 | |||
| Full name | Woking Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | The Cardinals, The Cards | ||
| Short name | WFC | ||
| Founded | 1887; 138 years ago (1887)[1] | ||
| Ground | Kingfield Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 6,036 (2,500 seated) | ||
| Coordinates | 51°18′23″N0°33′32″W / 51.30639°N 0.55889°W /51.30639; -0.55889 | ||
| Owner | Todd Johnson[2] | ||
| Chairman | Todd Johnson | ||
| Manager | Neal Ardley | ||
| League | National League | ||
| 2024–25 | National League, 15th of 24 | ||
| Website | wokingfc.co.uk | ||
 Current season | |||
Woking Football Club is a professionalassociation football club, based inWoking,Surrey, England. The team competes in theNational League, the fifth level of theEnglish football league system.
Founded in 1887, they joined theIsthmian League in 1911–12 and won theFA 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 theFootball Conference. Woking won theFA Trophy on three occasions during the 1990s (1993–94,1994–95,1996–97) 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 theNational League via the play-offs in 2019.
The club currently plays its home matches at theKingfield Stadium and is nicknamed the Cardinals, often shortened to the Cards.
Woking Football Club was founded in 1887.[1][3] The club joined the West Surrey League in 1895–96, winning the title by one point.[3] However, within 21 years of being formed, the club was in danger of folding for financial reasons.[3] The turning point came when, in January 1908, Woking playedBolton Wanderers in the first round of theFA Cup, having made it through five qualifying rounds. Despite losing the away game 5–0, the club made it into the national news.[4] Bolton Wanderers, impressed by the minnows they had defeated, travelled to Woking for a friendly match the following season, which kept the club solvent.[3]
In 1911 the club joined theIsthmian League, maintaining their place in the top division for 72 years and finishing as runners-up toWycombe Wanderers in 1956–57.[3] That achievement was eclipsed the following season when, in front of a 71,000 crowd,[5] Woking beatIlford 3–0 to win the 1958F.A. Amateur Cup final,[6] the last to be televised live.[7]: 76
The club then went into decline, culminating in a first-ever relegation in 1982–83.[3] 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.[7]: 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.[3]
During the1990–91 season, the club reached the fourth round of theFA Cup.[8] Woking beat threeConference sides to set up a third round away tie atSecond Division sideWest Bromwich Albion.[9] After trailing 1–0 at half time, Woking went on to win 4–2, withTim Buzaglo scoring ahat-trick.[9] In the Fourth Round, the club was drawn againstFirst DivisionEverton. 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 aKevin Sheedy goal.[3]
Promotion to the Conference was achieved in1991–92.[3] TheIsthmian League title was clinched in early April, with seven games still to be played, 18 points clear of nearest rivals,Enfield.[3] The next season saw Woking finish the season in eighth position.[3] The following summer saw Chapple sign formerChelsea,Sunderland,Fulham andQPR winger,Clive Walker, fromBrighton & Hove Albion and he was to prove the catalyst in the most successful period in the club's history. Woking won theFA Trophy for the first time in 1994,[10] defeatingRuncorn in the final atWembley; the following season they became only the second club to win back-to-back FA Trophies (afterScarborough in 1976–77), defeatingKidderminster Harriers in the final.[11] A third FA Trophy triumph followed in 1997, withDagenham & Redbridge the opponents in the final.[12] The Cards also achieved five successive top-five finishes in the Conference, including being runners-up in1994–95 and1995–96 when they finished belowStevenage. The club also continued to enjoy national prominence in the FA Cup.Barnet were defeated in successive seasons following draws at their homeground. In1996–97 a run in the FA Cup saw the club beatMillwall, then top of Division Two, andCambridge United, who were challenging for promotion from Division Three.[3] The third round saw Woking draw 1–1 away toPremier League sideCoventry City, thanks to a last minute equaliser from the Cards' Steve Thompson, but Coventry won the replay at Kingfield 2–1.[3]
At the end of the1996–97 campaign, having just clinched the FA Trophy for the third time, Geoff Chapple and his coach, Colin Lippiatt, left the club and joinedKingstonian.[3] This was the beginning of a less successful period for the club.John McGovern and thenBrian McDermott were given the position of manager, but neither achieved anything greater than a mid-table finish.
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 andGlenn 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 fanChris 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.[13]
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 ofFrank 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,[14] eventually resulted in the club's relegation to theConference South. That summer, asupporters' trust took over the running of the club. Woking finished 5th in their first Conference South season, but lost toBath 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 againstFarnborough. In April 2012, having beatenMaidenhead United 0–1 with Giuseppe Sole scoring for a record breaking ninth game in a row, Woking were promoted to theConference Premier, winning theConference South with two games to spare.[15][16] They eventually reached 97 points, beating second placedDartford by nine points. After five seasons in theNational League (formerly Conference Premier), Woking acrimoniously parted company with Hill after six-and-a-half years at the helm.[17]
The club appointed formerSouthampton andWest Ham United under-23s coachAnthony Limbrick in May 2017, which saw the club take another step to becoming full-time again, with players training three times a week.[18] Despite a good run in the2017–18 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 formerAldershot Town coach Matt Gray) to preserve The Cards' National League status with just five games remaining.[19] However, Woking's fate was eventually sealed on the final day of the season after a 2–1 home defeat againstDover Athletic.[20]
On 16 May 2018, and after much speculation, the club finally confirmed the appointment of formerKingstonian andHampton & Richmond Borough managerAlan Dowson.[21] Woking returned to theNational League in 2019 at the first time of asking following a 1–0 win overWelling United inNational League South play-off final. During this promotion season, Woking reached the third round of theFA Cup. Woking had beatenLeague Two sideSwindon Town before losing out toPremier League sideWatford 2–0.[22][23]
The followingseason, Woking finished in 10th place back in theNational League following the decision to stop the season in March 2020 due to the disruption caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[24] In the2020–21 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 theSurrey-based side.[25] Dowson informed local paperSurreyLive 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.[26] Ian Dyer, the assistant manager, took charge of the club as caretaker manager.[27]
On 28 March 2022, formerYeovil Town managerDarren Sarll was appointed until the end of the 2023–24 season.[28] In the2022–23 season, Woking finished the season in 4th place but lost the play-off eliminator at home toBromley.[29] Despite signing a new two-year deal in February 2023,[30] Sarll was ultimately sacked in November 2023 following defeats to eighth-tier side,Ramsgate in theFA Cup andOxford City in the National League.[31]
A month later, formerCoventry City,Sheffield United andPortsmouth player,Michael Doyle was appointed as first-team manager on a two-year deal, replacing the interim manager, Ian Dyer.[32] Doyle went onto secure the club's National League status on the final day of the season, with a 3–0 home victory overAFC Fylde.[33]
In July 2024, it was reported that Woking could go intoadministration 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.[34] In November 2024, American businessman Todd Johnson (a former vice-chairman ofDagenham & Redbridge and a co-owner ofMLS sideMinnesota United FC) agreed to acquire a majority stake in Woking, with Volpe – who had provided £3m to the club – retaining a minority stake.[35][36] In December 2024, shareholders voted in favour of the club's takeover by Johnson's Cardinal Football Group.[37] After three defeats in four games, on 16 December 2024, the club sacked their then manager,Michael Doyle, as well asBen Turner, assistant manager.[38] Woking were 19th in the National League, a point above the relegation zone.[39]Neal Ardley was appointed as manager on 19 December 2024.[40]
At the start of the 1922 season, Woking F.C. moved toKingfield Stadium,[7]: 35 which has been known as the Laithwaite Community Stadium since August 2015.[41] 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.
Woking F.C. has a team mascot called K.C. Kat.[42]
For many years Woking's main rivals have beenStevenage andAldershot Town, where games attract larger than average crowds. Stevenage are Woking's historic rivals due to animosity in the 1990s,[43] while the rivalry with Aldershot is a more recent rivalry due to locality.[44]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 have also helped feed this new rivalry.[45]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Statistics from the previous decade.[47]
| Year | League | Level | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | Leading league scorer | Goals | FA Cup | FA Trophy | NL Cup | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2024–25 | National League | 5 | 46 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 58 | 15 of 24 | Harry Beautyman | 10 | R1 | SF | GS | 2,322 |
A list of Woking FC managers from 1984 onwards.
| Dates | Names | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984–1997 |  Geoff Chapple | |
| 1997–1998 |  John McGovern | |
| 1998–2000 | Brian McDermott | |
| 2000–2001 | Colin Lippiatt | |
| 2001–2002 | Geoff Chapple | |
| 2002–2007 | Glenn Cockerill | |
| 2007 | Graham Baker &Neil Smith | Caretaker Managers |
| 2007–2008 | Frank Gray | |
| 2008 |  Kim Grant | |
| 2008–2009 | Phil Gilchrist | |
| 2009–2011 | Graham Baker | |
| 2011–2017 | Garry Hill | |
| 2017–2018 |  Anthony Limbrick | |
| 2018 | Geoff Chapple | Caretaker Manager |
| 2018–2022 | Alan Dowson | |
| 2022 | Ian Dyer | Caretaker Manager |
| 2022–2023 | Darren Sarll | |
| 2023 | Ian Dyer | Caretaker Manager |
| 2023–2024 |  Michael Doyle | |
| 2024– | Neal Ardley |
Source: Woking F.C.
| Position | Club Official |
|---|---|
| Chairman |  Todd Johnson |
| Directors | Steven Batchelor |
| Dean Curtis | |
| Dwight Volpe | |
| Cards Trust elected Director & Company Secretary | George Burnett |
| Honorary Vice President of the Cards | Peter Jordan |
| Club Ambassador | Geoff Chapple |
Source: Woking F.C.
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Director of Football | Jody Brown |
| First Team Manager | Neal Ardley |
| First Team Assistant Manager | Simon Bassey |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Craig Ross |
| Head of Analysis | Kevin Rawlinson |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Jake Hyde |
| Physiotherapist | Dan Rowe |
| Kit Manager | Malcolm Jobling |
Source: Woking F.C.
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