My all-time best Woking FC XI

If you have read my previous report on my life so far with Woking Football Club, then you know how much the club means to me. Today I thought I would put together a personal best eleven (with extra subs) and go through each player’s career and time with The Cards.

Players will have played for WFC from 2011 to the present day as that is all I can judge on and will be put into a 4-4-2 formation. I would love to include Clive Walker, Laurence Batty and your Tim Buzaglo’s of the world, but quite simply that was before my time.

Right then, let’s get started shall we…

1. Craig Ross

We, of course, have to start with the goalkeeper and this was a toss-up for me between Craig Ross and Aaron Howe. I went with Ross in the end because he has played nearly 100 games more than Howe did and has been the fan’s player of the year on two separate occasions (2019/20 & 2020/21).

Ross joined The Cards during the 2018/19 season, ten years after graduating from the Woking academy in 2008. He was brought back to the club by Alan Dowson and very quickly became the number-one choice, demoting Berti Schottel to the bench. Not only has his shot-stopping expertise helped his side on many occasions, but his passion for the badge on his shirt is one of the many reasons why he has become a club favourite over these past five seasons. Since joining the club, he has had nine different ‘keepers to fight over the number-one spot with and has only missed a combined total of 23 games between them. That’s incredible dominance.

My favourite memory of ‘Rossy’ isn’t actually game-specific, but it’s when he comes over to the KRE (or away section) at full-time and throws a massive punch into the air to celebrate a win. In either his bright orange, green or pink shirt, he will be the first person over and the last one to leave.

It’s clear his heart lies with us and as a football fan, that’s all you can ask for when players put the shirt on, especially in non-league when players can treat the club as a stepping stone and not bother to search into the history of the club.

His previous clubs include: Ashford Town (Middlesex), Carshalton Athletic, Godalming Town, Welling United, Hampton & Richmond, Cambridge United, Eastbourne Borough, Farnborough, Whitehawk, Macclesfield Town, Barnet and Leatherhead.

2. Adam Newton

At right back, this was another mix-up between two but I went with Adam Newton over Jake Caprice based on appearances and because Newton was a part of the 2011/12 championship-winning campaign. The Saint Kitts and Nevis international also had an England U21 appearance to his name, as well as a couple of Premier League games too.

Newton joined The Cards at the start of the 2011/12 campaign and stayed until he retired in 2015. Nicknamed ‘Newton from Luton’ the full-back made 169 appearances and chipped in with four goals. His best season was the 2014-15 season where Woking finished in an impressive seventh place, just three points off the then, top five playoff places. Before my days in the KRE, I would sit at the very top of the LGS and can always remember that old Conference Premier ball with the black dots and seeing Newton clear it out onto the Pure Gym roof.

My favourite memory of ‘Newts’ was just growing up with him always being a regular starter in a back four. A no-nonsense number two who would do the job required of him for 90 minutes.

His previous clubs included: West Ham, Portsmouth, Notts County, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United, Brentford and Luton Town.

3. Josh Casey

On the other side of the defence, I controversially went with current captain Josh Casey. The reason I say it’s controversial is because during his five years at the club so far, they haven’t all been plain sailing. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have told you Mike Cestor all day every day as my starting left-back but here we are. Funny how life changes isn’t it…

Casey, like Ross, joined the club in 2018 but was one of the first players through the door in the summer. He was ex-manager Alan Dowson’s pride and faithful who followed him wherever he went over many years. His first season was brilliant as he guided the club to promotion and went on to scoop up all of the end-of-season awards. Once he made the step up to the National League though, it was very clear he, like some others, was out of their depth. This is no surprise as we were a part-time team at first in a league full of full-timers. Of course, as well as being captain, it meant when things were wrong, the abuse would be thrown his way and at times he didn’t handle it well, BUT, he is in my XI so let me tell you why.

Our number three has come on leaps and bounds both as a defender and leader. He now looks comfortable at left back and this allows him to get further forward to create attacking plays. His assist record has rapidly improved and he is ever present for his side. Again, like Ross, he has missed just a handful of games in his time at Woking. His only goal in his 187 appearances came away against Hungerford Town back in 2019 when his free kick evaded everyone to find the back of the net.

My favourite memory of ‘Case’ is a very well-known thing by all Woking fans. Whenever he is blocked in a corner or he’s in danger, he simply falls to the ground, with his chest on the ball to win a foul. It works EVERY TIME! It’s a great way to break up the play and give his side time to recuperate.

His previous clubs include: Aldershot Town, Salisbury City, Bashley, Kingstonian and Hampton & Richmond.

4. Mark Ricketts

We move on to the first of two centre-halves and the first player who is still playing professionally, just not at Woking. Yet another player who has captained our club is Mark Ricketts. A top, top professional who now plies his trade at fellow league side Boreham Wood.

Ricketts actually joined the club back in 2009 before my time but had a tremendous seven-year spell in Surrey. By the time I had started to go and watch the lads, he had already asserted himself as a first name on the team sheet by being club captain. He made well over 200 appearances and was the man who lifted up the league trophy after the game against Truro City.

The former Cardinal is now playing in North-West London and has had many more moments to savour, his most famous being scoring away to then Championship side AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

My favourite memory of ‘Ricko’ is that league title year because it was my first year following the club and he was the man in front of all the photographers (due to be captain), so my young self would see him laying down his foundations and it helped get the club back to the fifth tier.

His previous clubs include: Charlton Athletic, MK Dons and Ebbsfleet United.

5. Joe McNerney

Joe McNerney would have been in this XI even if he didn’t return last season. He is quite simply a dedicated professional who was put the shirt on now 300 times. That’s incredible for any side, especially a non-league one.

The number five joined the club’s academy at 16 years old and made his debut in 2008. He went on to make 251 appearances, scoring 15 goals before joining League Two side Crawley Town in 2015. After his six-year spell came to an end there, he returned and has since played 49 times to take the tally to 300, adding another two goals.

He was another player part of the 2011/12 title-winning season and yet another local lad, who was proving that the academy structure does work. I’d actually love to do a sit-down interview with him about his time throughout the years at the club and put some of these names to him, to see if he’s still in contact and what they were like as people.

My favourite memory of ‘Joey Mac’ was always how he would head literally anything. Give that man a brick and he’d still get his head up for it. Since returning he still does it, it’s a part of his game, but the ball could be in space and you just know he’s going to appear and get his head to it. Fantastic.

His previous clubs include: Corinthian Casuals, Ashford Town (Middlesex) and Crawley Town.

6. Keiran Murtagh

Keiran Murtagh may come as a shock to some, but I think his performances go under the radar. He had three separate loan spells before permanently signing for The Cards and made a staggering 256 appearances and scoring 29 goals. He also had spells where he was another player to wear the captain’s armband. Here he is at the end of his final season with nearly a full scoop of awards from the 2016/17 season. Keiran now plays for Dartford.

Murtagh joined The Cards on loan from Wycombe Wanderers on loan in during the 2010/11 season, scoring five goals in 12 games before joining Cambridge United.

He returned on loan in the next season (2011/12) making a further 19 appearances, scoring two more goals. You’ll never guess what, he returned again on loan during the 2013/14 season, making 21 appearances and scoring three goals. I think everyone got the memo for the start of the 2014/15 season as he signed on permanently and stayed until the end of that 2016/17 year. The Antigua and Barbuda international was a fantastic midfielder and was integral in two of my favourite seasons, both 2011/12 and 2014/15.

My favourite memory of ‘Murts’ would be his big midfield presence that he always seemed to have and his constant progression through each different spell he had with us.

His previous clubs include: Fisher Athletic, Yeovil Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Cambridge United, Macclesfield Town, Mansfield Town, and Boreham Wood.

7. Jack Marriott

Maybe the most ‘high-profile’ player in this team to the modern-day audience is Jack Marriott. He joined Woking on a one-month loan during the 2013/14 season and made his debut in a 3–0 win at home to Dartford, scoring his first professional goal on loan from Ipswich Town. He was also the man of the match for that game. Marriott scored twice in his next match in a 3–2 comeback win over Hyde and then scored his fourth goal in as many matches as he netted in a 3–0 win against Hereford United in the FA Trophy. Marriott then scored the first hat-trick of his professional career in the following match, a 4–3 win over FC Halifax Town. He finished his loan spell with a stunning nine goals in nine appearances. He returned to Ipswich before subsequently coming back on loan until the end of the season and scored four more goals in 15 appearances.

His third and final loan came during the 2014/15 season and saw him score on his return two days later in a 3–2 defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers. He ended up being recalled by Ipswich and that was the end of his time at Kingfield.

What makes this even better was that Woking was struggling around his first stint and he guided them away from the relegation zone. For a loan player without a single senior appearance to do that was crazy. I was in awe of him.

As we all know, he’s gone on to play in the Championship with Peterborough United but more famously with Derby County in that playoff final year under Frank Lampard.

My favourite memory of ‘Jacko’ was literally the facts and figures you’ve just read. A young kid with no senior football experience comes into the side and can’t stop scoring. That’s unheard of and that’s why he’s in my team, despite never being a permanent player.

His previous clubs include: Ipswich Town, Gillingham, Carlisle United, Colchester United, Luton Town, Peterborough United, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday.

8. Billy Knott

Now I know what you’re probably thinking… How on earth can someone who only played 22 games for the club be in a best XI that spans nearly 12 years? Well, you’d have a fair point but Billy Knott really enraptured my childhood with the way he played football. I remember this small lad defying the laws of physics and just running with a ball glued to his feet. Most of his goals were screamers. He now plays for Southend Manor.

Knott joined The Cards during the 2012/13 season, on loan from then Premier League side Sunderland. He was awarded the club's Goal of the Season award for his unbelievable effort against Hyde, which was also nominated for the Conference's Goal of the Season competition. Knott scored ten goals in 22 games and returned to the Stadium of Light, at the end of Woking's season. Manager Paolo Di Canio handed him his Sunderland debut on the last day of the 2012/13 Premier League season, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

My favourite memory of ‘Knotty’ was his first goal for the club just two minutes into the game against high-flyers Luton Town on New Year’s Day 2013. Betsy took a short corner to Loick Pires who played it back to him and I can still remember what followed like it was yesterday.

Betsy played a pass in front of Knott who was outside the box and just absolutely put his foot through the ball as it flew into the net.

It was so quick, yet it was almost like slow motion how you could see him run up to the ball with that much force and power. Welcome to Kingfield. He went on to score another in that game which Woking won 3-1 in a then-famous league victory.

His previous clubs include: Sunderland, AFC Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers, Port Vale, Bradford City, Gillingham, Lincoln City, Rochdale, Concord Rangers, Chelmsford City, Bowers & Pitsea, Billericay Town, Canvey Island and Great Wakering Rovers.

9. Jayden Stockley

Right, let’s address the elephant in the room. Stockley’s a great player anyway and would have been in the discussion either way, but I was not putting Scott Rendell in this XI. I can’t do it. Still want my £5 back for his knee. So, moving swiftly on, Jayden Stockley is my number nine.

Stockley joined The Cards on loan during the 2012/13 season from AFC Bournemouth and made 29 appearances, scoring 14 goals. He was just 19 years old when he signed which makes it crazy that he’s in my team, but he hit the ground running and was a brilliant asset up top. I guess if we’re talking one-season strikers, I could’ve gone with Ugwu, but Stockley had that magical out-of-nowhere attribute whereas Ugwu was more predictable. Of course, there’s no issues if you’re scoring but Stockley gets ahead for me. He was a proper poacher but a really good player in the air, would hardly ever lose a header.

I remember this crazy game against Macclesfield Town where we were 5-0 up at half-time, Mike Cestor was doing pirouette skills in his own box, Betsy scored one and Knott got two. Stockley also grabbed a brace with his second being a beautiful little lob over the ‘keeper. He then set up Knott for the fifth with a naughty no-look pass. Dreamland with half an hour. The game finished 5-4 though. Yes, Macclesfield scored four in the second half. Crazy stuff.

My favourite memory of ‘Stocks’ was him scoring two in a 7-0 win against Farnborough in the FA Trophy First Round, which is still my highest score line to date following Woking. Back in the days when the pitch was atrocious, but you just got on with it.

His previous clubs include: AFC Bournemouth, Dorchester Town, Accrington Stanley, Leyton Orient, Torquay United, Cambridge United, Luton Town, Portsmouth, Exeter City, Aberdeen and Preston North End.

10. Giuseppe Sole

The one and only Giuseppe Sole. Whether it's one of his many legendary free kicks, fabulous long-range strikes, that header away at Luton, that record-breaking scoring run or scoring the winner away at Maidenhead to clinch promotion back to the National League, we all have our own special memories of him playing for Woking.

Sole joined The Cards as a product of the very successful academy at Woking, making his first-team debut aged just 17 against Southport in 2006. He went on to play for the England C team and in total made 352 appearances for Woking, scoring 111 goals. Apart from his incredible goalscoring record, he will always be remembered for the courageous way he fought back from that career-threatening injury against Dartford when he was in his prime and for the way he's always conducted himself both on and off the pitch. Giuseppe Sole was a once-in-a-lifetime player. To see one of your own break records and score wonders week after week is just sensational. We quite simply couldn’t ask for anything more.

My favourite memory of ‘Gez’ is of course that free kick away at Aldershot Town. We still sing about it to this day. The FC Halifax one live on BT Sport is another brilliant one too.

His previous clubs included: Basingstoke, Ebbsfleet United, Newport County, Dorchester, Havant & Waterlooville, Hampton & Richmond, Leatherhead and Dorking Wanderers.

11. Kevin Betsy ©

Ladies and Gentlemen… my idol! The man, the myth, the legend. Kevin Betsy, I’ve said it time and time again but literally my favourite all-time Woking player. Betsy started his career at Woking in 1997, representing England at semi-professional level and being named Conference Player of the Year in 1998. He went on to be signed by Fulham for a fee of £80,000, which would eventually rise to £125,000, with manager Kevin Keegan describing him as one of the best young players he had seen at his age. Betsy made his debut at Anfield against Liverpool in the League Cup.

14 years later, he was back and with a bang. His Premier League and Football League experience helped him be a part of the championship-winning season and saw him make 151 appearances in three and a half seasons, notching up 28 goals. Some people even compared him to Clive Walker. The way he could control a ball with his technique and drive through opposition defences was obscene.

My favourite Betsy moment was watching him every other week but if I had to be specific then it would be his last game in 2015 against FC Halifax Town. It also happened to be the last game I ever attended with my Grandad up in the LGS. For those who don’t remember, Woking were 2-1 down and had ten men going into stoppage time. The Cards got it back to 2-2 from a penalty kick, which Betsy actually had the chance to take but refused as he didn’t want the sentiment and would rather continue to be a straight-up professional until the very last kick. But what will always stick with me is when he went on a blistering run deep into the visitors' half, working the ball wide to substitute Manny Oyeleke, whose cross found Yemi Odubade at the back post and he fired confidently into the bottom corner for the most pulsating of winners. It happened to be the last kick of the game. Once the ball found the net, Odubade went running off but everyone else ran to Betsy on what was the most magical of endings to a magnificent career.

His previous clubs included: Fulham, AFC Bournemouth, Hull City, Barnsley, Hartlepool United, Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Bristol City, Yeovil Town, Walsall and Southend United.

Subs

I put one player in each position for the subs, meaning I have a pre-season-friendly number of subs here (up to 12).

13. As discussed, I’ve got Aaron Howe as my backup goalkeeper. He made 94 appearances for the club and was unfortunate to be let down by injury.

12. Jake Caprice made 89 appearances over the course of the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. In fact, in that 16/17 season, nearly every goal scored by Ugwu was set up on the right-hand side by Caprice.

14. Mike Cestor got a big mention in this and rightly so. He made 110 appearances and scored two goals before disappearing off the face of the earth. No only joking, he joined Romanian side CFR Cluj after a year out of football and even has a Champions League appearance to his name.

15. Joey Jones is still not forgiven by some fans for that nightmare look away against Macclesfield Town during the 2017/18 season, but he was a good servant to the club and I’ll never forget that goal away at Forest Green Rovers.

16. Ben Gerring was a massive fan favourite for his outgoing opinions and massive presence both on and off the pitch. He helped the club to promotion during the 2018/19 season and sparked massive results against his former team Torquay United. Let’s not forget my video of him in the KRE doing the rounds on every Devon newspaper under the sun.

17. Max Kretzschmar was a brilliant servant to us. Despite his initial season of 2016/17 not quite going to plan, he returned just under two years later to put that to bed. He made 142 more appearances and scored 42 goals. He was Mr reliable from the spot and was always a game changer whenever one was needed.

18. John Goddard did ruin his legacy with both the Aldershot and Stevenage moves but despite his return not going to plan, he had some brilliant years and was a fantastic footballer. He played 128 times between 2013 and 2016, scoring on 27 occasions. He made just seven appearances during the 2020/21 season.

19. Rohan Ince is the only other current player on this list, but he is just incredible. I still struggle to understand how he’s on our books and not Barcelona’s. All jokes aside he is one hell of a midfielder. Over the course of last season and this present one, he’s made 64 appearances and is starting to chip away with some goals, taking his tally to seven. He’s someone that will most definitely be attracting interest from other clubs but hopefully, he sticks with the current project that he’s a part of.

20. Bradley Bubb was class. He is the only player that I know to date who was on loan from Aldershot. I mean imagine that now. Crazy. He came in at the start of the 2012/13 season and scored 18 goals in just 20 games. Quite funny when you think about it. Never came back. But he’s in my team.

21. Jake Hyde has to be in here because he really gave the club a platform. His famous goal away to Swindon Town in the FA Cup Second Round, his last-minute winner against Wealdstone in the Playoff Semi-Final and don’t forget when he tried to claim a goal off Moussa Diarra against Maidenhead, meaning when he did really score a week later at FC Halifax, everyone went to celebrate with Moussa… He made 73 appearances, scoring 30 goals in the process over his two seasons stay with The Cards. A great lad as well, who gave me the chance to interview him as I started to enter the journalism path.

22. Charlie Carter rounds off the list for me because I just think he was such a good talent that came through the academy. Despite that torrid 2017/18 relegation year, he was the standout and I’d happily take him back in the near future. He made 82 appearances, scoring all 13 in that breakthrough season.

Well, there you have it, feel free to leave your suggestions and why. A reminder that this is from 2011 and onwards and is just a personal opinion. Saying that, I would love to hear other options to see if one sparks a certain memory. If I had to pick a manager, I think I would pick Dowson, because not only was he a great bloke whom I had a lot of time for, but he got our football club back on course. It didn’t end in the romantic way it could have, but I’m so glad about Darren Sarll taking us forward! Onto Scunthorpe United on Saturday… #COYCards