from structural damage” in the exhibition boards outlining plans for a revamped ground part-funded by new residential and commercial development on the site.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
That “the site boundaries need work to maintain security” comes as no surprise given that my friend’s dog Jessie once invaded the pitch during a home game after chasing a fox from neighbouring Danson Park.
Redevelopment is targeted to begin in May 2024, pending planning permission, requiring The Wings to play elsewhere for two seasons. Hopefully they can find a temporary home not too far away to maintain as much of their support as possible, ahead of moving back to the new look 4,200 capacity Park View Road Stadium.
The game saw an attendance of 318 and there was a bright start from visitors Brackley from tier 6 who are currently in the play-off places in National League North.
The Northamptonshire team went ahead early from one of several set pieces but Welling then grew into the game and deservedly drew level in first-half stoppage time through a thunderous free-kick from Tristan Abrahams.
Welling had the better of the second half, but it remained 1-1 after 90 minutes and went straight to a penalty shootout.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
The home side won 4-3 despite missing their first effort, as Brackely saw two spot-kicks freakishly hitting the woodwork and bouncing out.
This was Welling’s second successive home penalty shootout victory in this competition after an even more dramatic 8-7 win over Taunton Town in the Second Round.
Welling now go into the hat for the Fourth Round proper to be played on 13th January and a home tie would see fans enjoy a ground with plenty of character and characters.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
©Tom Stanworth/ Terrace Edition. Welling United FC.
You can find Tom on Twitter and Instagram: @tmstanworth
