Let’s travel back to January 1995 and visit Welling United to review issue 12 of Winning Isn’t Everything. The Wings have only been in existence since 1963 and only really moved into the pyramid proper in 1978 just after they populated Park View Road ground, previously used by Bexley United. They currently sit in the seventh tier, in the Isthmian Laague Premier division. In 1995 they had reached the heights Southern League Premier Division so it is quite something that WiE was a regularly and very well produced fanzine for 58 issues all of which are available at the British Library in Boston Spa. Though not in print they are still active on facebook and bluesky ( @wiefanzine.bsky.social )

It’s one of life’s ironies that we join them in January 1985, as we will see the tone in the zine is downbeat. The 1985-86 season to come would see promotion to and a prolonged stay in the conference and qualifying for the first round proper of the FA Cup in the six successive seasons between 1986 and 1992.. the 1984-85 season was not going that well as the editorial clarifies and even at a bargain for £5 entry people are staying away. Despite the cover story laughing at the money received for Stuart White, it appears he hasn’t been replaced and yes, signing “a centre-back who had not long before been diagnosed with osteoarthritis” does seem a bit careless, even at this level. On the plus side, you don’t see the actual word osteoarthritis being used much in fanzines..

It’s always worth reading the disclaimer and Dave has written a pretty good one here, I mean it’s not going to be legally binding but I like his style.

You’ll be happy to see that the sense of being ripped off by teams is nothing new or Premier league. This is a great little article by Horrible Man outlining that even 31 years ago we were beginning to get a little pissed off as clubs started to see us not as supporters but as customers and ones they thought had deeper pockets.

There were better insets than the above to fill space…not sure about copyright though.

Jemima Puddleduck contributes a great piece about what you should do it you won the lottery. It includes a great explanation of Stuart White’s crossing ability and does finally reach the conclusion that a sane rational person (ie not a football fan) would reach almost immediately.

The fanzine’s curse strikes again as Gavin Sutton (real name?!) has become so wound up about the club’s dismal start to the season that he has written a letter of complaint. Remember them?! As is the way the team has seen an upturn since he wrote it and even worse the club have invited him in for a meeting at which they have been more than reasonable, explained their perfectly decent plans and, well…charmed Gav’ down somewhat.

Tim (probably also not his real name) contributes a great piece about how local rivalries can be tricky and persuasively concludes that the“Bowler hatted, stock-broking, affluent, Terry and June cretins” of Woking (60 miles away around the M25) should be the subject of their ire. To be fair this is 5 miles closer than dover.

Finally there is a superb Magic Eye on the back cover. It’s so terrible I’m almost convinced I can see floodlights in there..

Great little fanzine, perhaps not as irreverent/cartoon based as some but excellent writing about the woes of being a fan down the pyramid or just a fan in general, all for 50p and 24 pages. It’s good to know that good times were just around the corner for the lads and Jemima.