After the three all draw between Welling United and Concord Rangers, Jamie Coyle praised Archie Johnson who has come in for the suspended Ben Jefford and was awarded sponsors man of the match.

Jamie Day first selected him for pre season training when he had only just turned sixteen. Four seasons later he has seen a succession of management changes and has survived two complete squad overhauls. He is now enjoying some first team action after spending a lot of this season on the bench.

Coyle has said “If he carries on playing as he does, he keeps his shirt. I’ve said it all along. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you come into the team and you play well you keep your shirt. He’s done that now for two games and if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll have a long stay in the team.”

Johnson was disappointed that Welling had not won the match but pleased to have claimed his first star player award. “It would have been nice to have come away with all three points and a man of the match performance but getting man of the match is something that I’ve always dreamed to do being at this club.” he said.

“It’s nice to keep consistent performances and hopefully I can keep my shirt for the next game and the games to come.” he continued. “I’ve had a chat with Jamie a lot of times during the season. He’s always said ‘Just be patient. You’ll get your opportunity.’ Whenever I get my opportunity, I’m 100% willing to take it.”

He had a loan spell at Thamesmead Town last season and has played one game for Stansfield and a few for Beckenham Town this season to get some playing time. He said “Even though I’m go away from the club to get some games in, I’m still a Welling player. I still want to be here and at the club in the future.”

Playing for Beckenham has done him good and he has enjoyed it. He said “It’s good. The pitch is a lovely surface. They love to play football and not really hit a target man. They like to get the ball out to the wingers and get it in the box. The team fights. It’s a really good close group of players. When I went in there, they took me on as one of their own within the first week. I’m in their group chat. They put me in straight away.“

Now that he is in the Welling team, he wants to play more saying “I’ve been at this club since I was nine or ten years old and it’s been a dream to be playing on this pitch and be a regular first eleven player. Even though I may not be playing in all the games, I’m really happy to be at this club.”

Versatility also helps as he explained “I’ve come up as a winger but if playing left back gets me in the team, I’m happy to play at left back and I can play it. The last game I played for Beckenham, I played at left back and scored two goals so I was really happy about that.”

As well as enjoying first team action with Welling, he was excited about Beckenham’s result that afternoon. “They’re in the F. A. Vase still and they just went down to Sheppey and they won 3-2. I think they’re four away from going to Wembley.

“I know the manager there, Jason Huntley, very well through my dad and through personal reasons as well and he’s happy to bring me in. That’s how I got the move from Welling and dual signed with Beckenham.”