Welton’s last home game of the season saw them upset the ten-game winning streak of promotion favourites, Cheddar, and also saw Rovers reach the halfway stage of their 2017/18 league season. What is most notable about this milestone is that in 21 games in this campaign, Welton have reached the same points total of 37 that it took them a full season to obtain last season.

Expectations weren’t high coming into the new campaign after two disappointing seasons, consisting of relegation from the Premier Division in 2015/16, and a lacklustre placing third from bottom last time out. Some of Welton’s old guard were surprised to see the management duo of Clive Scott and his assistant, Mark Brown, continue in their role, but the Board of Directors’ decision to stick by the twosome has been more than vindicated.

Said Vice-Chair, Gareth Paisey: “We’d only had two league victories in 2017, heading into the summer, but Clive’s passion for the club, and belief in what we’re trying to do at Welton was always clear; no matter how disappointing results were. The job that he and Mark did in the summer to bring the best out of the players we had last season and also to supplement them with players who deserved a chance at Western League level, has been exemplary, and all of this season’s success is down to the hard work of them and their players.”

Hard work that has bred results in abundance. Already this term, the Green Army have earned impressive victories against high-fliers, Cheddar and Keynsham Town, and after taking the scalp off Southern League Larkhall Athletic, they’ve a Somerset Premier Cup Quarter-Final against Vanarama National League South side, Bath City, to look forward to. Despite this great run of form, the club are still playing down any suggestions of them being promotion contenders; instead insisting their targets have been changed from avoiding relegation to obtaining the top six spot that would likely qualify them for next season’s FA Cup.

A big development at the club has seen them become the first Toolstation Western League club to offer video highlights of their matches. Within a couple of hours of the final whistle, multi-angle goal highlights are uploaded to the club’s social media channel. This allows players and supporters to enjoy the match all over again, but also ensures Welton fans of old who may find themselves living further afield are still able to follow the team. Paisey said: “We’re passionate about Welton Rovers and although it’s ‘only’ non-league football, we believe it’s worth celebrating, and this advancement is another way of ensuring that.”

On top of the currently thriving football club, the social club and events continue to grow, with a big New Year’s Eve party taking place this week. “Under the stewardship of Terry Andrews, we’re hosting more entertainment and events than we have for a decade, and that can only serve to contribute to the feel-good attitude we currently have on the pitch!”, added Paisey.

As for goals for 2018, as well as a continued upturn on the football pitch, Paisey states the club wish to further develop their ties with local community groups and re-establish Welton Rovers as an important and proud body within the town of Midsomer Norton.