I have been helping out at the ground the past few weeks getting it ready for the start of the season. What I have seen has opened my eyes. It is not good in my opinion and that is putting it politely. The stadium just needs so much work that it can't be kept up with anymore. It is a tip and needs to be demolished and rebuilt. A new stadium will need a lot less maintaining. Some people will say, 'It's fine as it is. It's our history etc. etc.' They don't like all these fancy new stadiums and so on. Well, those people need to get their arses down there and start filling the terraces because, those old stadiums are very expensive to maintain and it can't be done without help from the fans. A lot of fans in this case.
Is a new stadium going to change anything? Nothing is 100%. But from what I know/deduce it is a virtual certainty that a new stadium will increase attendances. By how much is the important question. It is a gamble at the end of the day. But if I had £50,000,000, I would gladly gamble a chunk of that into a new stadium. I don't have £50,000,000.
There is talk of mismanagement. From what I have seen this past few weeks I am of the same opinion. But it isn't just the past managers and/or the present managers that are responsible. Everyone is responsible - from the very top person at the club to the lowliest fan. Everyone. Right down to the current hierarchy.
I am somewhat aware of the issues in getting planning permission for the new stadium. Maybe too much is being asked for in those plans. Maybe there is another way. What I do know is that this business with Erith and Belvedere has to be sorted out before the club commits to building a new stadium. The current arrangement with them is a disgrace, as I understand it and will more than likely ruin United even with a new stadium. I wish I could see the contract. I believe I have a knack of finding holes in things like that.
To the powers that be: would it not be possible to apply for planning permission to redevelop the main stand and everything down that side as an initial phase. If that proved successful a second phase could be considered. I figure redeveloping the stadium in several phases would be more costly than doing it in one go but the losses would be less if the project failed at phase 1. Maybe planning permission would be more likely following this route. It's all down to the plans in the first place though. From what I have heard, the current plans sound like they may be a bridge too far for the council once again. Let's hope it's not.
Hello Mark. I totally agree with your first sentiment. Don't we currently have a wealthy benefactor? At least who has been until now? I am not sure lots of money is the only requirement to get Welling United going again.
I have been helping out at the ground the past few weeks getting it ready for the start of the season. What I have seen has opened my eyes. It is not good in my opinion and that is putting it politely. The stadium just needs so much work that it can't be kept up with anymore. It is a tip and needs to be demolished and rebuilt. A new stadium will need a lot less maintaining. Some people will say, 'It's fine as it is. It's our history etc. etc.' They don't like all these fancy new stadiums and so on. Well, those people need to get their arses down there and start filling the terraces because, those old stadiums are very expensive to maintain and it can't be done without help from the fans. A lot of fans in this case.
Is a new stadium going to change anything? Nothing is 100%. But from what I know/deduce it is a virtual certainty that a new stadium will increase attendances. By how much is the important question. It is a gamble at the end of the day. But if I had £50,000,000, I would gladly gamble a chunk of that into a new stadium. I don't have £50,000,000.
There is talk of mismanagement. From what I have seen this past few weeks I am of the same opinion. But it isn't just the past managers and/or the present managers that are responsible. Everyone is responsible - from the very top person at the club to the lowliest fan. Everyone. Right down to the current hierarchy.
I am somewhat aware of the issues in getting planning permission for the new stadium. Maybe too much is being asked for in those plans. Maybe there is another way. What I do know is that this business with Erith and Belvedere has to be sorted out before the club commits to building a new stadium. The current arrangement with them is a disgrace, as I understand it and will more than likely ruin United even with a new stadium. I wish I could see the contract. I believe I have a knack of finding holes in things like that.
To the powers that be: would it not be possible to apply for planning permission to redevelop the main stand and everything down that side as an initial phase. If that proved successful a second phase could be considered. I figure redeveloping the stadium in several phases would be more costly than doing it in one go but the losses would be less if the project failed at phase 1. Maybe planning permission would be more likely following this route. It's all down to the plans in the first place though. From what I have heard, the current plans sound like they may be a bridge too far for the council once again. Let's hope it's not.
Thank you for the work that you and others have been doing with the ground and the pitch over the last few weeks and months.
Although the main stand side is problematic I'd have thought the terracing behind the goal is the main concern- particularly the Park End.
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Hello Chris. Yes, the away end is very bad too but it wouldn't be generating much income when finished unless there was a bar and other facilities attached. Redevelopment of the main stand and everything down that side would result in a significant increase in revenue and would hopefully generate enthusiasm for a phase 2.
Maybe we should await the outcome of the plans that were "ready to go" from our mighty chairman 6months ago.
There have been drawings or plans, sure someone said there were? Or it might have been for the stadium elsewhere. Lost track! Not heard from the owner in a while, especially during this crisis time.
Some fans are on the board, perhaps they can update?
I have lost track of it a bit myself to be honest. As I understand, planning permission was initially denied for a development at Crook Log. I believe this is the 3rd application, this time for developing our ground. I have been told that Mr. Goldberg has lost enthusiasm which is why we have not heard from him. I figure I would have lost enthusiasm myself if I were in his position. I am of the opinion that the fans should be getting together and doing something to bring him back on board rather than criticising him. If we cannot make it work with Mr. Goldberg why would we be able to make it work with anyone else?
I have lost track of it a bit myself to be honest. As I understand, planning permission was initially denied for a development at Crook Log. I believe this is the 3rd application, this time for developing our ground. I have been told that Mr. Goldberg has lost enthusiasm which is why we have not heard from him. I figure I would have lost enthusiasm myself if I were in his position. I am of the opinion that the fans should be getting together and doing something to bring him back on board rather than criticising him. If we cannot make it work with Mr. Goldberg why would we be able to make it work with anyone else?
I don't think I would criticise him, except to say, that if he has lost intrest then he should seek a fair price and move on.
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Hello Chris. I would deduce that that is exactly what is happening. I am not so sure, however, that that is the best way forward - it might be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.
Plenty of stuff can be done without money. I don't believe lack of money or contacts is the issue here - if planning permission goes ahead everything would be a lot better as I understand it. But why bother when you're being told to go?
-- Edited by giorgiopin on Monday 31st of August 2020 04:34:26 PM
Plenty of stuff can be done without money. I don't believe lack of money or contacts is the issue here - if planning permission goes ahead everything would be a lot better as I understand it. But why bother when you're being told to go?
-- Edited by giorgiopin on Monday 31st of August 2020 04:34:26 PM
This is an old discussion. The Chairman and occasional manager has no money, but he has the lease on the ground, so he has the valuable part of the club. The rest is gravy.
There are one or two fans on the board, but they don't seem to feedback to the wider fan base, only their mates.
Maybe the expectations are too high, like some has said, to have a club at the moment, that's all that matters.
And PVR imho is a brilliant place to watch football and there's very little wrong with it for the level. It's actually above standard compared to many.
-- Edited by Wings1963 on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 02:18:02 AM
Good morning folks. Apologies for bringing up stuff that has been dealt with previously on this forum. I like the ground as it is too. But where are the rest of us fans? The club needs more people on the terraces to survive as things are. We live in a world where it seems everybody has to have the latest smartphone. If Welling are going to keep up, they need to do the same. I do not entirely like what has happened to football this past...what....20-30 years. The big boys are shooting off in the distance, not entirely sure where they are heading, in my opinion. When they get there, they may not be big enough to deal with what they find on their own. And because they have left too many too far behind, they will not survive either. Just a thought.
I have my own observations at PVR since I have been helping out at the ground this past few weeks and from when I was attending more regularly a few years ago. I did not like the changes made to the two bars. The red furniture in the upstairs bar, which I like to frequent, did not agree with me. The loss of the staff was another bad move and just the loss of the sandwiches put off a friend of mine from purchasing a season ticket. Yes, people go football for all sorts of reasons. The improvements to the downstairs bar were not necessary, in my opinion, either. The one thing I would say, is that the TVs with BT Sport were a nice touch. Didn't effect my personal habits though - I like to arrive at a stadium one and a half hours before KO to enjoy a couple of beers with or without company. The TVs did not make me arrive any earlier but it was nice to catch a game on the telly sometimes before KO.
All that money that was spent was a waste in my opinion and could have been better spent. Also, I would like to know what the reasoning was behind it if the plan was to knock the whole stadium down anyway.
If anyone is not aware, if you walk round the back of the main stand and head towards the away end, you will pass a fenced off area on the right. If you poke your head around the corner of that fence, you will see a stack of rubbish the like of which you have never seen before. It is quite shocking to be frank. That land belongs to the club and it is probably big enough to put a house in. All the money that was spent on improving the bars could have been put into clearing that rubbish and building a nice bar for the 21st century fans. I think that would have been money better spent and would have provided greater rewards.
I will be at the ground again today from 10am (probably just for a couple of hours) if anyone wants to pop down. Have a good week.......Giorgio.
Plenty of stuff can be done without money. I don't believe lack of money or contacts is the issue here - if planning permission goes ahead everything would be a lot better as I understand it. But why bother when you're being told to go?
-- Edited by giorgiopin on Monday 31st of August 2020 04:34:26 PM
There are one or two fans on the board, but they don't seem to feedback to the wider fan base, only their mates.
-- Edited by Wings1963 on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 02:18:02 AM
The one or two fans on the board are currently spearheading the Boost the Budget initiative at the moment, so you can come back and have a team worth watching.
As I understand it the bar renovations were undertaken by pure when we had a partnership with them, not the club.
Ah yes. That sounds right. As I remember the club handed over the rights to the bar to Pure who did it up, if that's the right way to put it. I was told something different but I make you right. Cheers Graham.
Plenty of stuff can be done without money. I don't believe lack of money or contacts is the issue here - if planning permission goes ahead everything would be a lot better as I understand it. But why bother when you're being told to go?
-- Edited by giorgiopin on Monday 31st of August 2020 04:34:26 PM
There are one or two fans on the board, but they don't seem to feedback to the wider fan base, only their mates.
-- Edited by Wings1963 on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 02:18:02 AM
The one or two fans on the board are currently spearheading the Boost the Budget initiative at the moment, so you can come back and have a team worth watching.
Aware of the Boost the Budget initiative and supported it both on this forum and via the collection (as I'd do if the buckets were out on matchdays).
The Boost the budget happens every year, and is backed by a group of supporters. But with fans on the board is there any communication needed about the state of the club?
I can't speak for the board because I'm not on it. I can only tell you what I see. Things are ****e at the moment. The club is hanging on by its finger nails and there aren't many of those left. It doesn't help when no one turns up to assist like today. People may wonder what the stadium manager is doing. Well, I've been speaking to Gary. He's been involved with the club for over 30 years but he is no longer on a wage. I hope he doesn't mind me saying this, but he's had to find a job elsewhere and help out at the club in his spare time as well which he does because he loves the club. You can't blame him for things going tits up. It's hard down there. I'm not sure anyone is on a wage down there. The club needs a helping hand. Not a kick in the teeth.
Most events like the ground improvements are only attended by a few people every year. I normally attend every year but unfortunately couldn't this time around. It's not a dig at anyone, just the way it's always been.
The club has had no income for over 5 months, so not sure it's that much of a shock that the club are in hard times! There are many businesses and football clubs in the same boat so we won't be the only ones. I just hope there is a club to support at the end of this all. For all the moans and groans things could be a whole lot worse, look at the situation at Charlton, or imagine having Glenn Tamplin as the owner of your club!?
However look at the positives, there is a cracking manager at the club, who is putting together a very promising team
Hopefully with games restarting in 5 weeks, things will get better. With Premier League clubs only allowed a small % of their ground capacity to be filled, and with the disillusionment at Charlton, more fans will come through the door.
The ground improvements require a form of flats being built as part of the development to fund the project as I understand. It always has been. That's why we can't just work on one side for example. The ground is falling apart and in major need of repair, but after hearing some of the quotes it would cost to make things right, then building a brand new development may be the best option. Time will tell if that takes place
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Welling United FC. Banging on the walls of Woking dressing rooms since 1963..
Agree with everything apart from the second paragraph.
Money was a issue way before covid, outgoings exceded Incomings and then having stopped player wages saved a lot of money. Council grants, football league grants and fa grants exceded anything that would of come in. When the season finished there were 3 home games and 4 away games left to play, so 7 weeks of wages, 3 games that attendances didn't cover the outgoings of wages, referee fees and general running of the day and 4 games with wages and travel to pay with no income at all, it does not add up in the slightest to say because of covid..
Yes I know some bills still have to be paid, water, electricity etc but how much is that being used compared to what would of been if games were played? Even the bar would of saved money, no need to purchase anything and any beer that was left unused could be claimed back on tax.
There are clubs in the league signing players and not grumbling about covid, teams selling season tickets because they are organised and have someone running them properly, club is in position its in because we do not have that, not because of covid.
And the club right now is very similar to CAFC , a owner not willing to support financially yet won't negotiate with someone who has offered time and again, no word out of him for months, no thank you for yours and peoples efforts in raising money.
Yes Bradley is a very good manager, right now probably sees it as a challenge, is he going to feel the same way come January when players he's signed dont get paid, have to be released or get a better offer elsewhere? Time will tell on that one. I presume and pray that money raised is going nowhere near MG and will stay in wusa account or given to Bradley as and when he needs it?
-- Edited by Jamison on Wednesday 2nd of September 2020 11:51:14 PM
I have heard 2nd hand what the chairman allegedly wants for the club and i can only think that he knows he wont get even 30% of that so the club will go out of business. Maybe then a deal can be done for the development with the lease holder of PVR.
Worrying times.
Can only hope the person whos been trying to buy the club can make a deal happen without paying through the teeth.
We have to be careful what we hear second hand but, yes, these are worrying times. I posted for the first time, on the Welling United Facebook page, last night saying, 'The end is nigh'. Just about everything I've seen at the club, since I've been helping, this past few weeks is so upsetting I don't know if I can keep doing it. What's the point? This is what I have been up to recently:
On Saturday, after helping fill up another skip, I made a coffee and went to look for Matt. I found him on the away terracing scraping the moss which looked pretty grim. The groundsman was there, overseeing and talking to Matt. That was Saturday. I had a think to myself and decided I would get on with the away end on Monday. Which is what I have been doing, finally finishing the away end, except the sides, today. This is the problem (please be patient) - the moss at the end of the terrace (main stand side) was particularly bad, but I got it looking good with a cordless drill with a wire brush attachment. Believe me, that was hard work. The further down the terrace I went, the easier it got until all it needed was some weeds etc pulling and a sweep up. This morning, when I arrived, I saw, to my horror, that that first part of the terrace I tackled was covered in thick moss once again. It didn't look like that yesterday, I swear.
I know nothing about moss and how quick it can grow etc. What I do know, is that the groundsman was there on the Saturday and he should know that, or am I assuming too much? But if he did know that the moss was likely to return without treatment being applied, why did we bother in the first place? After I finished the terracing, I went to B&Q and bought a few bottles of moss killer, paying for them myself. I have applied them as best I can but it probably isn't going to touch the sides. Better than nothing though, right? The guy at the store said pressure washer. I had already looked into that - the club hasn't got a lead to reach the terracing which is why I had to do it all by hand. The terracing needs industrial equipment to sort that out properly or more fans turning up to help. Anyway, the away terracing is looking a lot better than it was but my back is twisted all over the place. I am not joking.
The one good thing I've seen was yesterday. A firm turned up and laid new tarmac in front of the main stand which looks pretty tasty. I understand the money for that came from a grant.
The main stand now needs a good clean. I was told a pressure washer will be available for that. I now need to sort my back out but on Monday I want to start tackling a manky wall in the downstairs bar that I was told needs addressing.
I can't understand how it's still all systems go at PVR. The club is gearing up for the start of the season. The London Senior Cup Final was scheduled to be played at PVR but no one seems to know if that is still happening. I've just had a quick Google myself and it seems it is now being played elsewhere, presumably because PVR isn't ready? There appears, to me, to be a few people doing their bit but is it going to be enough? We are just going to have to wait and see.
I saw Barrie Hobbins, at the ground, for the first time in a very long time. I have to say, he looked well which was good to see. Maybe he is feeling reinvigorated and ready to take the club by the scruff of the neck. Someone needs to.
This past few weeks has been very frustrating. It is just one thing after another. Last night for instance, I went to the, 'Meet the Manager', evening. I had no plans of going originally, but I got an email from Matthew Mein saying, if I went, he would be happy to buy me a beer. I thought it was a nice gesture so I went purely because of that.
We did have a quick chat last night and I raised the issue of the email I sent which he said he didn't receive. So I explained that I went to the ground at 5am one morning this week to have a go at the pigeon issue and found that the Erith & Belvedere stand lights were on. I didn't see anyone at that side of the ground so figured that they were probably leaving the lights on to keep the pigeons away. Matt confirmed that Welling Utd pay for the electricity. So there is an issue. I said that if that is happening every night the cost is going to add up. His response was something like, 'oh, it's not every night'. But how does he know that? Maybe it's obvious to him that it's not every night but it's certainly not obvious to me. So, I am now pulled into the thought of going down the ground every day this coming week, in the early hours of the morning, to get his facts straight. It would not be the first time he's got them wrong.
I want to walk away but keep getting dragged in further.
I have to say I was impressed with the management team last night. At least they presented very well. However, I don't think Welling will be getting into the League or winning the FA Cup in the near future under the current scenario,. All the best.......Giorgio.
PS. I didn't get that beer by the way.
-- Edited by giorgiopin on Sunday 6th of September 2020 07:17:21 AM
I think it would be easier and less sleep depriving to pop down to the ground around 22.00 each night and tell them to switch the Kin lights off. Just a suggestion!
I think it would be easier and less sleep depriving to pop down to the ground around 22.00 each night and tell them to switch the Kin lights off. Just a suggestion!
