Introduced during the 2005/6 season, the reasons behind celebrating this
particular focal point in the calendar was certainly not a new thing. It had been the case
that up to and including the 2004/5 season, Stevenage Borough had finished above fierce
rivals Woking for seven successive seasons without much in the way of a challenge, and for
nine out of the ten seasons since 1996! This fantastic statistic was simply not receiving
the attention and appreciation that it undoubtedly deserves, so the 2005/6 season heralded
the first in which St. Woking Day was celebrated.
We will all know when St. Woking Day is
upon us, for it is the point during the season whereby the Surrey club are again
mathematically incapable of surpassing Stevenage Borough in the league table as has been
so often the case in recent years. One hopes that the trend will not let up in forthcoming
seasons just for the sake of satisfying the law of averages. The Cards had been edging
closer to Boro' in recent years - finishing just two points below Boro' in the 2003/4
season - before resorting to type in 2007. It is essentially the equivalent of Boro'
dangling a fiver on the end of some string and then yanking it away just as Woking bend
down to pick it up, ripping their trousers in the process.
With the power of hindsight, we can reveal (or should that be revel) that the most
recent St. Woking Day was the earliest on record. A
combination of Boro's 2-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers and Woking's inability to defeat
Cambridge United on 15 March 2008 put the Hertfordshire club so far ahead of their Surrey
rivals so early in the season that Kingfield was but a hazy blur on some dark horizon. The
2007 St. Woking Day, just like 2006, had been the
earliest of its kind since 1997, on 14 April both years. It is all the more satisfying
finishing above Woking when it is guaranteed as early as possible.
Whilst every St. Woking Day is a grand day for all
concerned, there are of course situations whereby the day could be made even sweeter. For
example, if St. Woking Day coincided with the day
Boro' wrapped up the title (just like 1996 eh?), or the day Woking were condemned to
relegation. So here's to St. Woking Day 2009 and once
it rolls around, we shall all raise our glasses to St. Woking in jubilation. Measure of
port for the lads, and a dry white wine for ladies. And for that mes amis, I thank you.
Every year since '99...
14 March 2008 - 14 April 2007 - 14 April 2006 - 23 April 2005 - 24 April 2004 - 21 April 2003 - 23 April 2002 - 25 April 2001 - 29 April 2000 - 1 May 1999 - We'll skip 1998 - 14 April 1997 - 27 April 1996 -