Woking

Woking FC is a semi professional football club who come from the dormitory town in Surrey of the same name twenty three miles south west of London. The club was formed in 1889 and are nicknamed the Cardinals or the Cards for short as they traditionally play in cardinal red and white halves.

Woking spent their early life in local leagues before joining the Isthmian League in 1911. They remained in the top flight of that league for the next seventy two years, finishing runners up in 1957, before recording their first major triumph.

In front of a 71,000 crowd at Wembley, the Cards beat Ilford 3-0 in the last FA Amateur Cup Final to be televised live. Unfortunately they never pushed on from that victory and a couple of decades later Woking found themselves in Division Two South of the Isthmian League.

This nadir in the club history brought the appointment of Geoff Chapple as manager to kick start a golden age for the club. By 1990 they had won promotions to recover their place in the pinnacle of the Isthmian, before going on an epic FA Cup run the season after. 

They defeated non league rivals Bath City, Kidderminster Harriers and Merthyr Tydfil before being drawn away to West Bromwich Albion who were playing in Division Two, which was second tier at the time. 

Despite been a goal behind The Cards went on to win 4-2 thanks to three goals from Tim Buzaglo and another from Terry Worsfold. They were drawn at home to mighty Everton in the next round, but they switched the game to Goodison Park, where they went down 1-0.

To see the magnificent performance at The Hawthorns, click here. The club were promoted into the Conference in 1992 at which point former Chelsea and Sunderland star Clive Walker was signed. This transpired to be an amazing signing by Chapple. 

The Cards won the FA Trophy in 1984 at Wembley against Runcorn and they repeated the feat the year after against Kidderminster Harriers. They made it a hat trick of Wembley wins in 1997 against Dagenham & Redbridge as well as having good final league positions each year.

After the ’97 final, Chapple and his coach Colin Lippiatt left to join Kingstonian and the two subsequent bosses, John McGovern and Brian McDermott didn’t fare as well. Lippiatt and then Chappell came back to retrieve a hazardous league position and an even more precarious one off the pitch. 

The downturn in fortunes had led to a financial crisis and the threat of administration. Local businessman and fan, Chris Ingram came to the rescue. Glenn Cockerill took over as manager but after he departed there seemed to be a revolving door on the boss’s office.

Graham Baker, Frank Gray, Kim Grant and Phil Gilchrist all had spells as manager until after a few seasons of slide, the club were relegated into the Conference South in 2009 under the management of Gilchrist.

He was replaced by Baker who returned for a second spell, before former Dagenham & Redbridge boss Gary Hill arrived at Kingfield half way through the 2010-11 season. Hill transformed the teams form taking them to the play-offs, where Woking lost 1-0 in the final to Bath City.

There was to be no mistake in the 2011-12 season as the Cards romped to the Conference South title. On their return to the National League, as the Conference was renamed in 2015, Woking strung together finishes in mid table and just above. 

The team reached the first round of the FA Cup in 2014-15 before going one round better in 2016-17 before going out to Accrington Stanley. The same stage was reached in the 2017-18 campaign before the Cards went out in a replay to Peterborough United at London Road.

Manager Hill had departed to be replaced by Anthony Limbrick. However, with results going badly in the league, he only remained in the post for three months. Jason Goodliffe, Limbrick's assistant took over but could not save the team from relegation.

Alan Dowson was appointed for the National League South season of 2018-19; taking his team on a magnificent run to the third round of the FA Cup; disposing of Torquay United and Swindon Town before going out 2-0 to Watford at Kingfield.

The league campaign ended with Woking as runners-up before they defeated Wealdstone and then Welling United in the play-offs to regain their National League status. The goals of Jake Hyde helped consolidate their higher status, prior to Darren Sarll being appointed as manager in March 2022.

The playoffs were reached in 2022-23 which ended in defeat in the first round by Bromley. Michael Doyle was appointed as manager in December 2023.

Woking FC will play in the National League in the 2025-25 season.

My visits

Woking 1 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 17th March 2001) Football Conference (att: 1,625)

I was looking forward to my first ever visit to the Kingfield Stadium as Liz had spoken highly of a great atmosphere on the final day of the previous season with fans mixing freely. There was quite a contingent of us going to the match. I met Steve and Sarah off the Oxford train at Paddington before going on to meet Karl and his mum at Waterloo with others for the train.

We found a decentish boozer, The Station on arrival before taking a taxi to the ground where we were told the clubhouse was good. It was certainly very civilised with everyone queuing and being pleasant. This was so much more preferable to the ignorant crush found at most venues.

The weather was murky and damp as we entered the stadium so we headed for the cover behind the goal to start with. This was the Kingfield Road End. It certainly had good acoustics for the standing spectators. To our left was a smallish open terracing going all the way down the touchline. 

At the far end was the magnificent 2,500 seater Leslie Gosden Stand. Finally to the right was rather a piecemeal side split into thirds. The furthest was an open terrace which is referred to as Moaners Corner. There was then two smallish seated stands which were showing signs of age, but plenty of character.

The atmosphere wasn’t quite as friendly as I’d been led to believe and we moved round to the end Boro were attacking on Moaners Corner before returning via the clubhouse for the second half. It was a decent game in which either side could have won. Awkward forward Cherif Diallo netted Boro’s goal.

After the game we headed back into London. It was St Patricks Day so we were going to get into the flavour of the occasion by drinking in Kilburn, but first we needed food. There was a lengthy discussion before we decided on a meal in Chinatown, although Karl wasn’t very jubilant about the choice.

Karl the chopstick king

Inside we had one of the choices where there’s several main course, a big bowl of rice and a revolving table for everyone to share. Karl was in his element and managed to use chopsticks properly at his first attempt, much to my annoyance as I’ve never been able to get the hang of them. A good old fashioned night out in Kilburn followed with Guinness being poured down like it was the last barrel in town. 

Woking 2 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 8th February 2003) Football Conference (att: 1,631)

Another gathering of the usual suspects at southern games plus Chewy assembled at the upstairs Reef Bar in Waterloo station before departing for Woking. Once again Karl was on the loose with Carl of Malton and Dave Cammish. Again we ended up in The Station when we arrived where Fred and Tony were refreshing themselves. We always seemed to have a decent turnout at Woking.

For weeks I’d been ribbing Karl about his naivety in believing that you could get right handed or left handed boomerangs. We had both been to Australia to watch England in The Ashes and he said he’d been told by an old Aussie. I maintained he’d been wound up. 

I had a bet with him as the others joined in. At that point he produced a sheet that someone had copied from the internet proving he was correct, much to cheers as I went to get everyone a beer.

Again it was another miserable afternoon but we brightened up when Karl Rose scored an excellent goal to put us ahead. Dave and I decided to go for a wander and sit high in the seats at the far end. Somehow Boro managed to throw away a game they were totally in command of and have keeper Andy Woods harshly sent off after a defensive cock up.

We retired to the clubhouse to await a taxi before we headed into London. Karl had decided to go to his hotel to change while Carl (who was staying with me) and I went to the pub after bidding Dave farewell. 

We met up with Liz and her mate at a pub off Oxford Street and before long we were involved in what could have been a very late night. We left Karl to accompany the girls to a club, while we headed back to the delights of Willesden and the much missed Spotted Dog. 

I’m sure if Carl reads this he will comment that the Lettuce Heads were playing and they were dreadful!

Woking 2 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 16th August 2003) Football Conference (att: 1,902)
 

This was synonymous with so many games as a loyal football fan following a generally unsuccessful club. It was a good day out spoilt by the football. I didn’t intend to go to this match as I was meant to be at Lord’s all day working at the cricket. By lunch I was having a pretty ordinary day so I got permission to be set free for the afternoon.

It was a stunning day and before long I was outside O’Neills in Woking with a pint chatting with Liz and Patrick (Alty) while trying to amuse his darling daughter Holly. We made our way to the ground where I found Butch in as thirsty mood as ever. I drank in between keeping my new young friend entertained. It was such a shame the match was about to ruin things.

During the summer Russell Slade had made many changes to his squad, much of which we worried was done for purely cost cutting measures. The team did nothing to ally our fears on the day. Nick Henry scored a stunning volley, but apart from that it was dross. As things turned out later in the season, he’d found some excellent players, but you would have had to have been the supreme optimist on the showing at Kingfield.

I must have been pretty miserable company for Liz on the train home. For the first time since Boro’s relegation from the Football League I was close to packing in going. It was probably just the way I was generally feeling at the time, but the thought of trips year on year to places like Woking did not fill me full of enthusiasm at all. How little I knew!

Woking 1 Scarborough 1 (Wednesday 23rd March 2005) Football Conference (att: 2,587)

This game was changed from a Good Friday afternoon to earlier in the week for some reason, perhaps to beat the holiday traffic, but it offered me a good excuse for a night out as I had quite a few days off work. 

Even better was the fact that Steve was over from Thailand and staying with me before travelling up to Scarborough for Easter where I’d meet up again. Simon got finished early from work in Gillingham and so we met him at Waterloo station.

We had a couple of beers in the woeful pub downstairs at the station before catching the train to Woking and embarking on a bit of a pub crawl. Steve was in one of his dafter moods and soon had Simon and myself laughing, while the local young bar staff didn’t know quite what to make of him.

On arrival at the ground, we found out that the game was to be segregated and we couldn’t use their clubhouse. We found that amazing for a midweek night match! News had also got to us the game would be kicking off late as Boro had been caught up in bad traffic and were delayed. Fortunately the snooker centre next to the away fans turnstiles felt pity on us and let us in for more beers.

The Cards still had big hopes of at least a play off place. If they won the game they would move into second place. Boro had a miniscule chance if we won all our remaining games. There was a healthy away following of around 200 Seadogs on the open terrace down the side. Woking went ahead and looked like taking all three valuable points. 

They were using every trick in the book to hang onto their lead and we felt they were there for the taking as Boro got more and more of the play. I think there was due to be three added on minutes and time was nearly up with play deep in the Boro half when the Woking centre back was sent off for a second yellow card. 

Woking launched more pressure but the ball broke and Boro attacked down our side. A cross shot went across goal where substitute Michael Coulson finished from a tight angle to send the away fans crazy. It was a beautiful moment, made even better by the full time whistle going virtually after the restart.

The Seadogs got a deserved ovation before we got out of the ground and followed the crowds to walk back to the railway station. It was great walking back for a change with massive grins and seeing and hearing the dejection of the home fans.

Wednesday 20th June 2012

I had the day off and to myself until I had an appointment in the city of London around tea time, so I had made the most of a rare sunny day during a dreadfully wet month and headed south west. After visiting the towns of Fleet and Farnborough I took the short train ride to Woking. 

It was on my way back and I wanted to visit the home of Westfield FC, who were based just a hefty clearance away from Kingfield. I also wanted some decent pictures of the Cards home.

I left the station via the southern entrance and followed the signs down the slope and after about twenty minutes I was outside the ground. I was most happy to find the gates open, with several workers inside the ground giving the place a facelift.

I had a quick wander around to take my shots before heading over the road to their neighbours home. No new structures had been built since my previous visit and the ground looked at its very best.

Woking 0 Accrington Stanley 3 (Sunday 4th December 2016) FA Cup Round Two (att: 3,718) (inc 238 away fans)

As with recent custom several FA Cup ties were held over until the Sunday to allow the BBC to offer extensive coverage. This was the pick of the games within sensible travelling distance. I got a lift from North Harrow from my West Ham season ticket suffering mate Tony at 12 after dragging my weary body out of bed following night shift.

Despite their being quite a bit of traffic, we arrived at the ground around 2.30 and got a superb seat towards the rear of the seated stand behind the goal for excellent value at £10. This was my fifth visit to Kingfield but the first for a match since 2005, when Scarborough stopped playing the Cards. 

I had always enjoyed going to this excellent traditional venue with decent home supporters and so it proved again. As well as the very fair admission charge I purchased a programme for £3 and a Bovril for £1.50.

To see the arrival of the teams being greeted by the music of a local band, click here.

Woking's shooting boots let them down as they squandered a really good opportunity and two half chances to take the lead. Stanley gradually grew into the contest and took the lead on thirty four minutes through Billy Kee following the first of several defensive errors.

The game was more or less over in the space of 60 seconds eight minutes later. Charlie Carter received a straight red for a gormless late challenge on a Stanley defender clearing the ball. 

Without going all Arsene Wenger, I only saw the incident out of the corner of my eye, but the lack of protest from home players or management spoke volumes, although the gallery in Moaners Corner where the incident took place, was less than courteous towards the referee or the injured player.

To rub salt into the wounds Accrington went straight up the other end with Kee expertly finishing a low cross to make it 2-0, much to the delight of the 238 visiting supporters down the side and further along in the seats from us.

There was no chance of any form of refreshment at the break owing to the queues and the amount of families struggling to go an hour or more without a coffee or catering. This was my only criticism of the set up. Perhaps the Cards could have provided a pop up hot drink stall?

It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Cards in the second half although to their credit they never stopped trying. The game was put to bed just after the hour mark when John O'Sullivan scored with a super header from a wide ball. Stanley could and should have increased their margin of victory, but a mixture of bad finishing, decision making and herculean defending kept the score down to three.

Well done to Woking FC. Their sensible pricing attracted a huge crowd, including, I suspect, many neutrals? The home fans got behind their side until the final whistle. How I miss Scarborough playing at such venues.

The referee Nick Kinseley wasn't a patch on the young chap in control at Hendon v Enfield Town the previous day. My only slight disappointment was that the BBC didn't send Mr Clemmit to carry out pitchside reporting duties. 

The thought of him getting in the way of no-nonsense managers John Coleman and Garry Hill could have been interesting and possible reality realignment.

I was back home just before 6pm to see 'The Gift That Keeps Giving; English Branch' AKA Man Utd & Mourinho chuck away a win thanks in no small part to the comedic gold of Marouane Fellaini and a dodgy penalty decision!

There was time for three hours kip before night shift. I didn't take much rocking in the morning, but it was well worth any strain.

Woking 3 Wealdstone 2 (Sunday 5^th May 2019) National League South Play-Off Semi-Final (att: 2,917)

There are fans who don’t like the play-offs, but I’m a big fan; especially of one off matches. Firstly, it rewards the home side for finishing higher in the final league table and secondly you know that both teams have to go for it. This turned out to be a classic.

Having had a long day previously at Forest Green Rovers v Exeter City I set off without pre match ale in mind. Indeed, Martin Peters, a visiting Chiang Mai pal was landing at Heathrow and hoping to get through to meet me and head to the game.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I boarded the 2pm train and walked briskly through Woking Park. Admission was £15, while inside the advertisement heavy programme was overpriced by a quid at £3.

Having taken a quick look from the terrace called “Moaners Corner” I saw that a few seats were still available behind the goal. I grabbed myself a Bovril and chocolate bar and went upstairs to find a spare seat on the end of the row in the block nearest the away fans.

Wealdstone had brought a most healthy and vocal turn out, that was officially numbered at 610. More of the them and the gate figures later. The seats were occupied by their “yoof” following as well as old school.

Before the teams appeared, injured Stones keeper Marcus North went across the pitch and over the fence to stand with the fans on the open terrace. He was one of my favourite non-league players, and this enhanced his value with me. A class act from a class keeper.

The atmosphere crackled as the players and officials emerged with Cards fans making noise at the far end. I just had a fancy for Wealdstone after their eliminator win at Batch City during the week. Their fans were certainly up for it.

They saw an effort blocked as the game began at a frenetic pace before going ahead on three minutes. Danny Green’s corner found an unmarked Freddie Grant at the back post. The full back made no mistake in heading past exposed keeper Craig Ross.

The place went berserk; well at least the area to my right. My seat was perfect for taking in everything without getting too involved. I was surrounded by families and senior Woking fans; all polite and appreciative.

The Stones had to borrow Bracknell Town keeper Mark Scott to cover for North’s concussion injury sustained at Bath. He made a comfortable save from a long range Max Kretzschmar effort on sixteen minutes.

With twenty minutes on the clock Stones deservedly doubled their lead. Jeffrey Monakana was causing the Woking defence plenty of headaches before his side forced another corner. This time it was Connor Stevens who met Green’s delivery unmarked to volley home from close range.

Reise Allassani, the former Dulwich Hamlet forward on loan to Woking from Coventry City forced Scott into a fine stop with thirty minutes having elapsed. The game calmed down after that. Stones had done the double over the Cards in the regular season, and I couldn’t see how the hosts would turn this game around.

There was a bit of entertainment during the break as the youth section of home support started coming into the seats and get near to their visiting peers. There were some vocals before the stewards arrived to remove the Woking boys.

A home fan a few rows in front was obviously not having a good afternoon. His language and attitude to a female steward was disgusting over an argument as to where he was sat. To be fair I’d have backed the steward against him. She didn’t appear to be a woman to trifle with.

The off the pitch shenanigans continued aplenty with the Wealdstone lads heading to the far end of the open terracing to get near their Woking age group before returning after realising that the stewards were a step ahead. It all had a feel of Keystone Cops about it.

Jack Cook had an early opportunity after the restart to get the hosts back into the game, but he headed over when well placed from a Kretzschmar centre. The same player sent in another cross with great precision which Ben Gerring headed against the bar.

Wealdstone’s counter attacking play was diminishing, despite David Pratt putting in a selfless shift trying to hold up the ball. Their exertions from playing the extra game four days earlier down the M4 began to tell. It hadn’t been aided when Christian Smith had earlier gone off injured.

Despite that, I could see know reason why they weren’t going to hold on. That was until fifteen minutes to go when Moussa Diarra headed home a corner from another excellent Kretzschmar delivery.

The pressure was ratcheted up as the Cards players suddenly found an extra yard of pace. Stones players defended deeper. Godfrey Poku was penalised for a foul. Paul Hodges took a quick free kick inside to Armani Little. Grant was caught out of position as the ball was fed to Kretzschmar who finished with two minutes of normal time remaining.

It looked like extra time would be required. Not ideal for me as I was meeting Martin for beers in Paddington! The Woking side obviously knew of my prior arrangements as they settled the tie in the second minute of stoppage time.

A through ball was headed on by Little for Jake Hyde to get the ball before Scott, who was perhaps a little slow coming out, to lift the ball over the stopper and into the net as Kingfield went wild with some fans jumping the barriers to celebrate.

I really felt for the Wealdstone players who had given everything in what was one of the best matches that I’d experienced all season. Credit to Woking and their manager Alan Dowson, who kept going until the end. It really was a great advert for non-league football.

Also, credit to the fantastic Stones support. I have not always been a fan of the atmosphere at Grosvenor Vale on occasions created by some of the younger element, but they gave their side magnificent backing throughout. It felt like been at a Football League match.

The attendance figure had raised one or two eyebrows when announced. The capacity of The Laithwaite Stadium, to give Kingfield it’s sponsors title, is listed as 6,000. One wonders where they’d have fitted another 3,000 fans if they’d have turned up?

I walked back through the park keeping my wits very much about me; half expecting things to get a little naughty. It was not to be. I made good time and made a service before most of the fans, along with Bob and Doug; older regulars at Hendon and Wealdstone.

We had a good chat on the way back to Waterloo before I got my skates on. I was ready for a pint or two when I met my mate in the Sawyers Arms to round off a cracking day.

Click here to see a short clip I put together of the teams coming out and celebrations of the second Stones goal and the Cards winner.