They say defences win you championships and if that old adage is true then Welling United’s second signing since announcing Mark Goldberg’s return to the dugout don’t come much bigger than Rob Swaine.
The former Bromley and Billericay promotion winning captain has reunited with Goldberg and Hugo Langton a move the towering centre-back described as a ‘no-brainer’.
Swaine told Kent Sports News, “I’ve worked with Mark and Hugo before and been really successful. They told me the players they were interested in getting in and given Mark’s man management and Hugo’s attention to detail and brilliant coaching it would have been silly of me to turn down”.
Swaine was most recently with Maidstone United and signed off with the Kent club by winning man of the match in the Kent Senior Cup final against Bromley and he admits he received several enquiries from fellow National League South sides and a few National league teams but feels Welling is the best fit given his off the field commitments.
He said “I have my personal training and recently opened up a new business so in truth three mornings a week doesn’t work for my career off the pitch”.
Welling also announced six additional signings yesterday in Joe Anderson, Kudus Oyenuga, Sanchez Ming, Archie Johnson, Nathan Green and Jay Rich-Baghuelo and Swaine is eager to use his experience to foster the dressing room camaraderie that he feels is essential to a successful season.
“Wherever I’ve been successful it has always been about creating togetherness in the dressing room, doing the simple things well and not allowing bad eggs to fester”. He added “looking at the names that have come in so far there is real quality amongst them and I see no reason why we can’t aim for the playoffs”.
Swaine acknowledges that some will see his signing along with Joe Anderson and the existing presence of Mark Goldberg, Hugo Langton and Bradley Goldberg as an attempt to get the Bromley band back together but feels that is a lazy analysis.
“Last season I had a personally good season, Joe Anderson was ever present with Chelmsford and Brad does what he does best by scoring goals. It may be three years on since we last linked up but all of us are doing well. I can’t wait to get going again and demonstrate that”.
Welling fans will be able to catch the new look Welling side with Swaine in action in their traditional pre-season curtain raiser against Charlton Athletic on Saturday July 13th