Woking FC,

The Laithwaite Community Stadium,

Kingfield,

Woking

GU22 9AA

Founded in 1887, Woking are nicknamed the Cardinals—or simply the Cards—after the cardinal red of their kit. The colour is said to allude to the story that Thomas Wolsey was staying with Henry VIII at nearby Woking Palace in 1515 when he received word from the Pope that he had been made a Cardinal.

The club joined the Isthmian League in 1911–12 and lifted the FA Amateur Cup in 1957–58. After relegations in 1982–83 and 1984–85, the club rebounded with three promotions (1986–87, 1989–90, and 1991–92), climbing to the Football Conference.

The 1990s marked a golden era: Woking won the FA Trophy three times—more than any surviving club (equal only to the tally of defunct Telford United and Scarborough)—and finished Conference runners-up in consecutive seasons, though promotion slipped through their fingers. They remained in non-League’s top tier until relegation in 2008–09.

After promotion in 2011–12, they dropped again in 2017–18, but bounced back immediately via the play-offs. That same 2018–19 season, they reached the FA Cup third round, beating Torquay and Swindon before bowing out to Premier League Watford.

Most recently, Woking finished fourth in the National League in 2022–23 but were knocked out in the play-off quarter-finals by Bromley.

FA Cup Glory

1990/91 season saw the Club become part of FA Cup folklore. Entering the competition at the Fourth Qualifying Round, they beat three Conference sides 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. The reward was a match against Everton. 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.

Woking is in the north-west of Surrey. From the Stroud area it is about 95 miles and takes just over 2 hours by road.

By Supporters Club Coach – this is by far the cheapest and easiest way to travel. For information about Away Travel, including precise details of pick-up locations – look here. For this match, the departure times are The New Lawn – 10.45 am, Sainsbury’s Dudbridge – 11.00am, Stonehouse Brunel Way – 11.15am

The prices for coach tickets to this match are as follows (Supporters’ Club members get a £3 discount): Adults £35, U-16 £20, U-11 £10

To book a seat with the supporter’s club discount, please call 0333 123 1889  on Monday, Thursday, or Friday at 11am to 2pm.  Please try to book early.

By Car

From the Stroud area it is about 95 miles and takes just over 2 hours.

When nearing the town centre follow the brown signs showing Heathside Crescent Car Park, and then follow signs for Woking FC.

From The West
Leave the M25 at Junction 11 and take the A317 and then the A320 towards Woking. Continue on the A320 through Woking town centre. After passing a hospital on your left you will come to a fork in the road, where you want to leave the A320 and branch left into Claremont Road towards Old Woking (A247). At the bottom of Claremont Road turn left onto the A247 Kingfield Road and the entrance to the ground is down on the right.

From The East
Leave the M25 at Junction 10 and take the A3 towards Guildford. On approaching Guildford turn right onto the A320 towards Woking. On entering Woking turn right at the roundabout into Wych Hill Lane, towards Old Woking (A247). This road leads into the A247 Kingfield Road and the entrance to the ground is down on the right.

Car Parking

Unfortunately, there is no parking available at the stadium.

The Club’s designated car park is Heathside Crescent, GU22 7AG, one mile away from the stadium and a 20-minute walk. This car park is operated by Woking Borough Council and holds 496 spaces. Pricing is £3.50 for up to two hours, £5 for up to three hours, and there is a flat rate overnight charge of £2.20 after 18:00

Woking Park car park is opposite the Laithwaite Community Stadium. This car park is operated by Woking Borough Council and holds 583 spaces. Pricing is FREE for up to two hours, £1.80 for up to three hours, and there is a flat rate overnight charge of £2.20 after 18:00.

While limited parking is available on the surrounding roads and estates of the Laithwaite Community Stadium, please be considerate and park safely and legally.

The car park at David Lloyd adjacent to the Laithwaite Community Stadium is not to be used by supporters.

Disabled Access – Disabled Supporters | Woking Football Club (wokingfc.co.uk)

By Train –
There’s an indirect hourly service from Stroud to Woking (usually with changes at Reading and Basingstoke), taking around 2 hours 15 minutes. An adult return costs roughly £54. The last train back from Woking (with changes at Guildford, Reading and Swindon) leaves at 8:25pm

From London Waterloo, fast trains to Woking take about 28 minutes and run frequently.

The ground is a 20-minute walk from the station – exit via Platform 5 (Station Approach/Oriental Road) for the shortest route.  Alternatively. bus 34 runs every 20 minutes between the station’s south side and near the ground. Buses 462 and 463 also serve the route, though less frequently.

The Kingfield Stadium—currently named the Laithwaite Community Stadium and with a capacity of just over 6,000—is a quirky blend of old and new, with an eclectic mix of stands that gives it real character. Dominating the south end is the towering Seymours Community Stand (formerly the Leslie Gosden Stand), built in the 1990s and unusually plush for non-league football, complete with padded seating. In contrast, the rest of the ground is much more modest, made up largely of terraces and small seated stands.

Among the most famous features is Moaners’ Corner, a favourite spot for long-time regulars, complete with its own dedicated tea bar.

Away supporters are typically housed along part of the uncovered Chris Lane Terrace, which, despite lacking a roof, offers excellent sightlines, but no seats.  Club Chairman Todd Johnson has suggested changes ahead—including the introduction of a dedicated fan zone for away fans, which would finally allow alcohol sales to them (currently prohibited due to the location of existing kiosks within sight of the pitch).

A unique touch that sets Kingfield apart is its tribute to local music legends The Jam. The team walk out to “A Town Called Malice” a nod to Woking’s Mod heritage.

The average attendance at Kingfield in 2024/25 was 2,322.

2025/26 Ticket Prices (advance prices apply if purchased at least 3 hours before kick-off):

• Adult: £24 (£22)

• Concession (65+, Emergency Services, Military): £19 (£17)

• Next Generation (17–22): £16 (£13)

• Under-17: £12 (£9)

• Under-14: £5 (no advance discount)

Woking finished 15th in the National League in 2024/25, collecting 58 points and 13 wins—fewer than relegated Maidenhead United. Off-field instability played its part in an underwhelming campaign, but a December managerial reshuffle, followed by a change in majority ownership in February has signalled intent to turn things around. Summer signings include defenders Kaleb Richards (most recently at Kidderminster Harriers) and Aaron Drewe (Oxford City), centre-back Chinwike Okoli (on loan at Sutton last season from Millwall), midfielder Jack Turner (Queen’s Park), and attacking midfielder Luke Hall (Worksop Town).

The Cards have made a slow start to their 2025/26 campaign. August saw defeats at the hands of Carlisle Utd, Scunthorpe Utd, Wealdstone, Hartlepool Utd, and a draw with York City, with their only victory being over a Morecambe team that was still finding its feet. However, it seems fair to point out that most of those victors are highly fancied teams that could be expected to pose a challenge to most sides, so it would be premature to write Woking off.  So far, September has brought a draw with Halifax Town and what must have been a frustrating injury-time defeat at Yeovil Town – but also a stunning 5-0 thrashing of Gateshead.

Rovers in action at Kingfield last season. The result was an edgy 1-1 draw that saw Rovers losing their table-topping place, with McAllister scoring the opening goal, and Ryan Inniss drawing a red card that was later unsuccessfully appealed.

Neal Ardley is a well-established figure at this level, with over a decade of managerial experience in the EFL and National League. As manager of AFC Wimbledon, he led the club to promotion to League One in 2016—a fitting triumph, given that he had spent 11 years as a midfielder with the original Wimbledon club.

After six years leading the Dons, Ardley took over at Notts County in November 2018 but was unable to prevent their relegation from League Two. Despite a creditable performance in the following season—where County, finishing third in the table, were defeated in the promotion play-off final by Harrogate Town —and a strong performance the year after (where the team would eventually finish fifth and again make the play-offs), Ardley was sacked in March 2021, and replaced by Ian Burchnall. 

Ardley went on to spend two seasons with Solihull Moors and a brief spell at York City. He arrived at Woking in December 2024, succesfully revitalizing a team that had a difficult start to their season – losing only one in the first 17 matches under his charge.

Woking FC unveiled their current badge in 2021, chosen by fans in a vote between two closely matched designs. The crest is based on the coat of arms of Woking Borough Council, though the club opted to drop the council’s Latin motto, “Fide et Diligentia” — “By faith and diligence.” Faith and diligence? Or Moaners’ Corner? You decide…

Although Woking has been settled since before the Domesday Book, it would be a stretch to describe it as a town rich in historic landmarks or major tourist attractions. Its modern development owes much to the London Necropolis Company, which, in the mid-19th century, attempted to establish a single vast cemetery outside London—large enough to accommodate all of the capital’s future burials. This became Brookwood Cemetery, located to the west of town. It even had its own railway line, with a dedicated London terminus near Waterloo—later destroyed during the Second World War. While the company’s monopoly ambitions were never realised, it did trigger Woking’s growth by selling off surplus land near what became the town centre for urban development.

One of Woking’s more curious claims to fame lies in literature. H.G. Wells lived in the town when he wrote The War of the Worlds, and many of the novel’s key scenes—including the Martian landing on Horsell Common—are set locally. The Shah Jahan Mosque, destroyed in the book’s fictional Martian attack, still stands today. Built in the 1880s for students of the now-defunct Oriental Institute, it was the first purpose-built mosque in Britain. The Institute itself quickly faded into obscurity—its founder lamented that “no place in the world” was less aware of it than Surrey—but the mosque remains active.

Today, visitors to Woking might enjoy exploring its surprisingly large collection of public art. From sculptures of WWF’s panda, cricketing twins Eric and Sir Alec Bedser, a Martian tripod, and even a three-pronged oak structure inspired by The Jam, the Woking Art Trail links these together—and might offer fun diversion for anyone visiting the town.