Playing devil's advocate here, but would Bexley Council be more kindly disposed to the football club if the club's name had a greater identity with the borough as a whole rather than a district of it? I just wonder whether this would be case. If it was, then perhaps something which could appeal to a more borough - wide audience while still retaining links with the Welling area. Something like Bexley Park View fc, Bexley Wings fc, Bexley and Welling United fc. We cannot be Bexley Borough because a junior club has that name.
I know people will point to Charlton, Crystal Palace, West Ham etc but those names were established long ago and thus have a longer history whereas our immediate competitors identify with their towns, Bromley and Dartford for example. Forget Ebbsfleet! Just a thought, discuss.
Is it in Welling or Bexleyheath or even Danson (a council ward, I think) I don't know - it may be just inside the signpost for Welling. I am not from Welling, so I do not have a great deal of affinity with the name - just supported the club from the time it became a Southern League side until now. Previously, I supported the club that played at that ground Bexleyheath and Welling - later renamed Bexley United. I only posed a name change as a discussion point, if it would help sweeten any further developments at the club. If it does, it could be a moot point. I have no axe to grind, I just identify with the club not the area because I have never lived in it.
I wouldn't want to risk changing our name 'in the hope' that it appeals more to the council. Being the most senior club in the borough they shouldn't need their arm twisting but see your point they don't seem interested.
Also what would happen in 10-30 years when another club in Bexley could be more senior than us?
As far as I am aware we have always been Welling United, even when we played in a different borough (albeit in a different commercial era). If you want to sell the ground rights, stand rights, official pastie supplier etc, frankly I don't always see what the sponsoring company get out of it, but they are largely fair game (unless say we had a stand named after someone like Graham Hobbins\John Glover that was renamed the Diddly Widgets stand). Names did change quite a bit in the 1800\early 1900s but once you are past your first few years, the name is your unique identifier. It is not obvious to me that Gravesend\Purfleet have exceptionally 'broken through' since changing and you only have to look at Hull to see the schisms that can be opened. The sad thing in their case is the supporters are not really enjoying their achievement and the money men, in chasing the perceived gains from doing it, appear to be compromising their bedrock income stream without attaining the perceived riches they were chasing. Sometimes sticking with what you have is better.
Politicians like to be associated with success. If Goldberg engages with them and builds a sustainable version of what we have had on our last National visit, I doubt total disinterest would persist
We could take the 'Bexley' from Bexley Borough and the 'United' from Welling United...
Ooh no, that's no good, is it?
I think at the moment only MG is in the best position to see if any name change would carry any sway with the Council.
My guess is not, though!
Compare the civic treatment of the north and south champions last time we won it: there was practically a holiday in Chester - open top bus, etc. Bexley for us - nada.
In the 60's there was a team called Bexleyheath and Welling FC who changed their name to Bexley United - which in turn has become Bexley FC. Both Bexley FC and Bexley United names are still being used today either at grassroots or Kent County League Level.
Agree with Mark X no real benefit to changing of name at present.
-- Edited by morph on Tuesday 17th of January 2017 08:29:17 PM
Ok what happens when some stupid politician decides to bring back the idea of super boroughs. Do we then rename Royal Greenwich with Bexley United or Bexley and Bromley Borough United or even Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham United. No it's Welling United now and Welling United it should remaim although squarevan united does have a certain ring to it :)
In the 60's there was a team called Bexleyheath and Welling FC who changed their name to Bexley United - which in turn has become Bexley FC. Both Bexley FC and Bexley United names are still being used today either at grassroots or Kent County League Level.
Agree with Mark X no real benefit to changing of name at present.
-- Edited by morph on Tuesday 17th of January 2017 08:29:17 PM
Bexley United was wound up. Bexley, who played in the Kent Amateur League at Bexley recreation ground - and still do - is one of the oldest clubs in the borough. It is not a reformed Bexley United.
Bexley FC were founded in 1884.and are.the oldest team in the borugh. Bexley Utd do not play in the Kent County. Both teams have nothing to do with the Bexley Utd that played at PVR, except one has the same name. Same as the current Welling Utd have nothing to do with the Welling Utd that played between WW1 and WW2
