Welling United Football Club is a semi-professional association football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley, England. The most prominent aspect of the club is its men's first team, who play in the , the seventh level of the English football league system.
History
Formation and early years (1963–1975)
Welling United Football Club was founded in 1963 by former professional footballer Syd Hobbins. It began as an U15 youth team, playing in the Eltham & District Sunday League on a park pitch from 1963–64 to 1970–71. From 1971–72 to 1974–75, they played in the Metropolitan-London League Intermediate/Reserves Division at Butterfly Lane, Eltham.
London Spartan, Athenian and Southern Leagues (1975–1986)
In 1975–76, they played in the London Spartan League Reserve Division One. They gained senior status in the London Spartan League in 1976, while playing at Butterfly Lane. Welling finished sixth in the London Spartan League Division 2 in 1976–77 and was promoted to the Premier Division. In 1977, Welling moved to the Park View Road ground, which had previously belonged to the by-that-time-defunct Bexley United.
Despite this embargo and point deduction, the team missed out on a play-off place by only one point, finishing in 6th place.
Promotion and relegation (2011–2019)
thumb|199x199px|Former player manager [[Jamie Day (footballer, born 1979)|Jamie Day with the Conference South trophy after winning the title in 2013.]]
The 2011–12 season ended with Welling in 3rd place and after defeating Sutton United 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals they narrowly missed promotion in the final, being defeated 0–1 by Dartford at Princes Park.
Welling made a return to the top level of non-league football the following season after clinching the Conference South title, 13 years after they last played at the fifth tier of English football. Between 3 November and 5 February, Welling also broke the league's record for consecutive wins, with 12 in a row.
In December 2014 Jamie Day left Welling by mutual consent. He was replaced by Jake Gallagher and Jamie Turner as caretakers, but on 21 December it was announced that Jody Brown of Grays Athletic would become manager. On 3 March 2015, Jody Brown was relieved of his duties after just one point in his first nine games. Right back player Loui Fazakerley was put in charge for "the foreseeable future".
Welling's first televised home match was played on 8 March 2015, being played live on BT Sport, and ended in a 1–0 loss to Altrincham.
Following an impressive run of results, Fazakerley steered the team out of the relegation zone and to 20th place, above Alfreton Town on goal difference. Fazakerley was appointed as manager on a full-time basis the same week.
On 25 January 2016 Loui Fazakerley was sacked after 10 months in charge, with the club in the National League relegation zone and was replaced with former first team coach Dean Frost, along with and Barry Ashby as assistant manager. Jamie Turner also came back as goalkeeping coach. Frost's first match in charge was away against FC Halifax Town and finished 1–1, Welling's first goal and point at The Shay. Frost left the post with 6 matches remaining in the 2015–16 season with the club bottom of the league after a 4–0 defeat to Chester, leading to Welling's relegation to National League South, formerly known as Conference South.
Mark Goldberg was appointed manager for the coming season along with Damian Mathew as his assistant. After a poor start to the season Golberg gave more control to Mathew but that proved short lived as Mathew left the club in the wake of a capitulation from 2–0 at home to Hemel Hempstead Town, losing the match 3–2. Former manager Jamie Day returned to the club as assistant to Goldberg but results still did not improve. Day was appointed manager, which culminated in a run that saw Day awarded National League South Manager of the Month, December 2016, and talisman Adam Coombes named player for the month. Day was being assisted by Adrian Pennock, acting as football consultant. In January 2017, more upheaval was to follow when Pennock left for Gillingham, as manager, taking Day with him as assistant. Coach, Harry Wheeler and Tristan Lewis were drafted in to cover in the short term. With the 2016–17 season nearing close, former Charlton Athletic assistant manager Alex Dyer was appointed manager in March 2017. Assisted by Tristan Lewis, Dyer guided Welling for the remainder of the season, and finished the 2016–17 campaign with a 2–0 loss to Dover Athletic in the Kent Senior Cup final. In May 2017, Jamie Coyle became Welling United manager, with Tristan Lewis appointed to Director of Football. In February 2018 it was announced that Coyle had signed a contract extension to manage the Wings for the 2018–19 season. With the season ended three days earlier, and the club missing out on a play-off berth, it was announced on 1 May 2018 that Coyle had stepped down from his role as first-team manager. On 3 May 2018, Director of Football, Tristan Lewis also left for pastures new, with the club singling out his work; in establishing their academy, and co-managing the team alongside Mark Goldberg, Harry Wheeler, Alex Dyer and Jamie Coyle, for praise.
Steve King was next to be appointed manager after he joined from recently relegated Whitehawk at the end of May. His first season with the Wings finished in 3rd place and top of the home form table. The team's position on the league table led to qualification for the playoffs for only the second time in its history. In the semi-final at Park View Road, Welling defeated Chelmsford City 3-2 courtesy of a 96th-minute penalty by Brendan Kiernan. The playoff final was won by Woking. The hosts won the game 1–0 after Armani Little scored a free-kick just before half-time. This was King's final game in charge as manager as he was replaced in June 2019 by Mark Goldberg, who returned for his second term as manager.
COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2021)
Bradley Quinton became the club's new manager in January 2020. Quinton oversaw an immediate improvement before the 2019–2020 season was suspended on 16 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the club in mid-table. On 31 March 2020, this suspension was extended indefinitely. Clubs would then vote to end the season on 22 April.
Uncertainty before the 2020–21 season resulted in another squad overhaul. After a single win from 11 games, Quinton was sacked by the club, and subsequently replaced by manager Steve Lovell. The season was again interrupted by COVID-19, being declared null and void on 18 February 2021, and a National League restructure resulted in only the bottom team being relegated the following season.
Recent history (2021–present)
Lovell left his position as manager after an unsuccessful start, being replaced in September 2021 by Peter Taylor, who stayed until March 2022, when Warren Feeney was appointed manager.
Goldberg's direct ownership finished at the end of that season with Howard Prosser and Jerry Dolke taking majority ownership of the club. Feeney was permanently appointed by the new board to build a more competitive squad for 2022–23, however, despite generous backing from the club, he was only able to achieve a bottom-half finish. Unpopular with supporters, he left the club in June 2023 to take up the vacant managerial post at Glentoran in his native Northern Ireland. Feeney's replacement was announced as former Eastbourne Borough manager Danny Bloor. With the club third from bottom of the National League South, Bloor was sacked on 28 January 2024 and was replaced by Rod Stringer, the Brentwood Town manager, on 29 January 2024. Despite leading the club to survival from relegation in the 2023-24 season, Stringer resigned in March 2025 following a run of poor results, with Brian Statham becoming Caretaker Manager for the rest of the season. However, the 2024–25 season saw the club relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division. On 3 May 2025, the club appointed Lee Martin as the new manager. On 2 October 2025, Martin was sacked after a poor start to the 2025–26 Isthmian League season, with former Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings United manager Paul Barnes taking charge on an interim basis. On 4 October 2025, former manager Rod Stringer returned to the club as Interim Manager.
Ground
thumb|Park View Road, which has been Welling United's home ground since 1977.
Welling United play their home matches at Park View Road, Welling. This ground has been their home since 1977 when they took over the ground which had been vacated by the defunct Bexley United. Prior to that date the club had played at a community sports ground in Butterfly Lane, Eltham. Having been unoccupied for some time, the new ground was almost derelict.
Erith & Belvedere have been ground sharing since the 1999 season. Improvements were made to the Park View Road ground in 2004, which included a new covered stand.
As a result of severe storms and gale-force winds in December 2006, the floodlights at Park View Road were damaged. Due to safety reasons all the floodlight pylons on the Welling side of the ground were removed. The floodlights were put in place during the month of June 2007 and are fully functional, one pylon positioned in each corner.
During the 2013–14 season, Park View Road had to be changed to keep Welling United in the Conference Premier in the 2014–15 season. These all happened between the months of February and March.
In the close season of 2015–16 both Welling United bars, the boardroom and parking area at Park View Road underwent renovations. In particular the hospitality areas at the ground were fully refitted to cater for match-days, and non-football related events and private bookings.
Players
Current squad
Out on loan
Club officials
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
!Role
!Name
|-
|Manager
|Ryan Maxwell
|-
|Assistant manager
|Billy McMahon
|-
|First-team coach
|
|-
| Sports Scientist
|Glen Warwick
|-
|First Team Scout
|Richard Piggford
|}
Recent seasons
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! League
! Level
! Pld
! W
! D
! L
! GF
! GA
! GD
! Pts
! Position
! Leading league scorer
! Goals
! FA Cup
! FA Trophy
! Average attendance
|- align="center"
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 2015–16
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| Conference Premier
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 5
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 46
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 8
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 11
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 27
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 35
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 73
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| −38
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 35
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 24th of 24 <br />Relegated
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| Sahr Kabba
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 6
|bgcolor=White|R1
|bgcolor=White|R1
|682
|- align="center"
| 2016–17
| National League South
| 6
| 42
| 12
| 7
| 23
| 64
| 69
| −5
| 43
| 16th of 22 <br />
| Adam Coombes
| 20
|bgcolor=White|QR4
|bgcolor=White|R3
| 539
|- align="center"
| 2017–18
| National League South
| 6
| 42
| 17
| 10
| 15
| 68
| 59
| +9
| 61
| 10th of 22 <br />
| Bradley Goldberg
| 10
|bgcolor=White|QR2
|bgcolor=White|QR3
| 533
|- align="center"
| 2018–19
| National League South
| 6
| 42
| 23
| 7
| 12
| 70
| 47
| +23
| 76
| 3rd of 22 <br />Lost in play-off final
| Brendan Kiernan
| 14
|bgcolor=White|QR4
|bgcolor=White|QR3
|740
|- align="center"
| 2019–20
| National League South
| 6
| 34
| 12
| 6
| 16
| 38
| 46
| -8
| 42 (1.24 PPG)
| 12th of 22 <br />Season abandoned
| Anthony Cook
| 8
|bgcolor=White|QR4
|bgcolor=White|R1
|624
|- align="center"
| 2020–21
| National League South
| 6
| 14
| 2
| 6
| 6
| 18
| 20
| -2
| 12
| 21st of 21 <br />Season declared null and void
| Dipo Akinyemi
| 6
|bgcolor=White|QR2
|bgcolor=White|R2
|611*
|- align="center"
| 2021–22
| National League South
| 6
| 40
| 10
| 8
| 22
| 46
| 87
| -41
| 38
| 20th of 21
| Dipo Akinyemi
| 18
|bgcolor=White|QR2
|bgcolor=White|R2
|584
|- align="center"
| 2022–23
| National League South
| 6
| 46
| 15
| 14
| 17
| 57
| 63
| -6
| 58**
| 16th of 24
| Ade Azeez
| 15
|bgcolor=White|QR4
|bgcolor=White|R3
|792
|- align="center"
| 2023–24
| National League South
| 6
| 46
| 12
| 18
| 16
| 56
| 71
| -15
| 54
| 17th of 24
| Tristan Abrahams / Kain Adom
| 7
|bgcolor=White|QR4
|bgcolor=White|R5
|723
|- align="center"
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 2024–25
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| National League South
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 6
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 46
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 10
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 8
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 28
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 47
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 91
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| -44
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 38
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 22nd of 24 <br />Relegated
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| Gene Kennedy
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| 8
|bgcolor=White|QR2
|bgcolor=White|R2
|688
|}
<small>* – average of games where crowds were permitted</small><br/>
<small>** – deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player</small>
Notable former players
Recent managers
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Dates
!Name
!Notes
|-
|1995 - July 2000
| Kevin Hales
|
|-
|July 2000 - May 2002
| Tony Reynolds
|
|-
|June 2002 - May 2003
| Bill Williams
|
|-
|May 2003 - December 2004
| Paul Parker
|
|-
|December 2004 - January 2005
| Liam Daish
|Caretaker Manager
|-
|January 2005 - May 2007
| Adrian Pennock
|
|-
|May 2007 - January 2008
| Neil Smith
|
|-
|January 2008
| Chris Moore<br/> Richard Carpenter
|Joint caretaker managers
|-
|January 2008 - October 2009
| Andy Ford
|
|-
|October 2009 - November 2009
| Lee Protheroe
|Caretaker manager
|-
|November 2009 - December 2014
| Jamie Day
|Player-manager
|-
|December 2014
| Jamie Turner<br/> Jake Gallagher
|Joint caretaker managers
|-
|December 2014 - March 2015
| Jody Brown
|
|-
|March 2015 - January 2016
| Loui Fazakerley
|Player-manager. Caretaker manager until 22 April 2015
|-
|January 2016 - April 2016
| Dean Frost
|
|-
|April 2016 - November 2016
| Mark Goldberg
|
|-
|November 2016 - January 2017
| Jamie Day
|
|-
|January 2017 - April 2017
| Harry Wheeler<br/> Tristan Lewis
|Joint caretaker managers
|-
|April 2017 - May 2017
| Alex Dyer
|Caretaker manager
|-
|May 2017 - May 2018
| Jamie Coyle
|Player-manager
|-
|May 2018 - June 2019
| Steve King
|
|-
|June 2019 - January 2020
| Mark Goldberg
|
|-
|January 2020 - January 2021
| Bradley Quinton
|
|-
|January 2021 - September 2021
| Steve Lovell
|
|-
|September 2021 - March 2022
| Peter Taylor
|
|-
|March 2022 - June 2023
| Warren Feeney
|
|-
|June 2023 – January 2024
| Danny Bloor
|
|-
|January 2024 – March 2025
| Rod Stringer
|
|-
|March 2025 – May 2025
| Brian Statham
|Interim manager
|-
|May 2025 – October 2025
| Lee Martin
|
|-
|October 2025 – November 2025
| Rod Stringer
|Interim manager
|-
|November 2025 – Present
| Ryan Maxwell
|
|}
Club records
- Highest league position:
- 6th in the Conference National: 1989–90
- Highest attendance:
- 4,100 v Gillingham FA Cup first round, 22 November 1989
- FA Cup best performance They won the Kent Senior Cup for a fourth time in 2025, defeating Ebbsfleet United 1-0 in the final.
League
- Conference South (level 6)
- Champions: 2012–13
- Southern League Premier Division
- Champions: 1985–86
Cup
- Kent Senior Cup
- Winners: 1985–86, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2024–25
- London Senior Cup
- Winners: 1989–90, 2018–19
- London Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1991–92