Woking

Club History

Who are Woking?

Woah – have you not been paying attention? Or is it more a case of the Cards fading into insignificance for us over the last few years? Either way, let’s have a crash course in all things Woking Football Club. The story is one we’ll be picking up in 1887. Yep. They’re that old and still haven’t ever made the Football League. You’d have thought they’d had enough practice. OK – enough jibes. Let’s move things forward a bit to 1911 when they first joined the Isthmian League. What followed was a long association with the competition.

A long association, yes. One that yielded much success? No. The 1956-7 campaign was their best finish up ’til that point; runners-up behind Wycombe Wanderers. The start of an ongoing habit, eh? The next season did end with an attractive piece of silverware, however; the Cards winning the FA Amateur Cup. But the league was something they couldn’t master. And the 1980s were a particular nadir for the side from Surrey.

Why do we know the Cards?

The Cards were relegated not once but twice during the decade; winding up in Division Two South. In fact, we were already in Division One by the time they returned in 1987. The difference between us was that Woking kept up their momentum; promoted to the Premier Division in 1990 and then the Conference in 1993.

Under the leadership of Geoff Chapple, the Cards enjoyed epic FA Cup runs and picked up the first of their three FA Trophy titles in 1994; finishing third in the league while at it. The league (and promotion to the League) was the next milestone to reach for the premier non-league side they wanted to be. In 1994-5, Macclesfield Town pipped them to the crown by five points. In 1995-6, it was our turn; eight points the margin. In 1995 and 1997, the Cards completed the hattrick of FA Trophy wins. But they’d start to fade from the summit of non-league football after that.

How to get to Woking

By Car

By Road

When travelling to Woking, the M25 is predictably your biggest obstacle to getting there. If you do make it around the M25 without too much fuss, you want Junction 11 for the A320. From here, simply follow the signs for Woking until you reach the town centre.

Continue along through the town centre – passing various iconic landmarks including the multi-storey car park and theatre. At the junction with the A247, turn left and right shortly afterwards onto local roads. Kingfield should now be visible.

By Rail

By Rail

Station: WOKING
Services to: LONDON WATERLOO

It’s a fair walk from the station. But there are two routes to choose from.

The first is the easiest and involves following a signposted route down White Rose Lane. Otherwise, there’s a more scenic route. And we mean ‘scenic’ by Woking standards.

Turn right out of the station and go across the car parking areas and down White Rose Lane until you come to a crossing. Here, cross Oriental Road and then over Heathside Road too. Keep going down White Rose Lane past the turning for Ockenden Road.

At the entrance to Woking Park, go in and turn left to follow a path that runs around the cricket square. Then go left in parallel to the rear of the swimming pool, before heading out to the left for a path that goes between two car parks and runs in parallel to a road.

The ground is in front of you when you reach the main road.

Parking

Parking

The advice to away fans is to park in the Heathside car park. There are no parking spaces around the stadium and using local streets could land you with a parking ticket.