Celebrate on Saturday!

Woking v FC Halifax Town
5.15pm on Saturday 25 April 2015

The Cards may be out of the play-off race but there is much to celebrate on Saturday as Garry Hill’s side round off another successful season and as Woking fans mark the day when “super Kevin Betsy� hangs up his boots after a wonderful career. Come down to Kingfield if you possibly can and join in the celebrations – but don’t forget that it’s a 5.15pm kick-off! However, if you arrive early – the gates and Cardinals Bar will be open from 12.30pm – you can enjoy live football on the big screen.

WOKING

The draw at Nuneaton last Saturday finally put paid to the Cards’ hopes of making the play-offs but they are assured of 7th place, whatever the results this weekend. That itself is a tremendous achievement for a part-time club, coming on top of successive 12th and 9th finishes since Garry and Steve Thompson led the Club back into the top flight of the non-League game.

Garry and the players will be keen to put on a show on Saturday if they possibly can, not least to provide a fitting farewell for Kevin Betsy. With one or two other players possibly making their final appearances too, make sure you are there to show your appreciation for a fine season.

FC HALIFAX TOWN

The Shaymen have had a meteoric rise since re-forming in 2008 and starting life in the Northern Premier League Division One North. Four promotions later saw them start last season in the Conference Premier, with a late run catapulting them into the final play-off place. They lost 2-1 on aggregate to eventual winners, Cambridge United in the semi-final.

Earlier this season it looked as though they would claim a play-off place again as they started the campaign with five straight wins but results in the second half of the season have been poor. The Shaymen have won only one of their last 14 league games, although a good many were drawn. But they lost their last two games, at home to Eastleigh and, last weekend, Torquay United, both by a 2-0 margin. Before that they were well beaten 3-0 at Barnet.

Lois Maynard is the top scorer with 12 goals.

ADMISSION

Adults: £15
Over 65s and Students with a valid NUS card: £10
U16s: £3

The gates and Cardinals Bar will be open from 12.30pm with the match between Southampton and Spurs (kick-off 12.45pm) shown on the big screen. There will be hot pizza slices and other hot nibbles available free in the Bar from 12.30pm till 2.30pm. There will also be a free raffle for champagne for all those over 18 in the Bar at 2.30pm.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

There will be a strong demand for the final, bumper, programme of the season, so make sure you’re quick off the mark! This edition has been increased in size to 72 pages and includes an ‘end of season’ interview with Garry Hill in which he talks, among other things, about his plans to rebuild the side this summer. And, of course, there is a celebration of Kevin Betsy’s career, including his own interesting reflections on his two spells at Woking and his future plans. The programme remains priced at £3 and would make a great memento of the 2014-15 season.

If you can’t get to the game, you can pre-order a copy from the Club Shop on shop@wokingfc.co.uk

BOOST THE BUDGET

Please help Garry Hill prepare for next season by supporting the bucket collection on Saturday. Better still – if you can afford a minimum contribution of £10 a month – please become a regular BTB contributor. Forms are available in the Club Shop. The Cards Trust, via these contributions and the ‘Big Push’ initiative a couple of months ago, put in some £40,000 to Garry’s playing budget this season, all in return for shares purchased by the Trust, the second biggest shareholder. You can be sure Garry will spend the money wisely!

Please also join the Cards Trust if you haven’t already done so and help ensure that ordinary fans have a strong voice in the future of the Club.

ONLINE COMMENTARY

If you can’t get to the game BBC Radio Surrey will be providing an online commentary at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13629210

LAST TIME OUT

FC Halifax Town 1 Woking 3
16 November 2014

This was arguably the Cards’ most impressive performance of the season – and, like the superb away game at Luton Town the previous campaign, it was played out in front of the TV cameras!

The Cards went into this game on the back of a very disappointing FA Cup exit at Wrexham, followed by an improved performance in a 1-1 draw against the same opponents in midweek. Fortunately for Woking fans, it was the Cards’ fine record of five away wins in the league that seemed to set the tone as they set about the home side in confident mood. The lead was gained through an astonishing, swerving 35-yard free-kick from Gez Sole, starting in place of the ill Jack Marriott. Shortly before half-time Adam Newton made it 2-0 with a fine strike after good work from Rendell and Sole. There was still time for Sole to hit the bar before the break.

The Cards had to withstand some Halifax pressure before, in the 59th minute, Newton made it 3-0 with another well-executed shot after another fine move. The home side eventually pulled a goal back through Paul Marshall from the penalty spot after James Clarke was adjudged to have brought down Jamie Jackson.

The three points took the Cards to third in the table.

Halifax Town: Matt Glennon, Kevin Roberts, Scott McManus, Marc Roberts ©, Adam Smith, Simon Ainge, Lois Maynard, Paul Marshall, Sean McGinty (Danny Schofield 46), Scott Boden (Jamie Jackson 69), Richard Peniket.

Unused subs: Phil Senior, James Bolton, Matty Pearson.

Goal: Marshall (penalty) 72

Woking: Jake Cole, Adam Newton, Mike Cestor, Joe McNerney, James Clarke, Theo Lewis, Josh Payne, Chris Arthur, Scott Rendell, Giuseppe Sole (John Goddard 77), Kevin Betsy.

Unused subs: Aaron Howe, Reece Beckles, Oliver Taylor.

Goals: Sole 24, Newton 44, 59.

Attendance: 1,415


Come on, you Cards!