New boys forced to sit on sidelines for Wings' lucrative curtain raiser

Monday 06th July 2009

WELLING UNITED boss Andy Ford says he will be without at least four players for their lucrative curtain raiser against Charlton Athletic on Wednesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

Ford, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today, is looking forward to the Park View Road clash, against a club that are coming to terms with playing in the third tier of English football.

And the Wings boss, who guided his side to seventh place in the Blue Square South last season, revealed he has team selection worries for their opening warm-up match.

And three summer signings; James Lawson (a 22-year-old striker signed from Chelmsford City); Lee Clarke (a striker signed from St Albans City) and 29-year-old right-back, Andy Sambrook (AFC Wimbledon) have all been ruled out.

That leaves winger, Anthony Finn, 26 (AFC Wimbledon) and the versatile Spencer Knight, 31 (Chelmsford City) as the only confirmed summer signings on show.

Ford said: “James Lawson is away on holiday; Lee Clarke only had a knee operation during the summer so he’s not quite ready.

“Lee Protheroe had a knee operation; Andy Sambrook’s picked up a calf strain and he’s been looking after his fitness quite a lot over the summer and came in (for training) with a bit of a strain.

“I’m not going to rush any of these just for the sake of it and put them back six weeks.

“One of the trialists has a bit of a frozen shoulder, so it’s left us a little bit short really, so hopefully we’ll still be ok.”

The Wings always look forward to this fixture as it brings in much needed revenue to the club, even more important in the current economic climate.

“Yes, it’s always a good fixture, it’s just a little bit too early for us,” said Ford. “We’re not really organised yet, if you know what I mean.

“We’ve only had two or three (training) sessions, got a couple people away on holiday still, one or two injured still.

“I don’t want the fans to think too much about what’s going to happen on the night. We will be stronger in future games, but (I’m) still looking forward to it.”

The club’s website has confirmed that Ford has thirteen first team players signed on for the season ahead, but the manager was keeping the identities of his trialists close to his chest ahead of the big game.

“There’s one or two out there which you will see,” he said. “They’re trialists so I’m not really going to say anymore than that because we haven’t signed them.

“There’s no point in mentioning names yet until they sign.”

Ford added: “I think the financial side is vital for us. It’s the potential of a big gate and hopefully that’s where we’ll mainly be looking.

“Charlton are very good really because they always bring a full strength side.”

The Wings play seven pre-season friendlies before their mouth-watering Blue Square South game against a Woking side that have maintained their full-time status following relegation last season.

Ford lost his assistant, Jimmy Dack and central defender Tony Sinclair to the Cards during the close season, but he’s looking forward to the Park View Road showdown on Saturday, 8th August.

“They’ve got to be the favourites or one of the favourites, (as) they’re full time, hence why we lost a couple of players to them because of their full-time status,” he said.

“They’ve got to be the one to beat. It will be interesting to find out how it will work out. Would it be good to take them on early when they’ll not be fully up and running and organised.

“Full time training, three times per week is much of an advantage, so they should be a lot more organised and a lot more fitter by the time we get there, that’s what we’re up against and we’ve got to get on with it.”

Meanwhile, the admission prices for the Charlton Athletic game have been confirmed as £10 (adults), £6 (seniors and under 16s), with seating an extra £2.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game - our first of the 2009-10 season.

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

Welling United v Charlton Athletic

Pre-Season Friendly

Wednesday 8th July 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY