Community, character and champions – East Midlands Club of the Year: Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club
Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club has been named East Midlands Club of the Year at this year’s Regional Volunteer Awards. Recognising its legacy, resilience and commitment to athlete development and community spirit.
Founded in 1911 and uniquely named after a pub, Lincoln Wellington AC is one of the oldest clubs in the region. But age is just a number, the club continues to thrive thanks to its inclusive, family-friendly ethos and a deep-rooted culture of friendship and support.
Terry Timmis, Club President said: “what really gets my heart is the friendships that I see developing, and these friendships last for years and years. It’s families, friendships and achievements. I don’t mean achievement as in gold medals, I mean achievements as in the person competing against the tape and the measure.”
Excellence in governance and volunteer spirit
Lincoln Wellington AC is proud to have 7/7 Club Standards, reflecting its high standards in governance and compliance. They also remain one of the few fully volunteer-led clubs in the country, relying solely on the dedication of qualified coaches, officials, and helpers who give their free time to support athletes of all ages and abilities.
“We are a family that want to be here” explains Ian Boyle, Press Officer for the club. “For the size of the club, which is relatively small, we have a really solid output of performers. We produce really good athletes, but also really good people.”
Rising above challenges
The club faced a major setback when it suddenly lost access to its training facilities. But within 24 hours, the local MP and City Council were on board and within weeks, the club was back on track (literally) thanks to the support from Lincoln City Foundation and swift safety assessments for offside training.
“The loss of the facilities was a very sudden impact; it was an overnight impact. What was really heartening was the way the club came together”
Sean Baxter, committee member told us: “I think we have achieved even more this year than we had the previous year, which is pretty outstanding really with the unrest that came with not having our facilities.”
Supporting athletes beyond the track
For many, Lincoln Wellington AC is more than just a place to train, it’s a lifeline. One athlete shared how the club helped them socially, offering a sense of belonging and purpose.
“The reason I joined the club was to get a bit of a social life back and do a sport that I love. With a bit of time I got used to the training, used to the people and now I couldn’t think of anything different. They were there for me the whole time.”
Achievements that matter
Despite the disruption, the club has continued to shine. International athletes are performing strongly, with podium finishes at major championships, and younger athletes are stepping up impressively and achieving. The club credits much of this success to its passionate, fully qualified coaches who are committed to nurturing talent and character.
“They really want to work with kids and athletes, progress them and bring them on so that’s partly our success at this club.”
Winning the East Midlands Club of the Year award has been a proud and emotional moment for Lincoln Wellington AC. We spoke to them during the awards evening and asked what the recognition means to them:
“It’s unbelievable really. The club has a real family feel, and everyone gets to know everyone no matter who you are. The club saved my life so it’s amazing that the family like feel of the club has been recognised.”