Woking F.C.
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Woking F.C. are an association football club that are based in Woking, Surrey, UK formed in 1889. They currently play in the Nationwide Conference. The home ground of the club is the Kingfield Stadium.
History
Early Years
Woking Football Club, almost universally known as The Cards (from the Cardinal red of the red and white halves), was formed in 1889. The club joined the West Surrey League in 1895/96, winning the title by one point on the final day of the season. However, within 21 years of being formed, the club was in danger of folding for financial reasons. The turning point came when, in January 1908, Woking played Bolton Wanderers F.C. in the First Round of the FA Cup, having battled through five qualifying rounds. Despite losing the away game 5-0, the club made it into the national press. Bolton Wanderers, impressed by the minnows they had defeated, travelled to Woking for a friendly match the following season, which kept the club solvent.
Isthmian League years
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 F.C. in 1956/57. That achievement was eclipsed soon afterwards when, in front of a 71,000 crowd, the Cards beat Ilford 3-0 in the last FA Amateur Cup Final to be televised live. Sadly, the club then went into decline, culminating in a first-ever relegation in 1982/83. By the end of the 1984/85 season the club had plunged further down the football ladder, being relegated to Division Two South of the Isthmian League. It was during that season that former player, Geoff Chapple, was appointed as manager. Although he was not able to save the club from relegation, the renaissance was underway. Just missing out on promotion at the first attempt, 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.
FA Cup glory
The next season saw the club become part of FA Cup folklore. Entering the competition at the Fourth Qualifying Round, they beat Conference opposition in the shape of Bath City, Kidderminster Harriers and Merthyr Tydfil to set up a Third Round tie away to West Bromwich Albion. Recovering from being a goal behind, Woking triumphed 4-2, thanks to a superb team effort and a never to be forgotten hat-trick from Tim Buzaglo. To be drawn out of the hat with a home game against Everton was beyond everyone's wildest dreams. The tie was switched to Goodison Park and, against a team packed with internationals, the sides were separated only by a solitary Kevin Sheedy goal. Over 34,000 people remained in the ground to give the players a rapturous standing ovation.
Promotion to the Conference
Promotion to the Conference was achieved in 1991/92. Such was Woking's dominance that the Isthmian League title was clinched in early April, with seven games still to be played. Nearest rivals Enfield had been swept aside 5-0 in a scintillating display of flowing, attacking football and the season ended with the club 18 points clear of the Londoners. The Conference brought fresh challenges and the new season kicked off with very few of the all-conquering championship side in the line-up. After a shaky start a very respectable eighth place finish was achieved. The following summer saw Chapple make one of the most inspired signings in the history of the club. Clive Walker, the former Chelsea, Sunderland, Fulham and QPR winger, was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion and he was to prove the catalyst in the most successful period in the club's history. The FA Trophy was won in 1994 when Runcorn were beaten on a waterlogged Wembley pitch. Twelve months later Kidderminster Harriers were vanquished as Woking became only the second club ever to win successive finals. Wembley was revisited in 1997 and the FA Trophy was won for the third time, with Dagenham & Redbridge being consigned to defeat. The Cards also achieved five successive top five finishes in the Conference, including being runners-up in 1994/95 and 1995/96. The club also continued to enjoy national prominence in the FA Cup. Barnet were defeated in successive seasons following exciting draws at their Underhill ground. In 1996/97 a magnificent run in the FA Cup saw the club put paid to the hopes of Millwall, then top of Division Two, and Cambridge United, who were challenging for promotion from Division Three. The Third Round draw paired the club with Coventry City and few people held out any hope for The Cards. The game was closely fought, with the Premiership outfit 1-0 ahead with only seconds remaining at their Highfield Road ground. Then Steve Thompson struck and the expensively assembled array of international footballers had to travel to Kingfield for a replay. This is still the only occasion on which a non-League team has held a Premiership side on the latter's ground. Although Coventry City ran out 2-1 winners in the replay, courtesy of a cruel own-goal, many people felt that Woking had more than held their own.Geoff Chapple's departure
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. John McGovern, the former Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United midfielder, was appointed. Hopes were high that he would lead Woking into the League but, although the club finished in third place, his style of play and his personality did little to endear him to the fans. A poor start to the 1998/99 campaign led to his dismissal. Brian McDermott, the former Arsenal player, who had recently managed Slough, joined Woking on a non-contract basis and achieved a temporary upturn in fortunes, guiding the team to a ninth place finish. However, the club struggled again in 1999/00 and McDermott was relieved of his duties in March 2000. Colin Lippiatt, a vital part of the successful Chapple management team, returned. Five wins in succession towards the end of the season lifted The Cards from the relegation slots into a 14th place finish. The 2000/01 season saw yet another poor start, with the club once more living under the threat of relegation. The signing on loan of Chris Sharpling proved crucial in enabling The Cards to pull clear and achieve another 14th place finish. The team struggled once more in the 2001/02 season. Defeat in the FA Cup, by Newport County, saw Colin Lippiatt stand down and become the number two at the club, with a certain Mr Geoff Chapple back as manager. Hopes that the duo could restore Woking's status at the top of the non-league game proved sadly unfounded. Colin Lippiatt departed in January 2002 and Glenn Cockerill, the former Southampton midfielder, joined as Chapple's assistant. The 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, successful businessman and long-time fan, Chris Ingram, came to the rescue, becoming Chairman in February 2002. He is now working to try to increase the club's income and to secure its long-term financial stability.Glenn Cockerill takes over
The 2002/03 season saw the club get off to its best ever start in the Conference. However, September brought seven consecutive defeat and a rapid descent into the relegation zone. Geoff Chapple resigned and Glenn Cockerill took over as manager, initially on a temporary basis. After an incredible sequence of results - winning and losing alternate games in a run of 12 matches and then embarking on nine consecutive draws - it all turned on the last day of the season. Woking went into the final game second from bottom, knowing that even a win over Telford would not guarantee their Conference status for 2003/04. However, a convincing 3-0 win for The Cards, plus victories by Stevenage Borough at home to Southport and Farnborough Town away to Nuneaton Borough, ensured relegation for those two defeated clubs and a massive sigh of relief around Kingfield. Cards fans had reason to be cautiously optimistic at the beginning of the 2003/04 season that Woking had finally turned the corner. The club had gone full-time in the summer and several loan players who had been crucial in the relegation fight the previous season were signed along with other promising recruits, including the ex-Arsenal player, Ian Selley, and Steve Ferguson from Spurs. The fans' hopes were borne out by a much better season, with The Cards achieving a ninth place finish, having been on the fringe of the play-off places until the last few weeks. Only the top two clubs, Chester and Hereford, managed to leave Kingfield with all three points and then only by a late winner in both cases.Season 04/05
Woking started the season with a largely settled side, the only new signings being Shwan Jalal, Justin Richards and Stephen Evans. Hopes were high for concerted push for a play-off place. After a slowish start the team began to hit form from October onwards, building on a very mean defence, in which the central partnership of Jon Boardman and Luke Oliver were outstanding. A great run from late December saw the team move into the play-off places. Only an injury time goal from Scarborough deprived the Cards of second place with eight games to go. But then a combination of injuries and suspensions took their toll and the team found themselves on the final day with only an outside chance of making the play-offs. It wasn't to be, but the final placing of 8th, with 68 points, was the Cards' best achievement since 1997/98.The 2005-06 season
The close season saw the departure of central defenders, Jon Boardman and Luke Oliver, both bought by League clubs. Striker Raphael Nade was also sold to Carlisle. Jimmy Aggrey and Karim El-Salahi joined from Bohemians and Crystal Palace to replace them, and strikers Lloyd Blackman and Craig McAllister arrived from Farnborough Town and Stevenage Borough respectively to boost the forward line. The re-signing of the influential midfielder Ian Selley was an important boost.Average Attandance
2005/2006 -- 1,800 (approx)Current squad
Honours
Runners Up 2006- FA Amateur Cup Winners 1958
- Football Conference Runners Up 1995, 1996
- Isthmian League Champions 1957, 1992
External link
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