I don't think we get enough credit, says Welling United boss Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED manager Jamie Day says at least another thirteen wins will maintain the club’s Vanarama Conference status at the end of the season.


The Wings are the highest ranked Kent club in the division, sitting in seventeenth-place with 14 points from 13 games, following their explosive 2-2 home draw against their Kent rivals Dartford last night.

Both of Welling’s goals, scored by Harry Beautyman and Jamal Fyfield came inside the opening fourteen minutes, but Tony Burman’s side equalised on each occasion following goals from Peter Sweeney and inspirational skipper Elliot Bradbrook.

There were no second half goals for Welling’s largest crowd of the season (1,306) at Park View Road.

Day takes his side to Chester on Saturday, followed by a trip to Kidderminster Harriers next Wednesday, which will be the Kent club’s debut live on BT Sports.

Chester leapfrogged over Welling into sixteenth-place in the table following their 2-1 win at basement side AFC Telford United last night.

“I’ve had a look just to gauge where they’re at, they (Chester) either win or lose really,” said Day.

“I think they’ve lost seven, drawn one and won five. They won last night so we need to go there with confidence and play like we have been doing so if we do that then we’ll have a chance to go and win the game.”

Day is relishing the opportunity for his side to shine in front of the television cameras against ninth-placed Kidderminster Harriers next Wednesday.

“It will be nice for the boys to put in a good performance because I don’t think they get enough credit and that’s no fault of anyone’s but the type of club we are, we’re not going to get as much exposure as other clubs.

“But it’s a chance for the boys to put in a good performance and show what a good footballing side we are and what good footballers we’ve got.

“We need to get something from Saturday’s game and take that into Wednesday because we’ve got two tough away games and we want to keep the run going and hopefully we can do that.”

Welling United midfielder Jake Gallagher has got another call up for England C for their trip to Turkey to contest a vital International Challenge Trophy Group A fixture on Tuesday 14 October.

Day said: “Yes really pleased. Jake thoroughly deserves it. I think if he’s being honest he took a bit of time to get going this season.  Maybe playing over the summer for England has not helped that but it’s an honour and we wouldn’t want to stop that.

“I think to tie in how we’ve done over the last four or five games he’s been key to that as well with his performances in midfield.”

Welling United are next at home on Saturday 11 October against a Nuneaton Town side now managed by former Wings and Ebbsfleet United manager Liam Daish – and Day wants similar crowds to last night to return.

“Thirteen hundred on a Tuesday night is very good, but that’s what we’ve got to be aiming for on a regular basis,” said Day.

“I’ve looked at the stats for attendances and we’re bottom of the Conference, attendance wise and between the three Conference league’s we’re eighth-from-bottom.

“If we want this club to go forward and be able to compete at this level, we’ll need more than 500 people through the gate so we need to be hitting that 1,000 mark.

“I think we play good football for people to come and watch so hopefully they can start coming out, supporting their local team, otherwise if we don’t we’re going to end back in the (Conference) South again.”

Welling United have won three of their thirteen games and Day is targeting survival at the end of their second season back among the non-league elite.

“We’ve got 46 games and we’ve got to win sixteen games out of that 46 and get some draws along the way,” the manager added.

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com  

Chester  v  Welling United
Vanarama Conference
Saturday 4^th October 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Chester Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester CH1 4LT