WELLIES ARE ON THE UP AGAIN!

THE terrible Coronavirus outbreak decimated Non-League football in many ways.

- TONY INCENZO

With illness rife and lockdowns repeated in full force., leagues were compelled to abandon fixtures in mid-season. A truly awful scenario.

One of the worst hit clubs were Herefordshire village outfit Wellington FC. They were impacted so badly that they were made to pull out of the Hellenic League and FA Vase at the start of 2021/22.

It took Wellington three years to gain promotion back to Hellenic circles for this season. A lengthy and arduous recovery road.

I drove down to their Kensal Ground last month and after witnessing a 3-0 victory against Cheltenham Saracens in Hellenic League Division One, I discussed the club's fall and subsequent rise with chairman Phil Smith.

"Covid-19 obstructed us in having a clear run at our fixtures," he said.. "The Hellenic League was cut short on two occasions. The first campaign saw 21 games played and the second only nine. We had to totally rethink our plans.

"Time was taken up with potentially 'Covid conformance', risk assessments and social distance segregation. The changing rooms were out of bounds and use of our base at the village social club was prohibited.