Wings CEO, Paul Barnes, shares his thoughts following Saturday’s ‘pink’ matchday at Park View Road, which saw the Welling United community come together for breast and prostate cancer awareness…
What an extraordinary day for our club and our community. With an official attendance of 1,415, Saturday’s event proved once again that Welling United is far more than just a football club – we are a place of connection, compassion and collective strength.
Partnering with the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership for this important campaign was truly special. Bringing NHS professionals, local health services, and the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice together created an atmosphere that was both supportive and uplifting, giving people a safe space to talk, to learn, and to take proactive steps for their wellbeing.
A significant highlight of the day was our Ladies’ Pink Afternoon Tea Party, organised so brilliantly by Marie Webber. Her dedication, passion and relentless effort helped create an event that sold out with 76 women standing in solidarity for breast cancer awareness. We were honoured to welcome several distinguished guests, including:
- The Mayor of Bexley, Cllr Christine Catterall
- Dr Winnie Kwan, Clinical & Care Cancer Lead for the Southeast
- Kerry Corrigan from the University of Greenwich
All of whom brought gravitas and warmth to what was a truly meaningful afternoon.
Across the entire event, we have now raised over £3,000 for the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice, with our exclusive Hope & Glory Pink & Blue Charity Kits generating a further £1,500 in pre-orders. These kits – and the upcoming auction – will continue to raise vital funds for an organisation that supports so many local families with dignity and care.
We were also privileged to welcome more than 400 members of the Danson Sports FC community, as we celebrated the official announcement of our future partnership. Their presence symbolised the exciting journey ahead as Danson Sports FC becomes Welling United Youth & Development FC from June 2026. It was inspiring to see so many young players, families, and coaches come together, showing the strength of the community we are building as one club.
Another special moment came through the presence of Kellie Discipline, Isthmian League Secretary, and Nick Varley from Pitching In (the Isthmian League’s sponsors). Their attendance helped elevate the importance of the day, but more importantly, they joined us in recognising the lifeblood of non-league football: our volunteers.
Pitching In presented special Volunteer Recognition Certificates to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of several members of our volunteer team. This moment captured the heart of what non-league football is built on – commitment, community, and people who give up their time to make clubs like ours thrive. It was a privilege to celebrate them publicly and to have Kellie and Nick supporting that recognition.
Around the stadium, the NHS teams and community services provided free health checks, screenings, signposting, and wellbeing support throughout the day. Dozens of supporters engaged proactively with these services, and each received a free match ticket for our home game on Saturday, November 29th against Cheshunt – a small way for us to thank people for prioritising their health.
We extend our sincere appreciation to all organisations who contributed their time and services:
- Bellegrove Nutrition
- Bexley Community Champions
- Bexley Cancer Screening Support
- Bexley Health Community Care
- Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice
- Mind in Bexley
- Head in the Game
- Our Parks
- Medishare Pharmacy
- Gro Health
- Smoke Free Bexley
Finally, seeing the culmination of three months of planning, volunteer commitment, and community partnership come together in such a powerful way reinforced our mission and vision for Welling United.
We are more than a football club. We are a community hub, a place of belonging, and a force for positive change in Bexley.
This is just the beginning. We have much more planned, and Saturday’s success only fuels our determination to keep growing, keep connecting, and keep making a difference – on and off the pitch.
Thank you to every person who supported, attended, volunteered, or contributed to this unforgettable day.
