Familiar faces boost coaching infrastructure

Woking Football Club is pleased to announce that Craig Ross and Jake Hyde have returned to the club in coach/player roles.

Ross will join as player/goalkeeper coach, and Hyde will join as player/strength & conditioning coach.

Both Craig and Jake require no introduction to Woking fans, with the former an academy graduate who returned to the club in September 2018, enjoying five hugely successful seasons in which he made 198 appearances and clean swept the Player of the Season awards for both 2019-20 and 2020-21. Since Craig left the Cards in 2023, he has made 94 appearances across two seasons at Maidenhead United before his departure last month.

Following Craig’s return, Director of Football Jody Brown said, “Craig knows the club and has a good amount of coaching experience in academy football at Watford. We all know he can play the level, and it was quickly apparent the positive feeling he has for the club.”

“The competition for the number one jersey will be healthy, and from a numbers point of view, we save on not needing another goalkeeper, but overall it’s about creating the culture we want here at the club - We think Craig can add to that.”

Hyde, meanwhile, joined Woking in July 2018, becoming a fan favourite with memorable goals at Swindon in the FA Cup First Round and a last gasp winner against Wealdstone in the National League South playoff semi final amongst his 31 goals in 73 appearances, and has had spells at Halifax, Wrexham, Yeovil and Chelmsford before now returning to the Cards in his first coaching role.

On Hyde’s return, Brown said, “Jake’s got lots to offer the club, great enthusiasm, industry experience, football experience, a strong affiliation with our club, and a desire to be part of it.”

“He will drive the standards around player conditioning and recovery, hopefully push us to improve the department, but also we aren’t ruling him out as someone that can add something to the playing staff too.”

"People with an affinity to the club and its past are an important part of our culture".

Another new addition to the footballing department will be Kevin Rawlinson, who joins the staff as Head of Analysis.

Brown added, “Kevin adds detail and access to information that will support our players and coaching department.”

“He’s already been working extremely hard, and his data support, along with Connor, has been really positive in terms of identifying targets or adding more analysis to those we’ve already seen with our eyes.”

“We hope to retain Benito, who had been doing our opposition preparations last season, making Kevin’s department strong.”

"It was always our intention to build a strong infrastructure that can help the club grow over the coming years."