From the ryman league website today
We round up Welling Uniteds summer arrivals- and buckle up, there are eighteen of them!


New Welling United boss Lee Martin has been busy (busy? We suspect he's had no time to sleep!) during the summer, and we thought it was about time we rounded up his new arrivals. We couldnt do it prior to our AGM as the Wings werent officially members until then- but wee wish we could have started early as writing up eighteen new signings has been a rather mammoth task!



Forward Greg Cundle came through the youth ranks at Gillingham, but he has been our way a number of times before. One spell with East Grinstead Town brought an extremely impressive twenty one goals in twenty six matches, and he also spent loan time from the Gills at Tilbury, Billericay Town, Margate, Bishop's Stortford and Kingstonian. He also played briefly for Horsham, spent time at Concord Rangers when they were rather higher up the pyramid, but has spent most of the last five years playing National League football for Ebbsfleet United.



We last saw keeper Slavomir Huk on the very last day of the Pitching In South East campaign, as he was between the sticks for Burgess Hill Town as they defeated Sittingbourne in our promotion final. Slav made forty seven appearances for Hill last season, and quickly became a fan favourite.



A Dorking Wanderers legend, Slav was the hero as his side eased their way out of the Isthmian South Division in 2016-17, saving two penalties in the shootout after winning the club's Player of the season Award. He then went on to be immense as Dorking won our 2018-19 Premier Division title at a canter, playing a rather phenomenal fifty three times in the process.



He was with Dorking from 2015 until last summer, joining the club after moving to the UK from Slovakia, and after leaving our ranks was a regular in the National League.



He spent a short time on loan at Bognor Regis Town during 21-22, playing only once but keeping a clean sheet in victory over Carshalton Athletic, and during the 22-23 season spent some time with Leatherhead, playing twenty one times. The 23-24 season saw him on loan at Bath City in National League South, and at Chatham Town, where he made five appearances. He ended that campaign on loan at Raynes Park Vale, playing eight times.



Full back Keegan Bloom steps up from Pitching In Isthmian South Central side Harrow Borough, where he made forty three appearances last season and scored five goals. That was his second spell with Borough; indeed he was previously a youth player at the club before also having spells at Hanwell Town, North Greenford United and Aylesbury United.



Forward Ruben Shakpoke played youth football with Norwich City before heading to the Midlands and becoming an Aston Villa youth. He played Under 18 and Under 21 football at Villa Park before a move to play for the Under 21 side at West Bromwich Albion, and then, last autumn, he signed on at Enfield Town. He moved to Maidstone United in February.



Defender Eric Wilhelm played youth and first team football in Germany before heading to the UK, and spent some time at Broadbridge Heath during the 23-24 campaign. Last season saw him play SCFL football for Loxwood, and Combined Counties football for Spelthorne Sports.



Scott Simmons, a defender, came through youth ranks at Exeter City.playing for the Under 18 side and having a loan spell at Tavistock before coming our way with Whitehawk last summer. So far as we can see he played only once for the Hawks, in Cup defeat against Hendon.



Centre Back Dan Vaughan steps up from the SCEFL where he played for Glebe- these days Chislehurst Glebe- where he played twenty six times last season. He was previously with Croydon and Holmesdale.



Midfielder Gil Carvalho is a player we know rather well. He spent last season with Sheppey United, playing fifty one times and scoring fourteen goals. He made thirty five appearances for Herne Bay Bay during the 23-24 season, made the number seven shirt his own, and delivered eleven goals- as well as assisting many more.



He was previously with Ramsgate, making nineteen appearances and scoring five goals during the second half of the 22-23 campaign, after moving to the Rams from Ashford United where he managed to fit in sixteen appearances and two goals despite only staying for a few months.

He was previously with Hastings United, making eight appearances after joining the club from Haywards Heath Town. His other clubs include East Grinstead Town, earlier spells with Sittingbourne and Ramsgate, Phoenix Sports and Corinthian-Casuals.



Winger John Ufuah was at Chatham Town last season, where he delivered ten goals in thirty nine appearances. He moved to the Chats after a short spell at Slough Town.



John was at Hastings United during the 23-24 season, an ever present, making fifty two appearances whilst scoring nine goals, and assisting a number of others. He joined Hastings in the summer of 2023, after spending the 22-23 season rampaging up and down the flanks for Billericay Town.



John was at Leatherhead during 2018-19, where he made sixteen appearances- mainly from the bench. He headed to Whitstable Town, who first gave him the number eleven shirt and then thrust him into the number seven, and he made thirty four appearances during 2019-20 before heading off to Margate the following summer. He managed eleven appearances and two goals before that particular season fell over, and he then moved on to Carshalton Athletic before spending time with Merstham. He moved to Wales to play for Connah's Quay before signing for the Billericay in the summer of 22, and went on to make forty one appearances and score six goals.



Full back Luke ONeill started his career as a youth at Leicester City, and has a great deal of experience at a higher level. Whilst with the Foxes he had loan spells at Tranmere Rovers and Kettering Town, and after leaving Leicester he signed for Mansfield Town. He moved to Burnley, and whilst at Turf Moor had loan spells at York City, S****horpe United, Leyton Orient and Southend United, finally moving permanently to the Essex coast. He spent two successful years with Southend, two more with Gillingham, and another two with AFC Wimbledon before brief spells back in Kettering and in Stevenage. He moved to Ebbsfleet United in 2022, and has been there ever since.



Goalkeeper Jack West-Astuti will compete with Slav Huk. Jack, who is from Australia, played in his homeland before a few years between the sticks in Italy, and first came our way in 2020 with Chelmsford City. Last season he apparently spent time with Dartford, although we didnt notice that, and also with Haringey Borough, playing sixteen times between November and February. He was also with Aveley during 24-25, spent a little time at Walton & Hersham, and played thirteen times for Hythe Town during 23-24.



Midfielder James Dyer was with Erith Town last season, and made his return to our League a great success. His thirty nine appearances brought with them eighteen goals and a host of assists. He was also a big part of the Dockers promotion the season before, and overall played ninety four times for the club and scored forty seven goals. He was previously with Sittingbourne, and also played for Phoenix Sports, Glebe and Erith and Belvedere.



Lee Lewis, a midfielder, makes the step up from Merstham. He made forty six appearances- with eight goals- last season, as the Moatsiders reached the Pitching In Isthmian South East Play Off Semi-Final, and played seventeen times with three goals in the second half of the previous season.

He joined Merstham after thirteen appearances for Erith and Belvedere during 23-24, and also spent time with Cray Wanderers during the same season.



Lee played Youth football for Wands, and was part of the side that reached the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup in 2018-19 before graduating to the first team squad. He made five first team appearances during that particular season, then following promotion became a first team regular, with thirty two appearances during the 19-20 season and eight more in what we had of the 20-21 campaign. After four appearances at the start of the 21-22 season he was next in our ranks at Chertsey Town, where he played thirteen times and scored four goals- including a hat trick against Sutton Common Rovers in a five-nil win. A move back to the Premier Division soon arrived, and he ended the 22-23 season at Kingstonian, where he played thirty times and scored twice.



Forward Tom Leahy makes the move from Millwall. He played youth football for Chipstead, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bromley and the Lions, and last season had loan spells at Woking and Maidstone United. He joins his brother Jack at Welling.



Midfielder Jack Leahy played youth and Under 18 football for Brighton & Hove Albion, a period which also included a spell on loan at Merstham, where he played three times- scoring on his debut- before the 20-21 campaign fell over. He signed for Cardiff City in the summer of 2021, and has also had a loan period at Haverfordwest. He started the 23-24 campaign at Hornchurch, having previously played for then Urchins boss Steve Morison at Cardiff City, and made nine Urchins appearances, and then spent time at Chipstead before playing briefly for Lewes, and, last season, for Cray Wanderers.



Winger Henry Sinai had a fabulous 23-24 with Sittingbourne, making fifty six appearances, slaying more giants than a man with magic beans, and scoring sixteen goals. He ended the 23-24 season at East Grinstead Town, playing ten times and scoring three goals, and was previously at Bowers and Pitsea, playing eighteen times during the 23-24 campaign and thirteen times at the end of 22-23.



Defender Lekan Majoyegbe makes a step up to Step Three after three years at the heart of the Sheppey United backline. He made fifty one appearances last season, and helped out at the other end with three goals. That followed forty four appearances during 23-24 as the Ites, of course, reached the FA Cup First Round, and forty seven during 22-23. He previously played for Corinthian and Margate.



Finally, Jack Paxman has moved to Welling and taken the captains armband. Jack spent last season with Billericay Town, playing thirty six times and coming within a hairs breadth of promotion from our Premier Division. He ended the 23-24 campaign at Ramsgate, making nine appearances and scoring two goals.



Jack moved to the the Rams from Eastbourne Borough. Prior to his time at Priory Lane he was at Ebbsfleet United, where he stayed for almost three years- although that spell included loans at Braintree Town, Dover Athletic and Worthing, and he also spent some time with Billericay- although that was rather fleeting. He joined Fleet from Worthing, but it was at Maidstone United that he became something of a legend, playing a big part in their promotions from our Premier Division and, the following season, from National League South to Premier.



He spent five years with the Stones, although that did include a loan spell at East Thurrock United.

Prior to his Maidstone days he spent time with Witham Town and Thurrock, and even earlier that that he was with Southend United. Whilst a Shrimper he spent loan time at Soham Town Rangers and Histon before making a first permanent senior move to Chelmsford City.

I wasnt there. Who is Chis?

Wings sign Bromley duo Penn and Evans on loan Welling United

My memory is not what it was but I have reminders of a pre season where everything was a complete mess. However once the season progressed we set and still hold the record for the most consecutive win in the NLS. At the end of that season we were promoted to the National League -or whatever name it was then. I am not overly worried at present and I am keeping the faith although come October I reserve the right to change my opinion if the team has not settled by then.