Jack Parkinson pays tribute to Welling United after move to Woking
Published: 12:55, 28 May 2012
Departing Welling skipper Jack Parkinson has thanked the club for developing his game over the last four years.
Parkinson agreed to move to newly-promoted Blue Square Bet Premier Woking last Friday but knows he owes a big debt of thanks to those he leaves behind at Park View Road.
"I joined Welling at 18 and have left as the 22-year-old captain," said Parkinson. "They have made me into the player I am now and have been the main factor in me attracting so much interest.
"I can’t thank them enough. The support has been brilliant and I’ve had so many messages since Friday.
"The supporters have been unbelievable, from the minute I joined the club to when I left. They pay out an amazing amount of money to support the team home and away and we really did appreciate them.
"The coaching staff have been good to me. I’ve known Dean Frost since I was 16 at VCD and he has had a massive impact on me, I was with Barry Ashby at Margate originally and his experience has been second to none.
"Jamie Day has been fantastic. His man-management is second to none and three years down the line he has improved me and I wish them all the best."
Parkinson, who turned down a much-publicised move to Stevenage last summer, neglected offers from at least three other Blue Square Bet Premier sides as well as Football League clubs to join Woking.
"There were three or four other local clubs that phoned me," said Parkinson. "Jamie Day knew everything that was happening and everyone conducted themselves the right way.
"But as soon as I spoke to Garry Hill at Woking my mind was made up. I stay part-time which is ideal for me and I’m at a big club in the Conference."
Parkinson also dismissed claims that his decision to stay part-time suggested a lack of ambition on his part.
"People accused me of that last summer as well when I didn’t go to Stevenage," he added.
"It’s not a lack of ambition, Woking is a big club. I did what I felt was right at the time last year and I’ve done that again now.
"We’ve all got things we look at and I think it will be the perfect platform for me if the opportunity to go full-time comes along in the future. I don’t think I would turn down that chance again."
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Alex Hoad