Following a very encouraging pre-season schedule, Welling United start their campaign by hosting newly promoted Dulwich Hamlet.

For the visitors, it will be their first ever game in the National League South and they will be expected to bring a following in excess of a thousand spectators.

Steve King, Welling’s manager, has overseen an entertaining campaign in which they only lost to Charlton Athletic’s first team, and a Millwall team with several Championship players, each by the odd goal. Other than those and a 1-0 defeat at National League Premier club, Dover Athletic, they have won every game.

In those games, which included young sides from Queen’s Park Rangers and Watford, King tried out several formations and partnerships all over the pitch. A number of trialists have had game time and none of them looked as if they would be out of place if called upon in a competitive fixture. It will be very interesting to see the make-up of his first starting XI.

For many Welling supporters who don’t attend the warm up games, this will be their first viewing of another new-look Welling team as there has been a major overhaul for the third consecutive season.

Gavin Rose, Dulwich Hamlet’s manager, has kept the nucleus of his promoted side together whilst strengthening where he felt necessary. He will be hoping that his side build on the feel-good factor and impetus gained in being promoted

There are a number of personnel with connections to both clubs. At the end of last season, centre-back Magnus Okuonghae was playing for Welling whilst Anthony Acheampong was at Dulwich. Now each will be wearing the colours of the other team.

Osei Sanokfi, Welling’s first team coach, is a former Dulwich player whilst the visitors have former Wings, Ashley Carew, Michael Chambers, Ibrahim Kargbo, Sanchez Ming and Quade Taylor in their squad.

However, any friendships will be put to one side for ninety minutes as both clubs look to start the season with three points on the board.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.