“At this stage of my career, the club I play for is as much a life decision as it a footballing one. I wanted to play for a club that meant something to me in addition to it fitting in with my career outside of football”

What may seem like the words of a wily veteran looking to wind down his career are actually those of pragmatic 29 year old Anthony Cook who is as hungry for success as he ever was following his recent signing for Welling United.

The silky winger has been terrorising National League defenders for close to 10 years for Chelmsford City, Ebbsfleet United and Bromley. In that time he has been promoted twice from the National League South as well as winning several individual accolades.

Having agreed to join Welling, Cook is in no doubt that he has joined a club that gives him the perfect opportunity to add yet more silverware to his football resume.

“I had a few phonecalls from different clubs after leaving Dulwich, they had moved to a training schedule that I couldnt commit to, but once I spoke to Mark Goldberg and he told me of his plans. I weighed up the fact that I’d won the league with Mark before and it was an easy decision to make in the end”.

With the quality of the National League South seemingly improving year on year, Cook believes Welling have the ability to be in amongst the runners and riders near the top end of the division.

He said, “You just never know with the NLS there is always a team that will surprise you, some that throw money at it but at Welling we have a nicely balanced squad. We have experience and youth, we’ll go about our business silently and see where that takes us by the seasons end”.

Despite what some might call an underwhelming season with Dulwich last year in which Cook often featured in many unfamiliar positions, the winger has not lost any faith or trust in his ability.

He added “I could care less if people think I dropped off last season, I’ve always had huge confidence in my ability and when I play I try to show that and do what I’m good at. I’m playing for a manager and teammates who appreciate what I’m good at, we’re on the same wavelength so it doesnt really matter to me what anyone else might think”.

With Cook having opened up his pre-season account with a wonderful lobbed goal in a friendly against his former club Bromley the irony is not lost on him that in joining Welling he has the chance to hook up with several former Bromley players as well.

“Mark had told me when I agreed to sign about several of the names he was targeting and yes I know many of them from my time at Bromley but for me we’re all coming for the right reasons. I wouldn’t come somewhere where it’s a jolly-up. I’m about business and if I’m giving up my time to play football it has to be somewhere where everyone is on the same wavelength as me and that’s exactly what I see at Welling”.

Welling fans can catch Anthony Cook in action as they continue their pre-season preparations at home to Dover Athletic on Saturday, 3pm kick off.