Woking vs Carlisle United
Enterprise National League
Saturday 9th August 2025
15:00 Kick-Off

The 2025/26 season is finally upon us. After a busy and exciting summer off and on the pitch, Neal Ardley starts his first full season as Woking boss with the visit of EFL stalwarts Carlisle United, who despite being the other end of the country and bordering Scotland, are bringing one of the biggest away turnouts we are likely to see this season in GU22.

Not since the summer of 2019 have Woking kept as many players in their ranks as Ardley, Simon Bassey and Jody Brown have managed to do this summer, with no fewer than thirteen of the squad returning after a successful end to the season. Joined by seven ‘new’ signings, including the returning Jake Hyde and Craig Ross as well as Chin Okoli after an amazing loan, the Cards will hope for a season to remember, and it starts this Saturday.

So if you haven’t already, get your tickets on our new Fanbase website and come down to the Laithwaite for Woking’s first opening day home game (with fans) since August 2017!

Opposition Watch
It was just over two years ago that Carlisle United were celebrating dramatic penalty success at Wembley against Stockport for a barely believable promotion to League One. Unfortunately, the last two seasons have been just as unbelievable for all the wrong reasons, as back-to-back relegations ensued, meaning Carlisle start in non league for the first time since 2004.

They will be hoping for an immediate bounce back and to stay just a year as they did back then, with Mark Hughes having a plethora of riches to choose from. The likes of Elliot Embleton, Charlie Wyke, former Card Terrell Thomas, David Ajiboye and most impressively of all, staving off league clubs to pick up Altrincham’s Regan Linney, who bagged 23 in this division last season.

It isn’t going to be straightforward business though; only Grimsby Town of the sides who got relegated from League Two have bounced straight back up since 2015, and the likes of York, Forest Green and Rochdale have all strengthened impressively, but in the experienced hands of Hughes, promotion by any means is the aim for Carlisle United.

Around the Ground

Tickets are available here.

Gates will open at 12:30pm, but season tickets can be collected in the main car park from midday.

The Chris Lane Terrace has been given entirely to Carlisle United fans as mentioned previously.

One to Watch

With 23 goals last season, Regan Linney is a favourite for the golden boot in a Carlisle team which should supply him with even more chances. In three games against the Cards, Linney has netted four times previously.