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Woking
Full nameWoking Football Club
Nickname(s)The Cardinals/The Cards
Short nameWFC
Founded1887; 137 years ago (1887)[1]
GroundLaithwaite Community Stadium
Capacity6,036 (2,500 seated)
Coordinates51°18′23″N 0°33′32″W / 51.30639°N 0.55889°W / 51.30639; -0.55889
OwnerDrew Volpe
ManagerMichael Doyle
LeagueNational League
2023–24National League, 17th of 24
Websitehttp://www.wokingfc.co.uk/
Current season

Woking Football Club is a professional association football club, based in Woking, Surrey, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system.

Founded in 1887, they joined the Isthmian League in 1911–12 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1957–58. Woking were relegated twice in 1982–83 and 1984–85. However, they were promoted three times: in 1986–87, 1989–90 and 1991–92, to reach the Football Conference. Woking won the FA Trophy on three occasions throughout the 1990s and finished as runners-up in the Conference in their third and fourth season at that level but were not promoted. They remained at the highest level of non-League football until relegation in 2008–09. Woking subsequently won promotion back in 2011–12 before suffering another relegation in 2017–18. They earned immediate promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2019.

The club currently plays its home matches at the Laithwaite Community Stadium and is nicknamed the Cardinals, often shortened to the Cards.

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

Woking Football Club was founded in 1887.[1][2] The club joined the West Surrey League in 1895–96, winning the title by one point.[2] However, within 21 years of being formed, the club was in danger of folding for financial reasons.[2] The turning point came when, in January 1908, Woking played Bolton Wanderers in the first round of the FA Cup, having made it through five qualifying rounds. Despite losing the away game 5–0, the club made it into the national news.[3] Bolton Wanderers, impressed by the minnows they had defeated, travelled to Woking for a friendly match the following season, which kept the club solvent.[2]

Isthmian League years

[edit]

In 1911 the club joined the Isthmian League, maintaining their place in the top division for 72 years and finishing as runners-up to Wycombe Wanderers in 1956–57.[2] That achievement was eclipsed the following season when, in front of a 71,000 crowd,[4] Woking beat Ilford 3–0 to win the 1958 F.A. Amateur Cup final,[5] the last to be televised live.[6]: 76 

The club then went into decline, culminating in a first-ever relegation in 1982–83.[2] By the end of the 1984–85 season the club had plunged to Division Two South of the Isthmian League. Former player, Geoff Chapple, was appointed as manager on 24 September 1984, but was not able to save the club from relegation.[6]: 125–126  The following season, the club just missed out on promotion at the first attempt. However, the club clinched the Division Two South title in 1986–87 and, after two third-place finishes in Division One, they were promoted back to the Premier Division at the end of the 1989–90 season.[2]

FA Cup glory

[edit]

During the 1990–91 season, the club reached the fourth round of the FA Cup.[7] Woking beat three Conference sides to set up a third round away tie at Second Division side West Bromwich Albion.[8] After trailing 1–0 at half time, Woking went on to win 4–2, with Tim Buzaglo scoring a hat-trick.[8] In the Fourth Round, the club was drawn against First Division Everton. The tie was originally going to be played at Woking, however the venue was switched to Everton's home ground, Goodison Park. Woking narrowly lost the match 1–0 to a Kevin Sheedy goal.[2]

Promotion to the Conference and FA Trophy success

[edit]
Woking supporters watching their team win at Wembley in the 1997 FA Trophy Final.

Promotion to the Conference was achieved in 1991–92.[2] The Isthmian League title was clinched in early April, with seven games still to be played, 18 points clear of nearest rivals, Enfield.[2] The next season saw Woking finish the season in eighth position.[2] The following summer saw Chapple sign former Chelsea, Sunderland, Fulham and QPR winger, Clive Walker, from Brighton & Hove Albion and he was to prove the catalyst in the most successful period in the club's history. Woking won the FA Trophy for the first time in 1994,[9] defeating Runcorn in the final at Wembley; the following season they became only the second club to win back-to-back FA Trophies (after Scarborough in 1976–77), defeating Kidderminster Harriers in the final.[10] A third FA Trophy triumph followed in 1997, with Dagenham & Redbridge the opponents in the final.[11] The Cards also achieved five successive top-five finishes in the Conference, including being runners-up in 1994–95 and 1995–96 when they finished below Stevenage. The club also continued to enjoy national prominence in the FA Cup. Barnet were defeated in successive seasons following draws at their homeground. In 1996–97 a run in the FA Cup saw the club beat Millwall, then top of Division Two, and Cambridge United, who were challenging for promotion from Division Three.[2] The third round saw Woking draw 1–1 away to Premier League side Coventry City, thanks to a last minute equaliser from the Cards' Steve Thompson, but Coventry won the replay at Kingfield 2–1.[2]

At the end of the 1996–97 campaign, having just clinched the FA Trophy for the third time, Geoff Chapple and his coach, Colin Lippiatt, left the club and joined Kingstonian.[2] This was the beginning of a less successful period for the club. John McGovern and then Brian McDermott were given the position of manager, but neither achieved anything greater than a mid-table finish.

21st century

[edit]

After McDermott, Colin Lippiatt returned but fared little better. He was replaced by his former boss as Geoff Chapple too came back to Woking. Lippiatt departed in January 2002 and Glenn Cockerill joined as Chapple's assistant. This season ended with the club just one place above the relegation places. In the meantime very significant events had taken place off the field. The downturn in the club's fortunes had led to a financial crisis. With the club facing administration or worse, local businessman and long-time fan Chris Ingram bought the club, becoming chairman in February 2002 with an aim of trying to increase the club's income and to secure its long-term financial stability.[12]

Cockerill took over as manager later that year, and oversaw a relative period of stability for the club, before he was sacked shortly before the end of the 2006–07 season. An unimpressive campaign under the management of Frank Gray followed in 2007–08, before a disastrous 2008–09 season which saw three men (Kim Grant, Phil Gilchrist and Graham Baker) take charge of the club,[13] eventually resulted in the club's relegation to the Conference South. That summer, a supporters' trust took over the running of the club. Woking finished 5th in their first Conference South season, but lost to Bath City in the play-off final. The following season saw Woking struggling to challenge for promotion, and Graham Baker was sacked halfway through the campaign for suggesting that the fans were expecting too much of the team.

Garry Hill took over as manager and improved the team's form, eventually resulting in another fifth-place finish, only for the club to get knocked out in the play-off semi-finals this time against Farnborough. In April 2012, having beaten Maidenhead United 0–1 with Giuseppe Sole scoring for a record breaking ninth game in a row, Woking were promoted to the Conference Premier, winning the Conference South with two games to spare.[14][15] They eventually reached 97 points, beating second placed Dartford by nine points. After five seasons in the National League (formerly Conference Premier), Woking acrimoniously parted company with Hill after six-and-a-half years at the helm.[16]

The club appointed former Southampton and West Ham United under-23s coach Anthony Limbrick in May 2017, which saw the club take another step to becoming full-time again, with players training three times a week.[17] Despite a good run in the 2017–18 FA Cup, Woking's league form suffered, which culminated in just three league wins between October 2017 and April 2018. Limbrick was subsequently relieved of his duties just 11 months into a three-year contract, leaving assistant manager Jason Goodliffe to take over the managerial reins (aided by former Aldershot Town coach Matt Gray) to preserve The Cards' National League status with just five games remaining.[18] However, Woking's fate was eventually sealed on the final day of the season after a 2–1 home defeat against Dover Athletic.[19]

On 16 May 2018, and after much speculation, the club finally confirmed the appointment of former Kingstonian and Hampton & Richmond Borough manager Alan Dowson.[20] Woking returned to the National League in 2019 at the first time of asking following a 1–0 win over Welling United in National League South play-off final. During this promotion season, Woking reached the third round of the FA Cup. Woking had beaten League Two side Swindon Town before losing out to Premier League side Watford 2–0.[21][22]

The following season, Woking finished in 10th place back in the National League following the decision to stop the season in March 2020 due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] In the 2020–21 National League season, Woking finished 20th.

On 28 February 2022, Dowson was sacked by the club following a "prolonged run of poor form in the league", ending his four-year association with the Surrey-based side.[24] Dowson informed local paper SurreyLive that the club had sacked him in a 20-second phone call and he would never return to Woking. Due to the circumstances of how Dowson was sacked board members Rosemary Johnson and Kelvin Reay resigned.[25] Ian Dyer, the assistant manager, took charge of the club as caretaker manager.[26]

On 28 March 2022, former Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll was appointed until the end of the 2023–24 season.[27] In the 2022–23 season, Woking finished the season in 4th place but lost the play-off eliminator at home to Bromley.[28] Despite signing a new two-year deal in February 2023,[29] Sarll was ultimately sacked in November 2023 following defeats to eighth-tier side, Ramsgate in the FA Cup and Oxford City in the National League.[30]

A month later, former Coventry City, Sheffield United and Portsmouth player, Michael Doyle was appointed as first-team manager on a two-year deal, replacing the interim manager, Ian Dyer.[31] Doyle went onto secure the club's National League status on the final day of the season, with a 3–0 home victory over AFC Fylde.[32]

In July 2024, it was reported that Woking could go into administration if a buyer could not be found in the next few weeks. Owner Drew Volpe was willing to sell the club for £1, and only a £600,000 loan from his parents was keeping the club afloat.[33]

Stadium

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At the start of the 1922 season, Woking F.C. moved to Kingfield Stadium,[6]: 35  which has been known as the Laithwaite Community Stadium since August 2015.[34] Previously, the club had played at the Horsell Cricket Ground before moving to a dedicated football venue on Pembroke Road in 1907.

Different stands of Woking FC stadium:

The KRE: This is the main home terrace and usually where the best atmosphere is found.[citation needed] It runs along one end of the pitch. The terrace is covered by a roof.

The Leslie Gosden stand: This stand is the largest stand of the stadium and is located opposite to the KRE. The LGS is an all seater stand consisting of around 2,000 seats. A quarter of this stand is usually given to away fans.

The Chris Lane terrace: The Chris Lane terrace is a large terrace without a roof and is reserved for away fans. The terrace runs a whole length of the pitch.

Moaners corner: Moaners corner is one of three stands on the opposite side of the pitch to the Chris lane terrace. It's a small terrace stand without a roof. The fans who stand in the terrace are usually veteran fans.

Directors box: The directors box is a small stand the directors of the club sit in, this is also where the media area and PA box are located. This stand is located in between moaners corner and the family stand.

The family stand: The family stand is located next to the directors box and is an all-seater stand usually consisting of families.

Mascot

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Woking F.C. has a team mascot called K.C. Kat.[35]

Rivalries

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For many years Woking's main rivals have been Stevenage and Aldershot Town, where games attract larger than average crowds. Stevenage are Woking's historic rivals due to animosity in the 1990s,[36] while the rivalry with Aldershot is a more recent rivalry due to locality.[37] Torquay United have also become minor rivals due to intense games and competition when they were relegated to the national league south together, altercations between fans has also helped feed this new rivalry.[38]

Players

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Current squad

[edit]
As of 5 November 2024[39][40]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF England ENG Dan Moss
3 DF Wales WAL Jacob Jones
4 DF Wales WAL Cian Harries
5 DF England ENG Timi Odusina
6 MF England ENG Jamie Andrews
7 MF England ENG Harry Beautyman
8 MF Northern Ireland NIR Dale Gorman (captain)
9 FW England ENG Charley Kendall
10 FW England ENG Lewis Walker
11 FW England ENG Dennon Lewis
14 FW Guyana GUY Deon Moore
15 DF Zimbabwe ZIM Adam Chicksen (on loan from Notts County)
16 DF England ENG Tunji Akinola
17 FW England ENG Matt Ward
18 MF England ENG Raheem Conte (on loan from Cardiff City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Scotland SCO Jack Stretton (on loan from Stockport County)
20 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Alan Judge
21 DF England ENG Ben Wynter
22 GK Finland FIN Will Jääskeläinen
23 MF England ENG Jermaine Anderson
26 MF England ENG Tom Dryer
27 DF England ENG Dion Kelly-Evans
28 GK Northern Ireland NIR Ollie Webber
29 FW England ENG Tom Leahy (on loan from Millwall)
35 DF England ENG Max Dyche (on loan from Northampton Town)
37 MF England ENG Ollie Mason (dual-registered with Ascot United)
38 FW England ENG Lui Edwards (dual-registered with Westfield)
39 MF Japan JPN Leo Christophers
— MF Montserrat MSR Rohan Ince

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF England ENG Matt Robinson (at Braintree Town until 31 May 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Republic of Ireland IRL Reece Grego-Cox (at Dagenham & Redbridge until 31 May 2025)

Seasons

[edit]
Main article: List of Woking F.C. seasons

Statistics from the previous decade.[41]

Year League Level Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer Goals FA Cup FA Trophy Average attendance
2014–15 Conference Premier 5 46 21 13 12 77 52 +25 76 7 of 24 Scott Rendell 24 R1 R3 1,911
2015–16 National League 5 46 17 10 19 71 68 +3 61 12 of 24 John Goddard 17 QR4 QF 1,634
2016–17 National League 5 46 14 11 21 66 80 −14 53 18 of 24 Gozie Ugwu 17 R2 R1 1,429
2017–18 National League 5 46 13 9 24 56 76 −20 48 21 of 24
Relegated 		Charlie Carter 12 R2 R1 1,911
2018–19 National League South 6 42 23 9 10 76 49 +27 78 2 of 22
Won in PO final 		Max Kretzschmar 14 R3 R1 1,882
2019–20 National League 5 38 15 10 13 50 55 -5 55 10 of 24
Season finished early due to COVID-19 Pandemic 		Jake Hyde 16 QR4 R1 2,139
2020–21 National League 5 42 8 9 25 42 69 -27 33 20 of 23 Max Kretzschmar 7 R1 SF 799[a]
2021–22 National League 5 44 16 5 23 59 61 -2 53 15 of 23 Tahvon Campbell
Inih Effiong
Max Kretzschmar 		13 QR4 R3 2,703
2022–23 National League 5 46 24 10 12 71 48 +23 82 4 of 24
Lost in PO quarter-final 		Rhys Browne 13 R1 R3 2,734
2023–24 National League 5 46 15 10 21 49 55 -6 55 17 of 24 Ricky Korboa 7 R1 R3 2,723
  1. ^ Fans were only permitted during two fixtures this season due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Managerial history

[edit]

A list of Woking FC managers from 1984 onwards.

Dates Names Notes
1984–1997 England Geoff Chapple
1997–1998 Scotland John McGovern
1998–2000 England Brian McDermott
2000–2001 England Colin Lippiatt
2001–2002 England Geoff Chapple
2002–2007 England Glenn Cockerill
2007 England Graham Baker &
England Neil Smith 		Caretaker Managers
2007–2008 Scotland Frank Gray
2008 Ghana Kim Grant
2008–2009 England Phil Gilchrist
2009–2011 England Graham Baker
2011–2017 England Garry Hill
2017–2018 Australia Anthony Limbrick
2018 England Geoff Chapple Caretaker Manager
2018–2022 England Alan Dowson
2022 England Ian Dyer Caretaker Manager
2022–2023 England Darren Sarll
2023 England Ian Dyer Caretaker Manager
2023– Republic of Ireland Michael Doyle

Source: Woking F.C.

Club officials

[edit]
Position Club Official
Interim Chief Executive England Emanuele Palladino
Directors England Gareth Farrell
United States Drew Volpe
Football Secretary / Director United States John Katz
Chief Operating Officer / Director England Dave Curtis
Cards Trust Board Representative England George Burnett
Honorary Vice President of the Cards England Peter Jordan
Club Ambassador England Geoff Chapple

Source: Woking F.C.

Management team

[edit]
Position Staff
Manager Republic of Ireland Michael Doyle
Assistant Manager England Ben Turner
Goalkeeper Coach England John Keeley
First Team Coach Scotland Craig Mackail-Smith
Physiotherapist England Dan Rowe
Kit Manager England Malcolm Jobling

Source: Woking F.C.

Club records

[edit]

Highest league position:

  • 2nd in Conference National: 1994–95, 1995–96

FA Cup best performance:

FA Trophy best performance:

  • Winners: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97 (Joint record number of wins)

Largest transfer fee received

Largest transfer fee paid

Record win

  • 17–3 vs. Farnham in the Surrey Charity Shield in 1913

Heaviest defeat

  • 0–16 vs. New Crusaders in the FA Cup in 1905

Record attendance

Record home league attendance

Honours

[edit]

Source:[44][45]

League

Cup

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Woking Football Club – 1887". Woking F.C. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Club History". Woking FC. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Football". The Times. No. 38541. London. 13 January 1908. p. 10.
  4. ^ Rose, David (27 March 2014). "Card's cup final glory". Woking News and Mail. No. 5467. p. 11.
  5. ^ "First Time Lucky For Woking In Amateur Cup Final". The Times. No. 54124. London. 14 April 1958. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b c Sherlock, Roger; Cumming, Robert (1995). Cardinal red: The history of Woking F. C. CNR Sports Promotions. ISBN 0-9525-0230-5.
  7. ^ "Chapple backs Cards cup success". BBC Sport. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b "West Brom 2 Woking 4". Surrey Live. 5 January 2001. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. ^ Gammie, Walter (23 May 1994). "Wycombe's success provides example for Woking". The Times. No. 64961. London. p. 24.
  10. ^ Gammie, Walter (15 May 1995). "Harriers caught by Fielder". The Times. No. 65267. London. p. 29.
  11. ^ Gammie, Walter (19 May 1997). "Woking win battle to prove cup pedigree". The Times. No. 65893. London. p. 27.
  12. ^ Dyke, Chris (15 February 2002). "Takeover saves Cards". Surrey Advertiser. No. 15554. p. 22.
  13. ^ "Football: Gilchrist sacked". SurreyLive. 2 July 2013 [2 April 2009]. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  14. ^ Oxtoby, Tom (26 April 2012). "Carnival kings". Woking News and Mail. No. 5382. p. 1.
  15. ^ Oxtoby, Tom (26 April 2012). "Smith hails the start of something special". Woking News and Mail. No. 5382. p. 3.
  16. ^ Florence, Oliver (5 May 2017). "Garry Hill leaves Woking FC after six years as manager". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  17. ^ Seckington, Kaylee (11 May 2017). "Move towards full-time will help Woking progress, says new manager Anthony Limbrick". SurreyLive. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Anthony Limbrick: Woking part company with boss". BBC Sport. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Woking 1-2 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Alan Dowson: Woking appoint Hampton & Richmond boss as manager". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Swindon Town 0-1 Woking: National League South side cause shock at County Ground". BBC Sport. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  22. ^ Emma Sanders (6 January 2019). "Woking 0-2 Watford in FA Cup third round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  23. ^ Oliver Osborn (17 June 2020). "National League Statement: Ordinary Resolution Supported by Clubs". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  24. ^ Bradshaw, David (1 March 2022). "Woking Football Club sacks manager Alan Dowson after poor run of results". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  25. ^ Youlton, Clive (2 March 2022) [1 March 2022]. "Woking FC sack Alan Dowson with '20-second phone call' as he vows never to return to club". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  26. ^ Youlton, Clive (10 March 2022). "Ian Dyer wants to stay at Woking and insists, 'I think I have a lot to offer on multiple sides of the game'". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Darren Sarll Named First-Team Manager". Woking FC. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Woking 1–2 Bromley". BBC Sport. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. ^ O'Sullivan, Daniel (21 February 2023). "Cards Extend Sarll's Contract". Woking FC. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Club Statement: Darren Sarll". Woking FC. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Michael Doyle Appointed First Team Manager". Woking FC. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Woking 3–0 AFC Fylde". BBC Sport. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  33. ^ Peddy, Chris; Durrans, Tim (18 July 2024). "Woking facing administration, owner warns". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  34. ^ Bodkin, Henry (7 August 2015). "Woking FC stadium renamed in sponsorship deal". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  35. ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (3 October 2016). "7 of Surrey's most lovable mascots supporting charities, museums, towns and sports clubs". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  36. ^ Youlton, Clive (22 November 2016). "A tale of Woking FC and that Stevenage thing". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  37. ^ Youlton, Clive (7 December 2016). "Woking FC vs Aldershot Town: The day the rivalry got all shirty". SurreyLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  38. ^ "One win from Wembley: Woking triumph in latest 'A303 derby'". Woking F. C. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Woking". FootballSquads. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  40. ^ "First Team". Woking F.C. 19 June 2016.
  41. ^ "Woking". Football Club Database. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  42. ^ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2020) Non-League Club Directory 2021, p512 ISBN 978-1869833848
  43. ^ Will Bewsey (2 January 2023). "Match Report - Cards put on a show for record crowd to complete double over Shots". Woking. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  44. ^ "Woking". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  45. ^ "Saturday Senior Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
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