MINNOWS? HANGING ON

My first proper contact with Woking FC was playing in an Inter-county schools' match against Surrey towards the end of the "last century". We, Sussex, held our own and the Woking pitch I remember was flat, surrounded by small covered stands and the floodlights were a novelty for us youngsters. It was some years later that Woking FC "meant something to me" as a few of my neighbours and colleagues in Surrey were fans. It was their nearest "proper" club.

The Cards play at the same stadium that saw such excitement back in the 90s, though it has been upgraded considerably. Their appearance at Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup Final in April 1958 will be regarded as a highlight in their timeline. 71,000 people watched the game against Ilford which Woking won 3-0. The early rounds of the cup are regionalised, so you could argue that had Woking been drawn against a tough northern side, the likes of Crook Town or Bishop Auckland, maybe their progress would have been halted.  As it was Woking beat Aveley, Hendon, Hayes and Finchley before beating Barnet at Craven Cottage. All these were tough sides no doubt.

This weekend Woking nudged FA Cup fans, reminding them of their FA Cup run in 1991, guided by the legendry manager Geoff Chapple and as Gibraltan national, Tim Buzaglo, made himself a cult hero with a hat trick against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns in a 3rd Round tie. Woking won 4-2, an extraordinary result away from home. The Cards joined the competition in the Fourth Qualifying Round, beating Bath City, Kidderminster Harriers, Merthyr Tydfil on their way to stardom.


There was another scare for the big boys in the 1996-7 Cup, when Woking took Coventry City to a replay in Round 3 after a draw at Highfield Road, losing at Kingfield 1-2. Woking had beaten Cambridge United, Millwall at the Den after a drawn first tie, en route. 
In 1908 Woking played Bolton Wanderers in the Cup having played through five qualifying rounds. They lost 0-5 and so impressed were the professionals with Woking's efforts that they played them in a pre-season friendly which helped keep the Surrey side solvent.

This season Woking have beaten Bury 3-0 away in the Cup and just played Peterborough United holding the Posh 1-1. Their 34 year old Australian manager, Anthony Limbrick has employed all kinds of "modern methods" to get his Conference team to an impressive level, after last season's dice with relegation from the top tier.

AFC Fylde (National League) drew with Wigan,  Slough* play Rochdale tonight and Hereford FC* drew with Fleetwood (*both Southern League Premier); these three remain the other non-league clubs in tonight's draw.