Cards take on talented Fulham side

Woking v Fulham XI
Pre-season friendly
3pm on Saturday 19 July 2014

The Cards have another attractive pre-season friendly on Saturday when they take on a talented young Fulham XI at Kingfield. Garry Hill’s side had a pleasing 3-2 win over Falkirk last weekend – a scoreline that did not really reflect the chances Woking created – and there has since been the very welcome news of contracts signed by Mike Cestor, Joey Jones and new keeper Jake Cole. The signs are looking very promising, so why not come on down and see how the side is shaping up?

WOKING

Woking fans have been treated to a succession of very welcome announcements this summer about Garry Hill’s squad for the coming season. Fears that we might lose key players from last season such as Josh Payne, Scott Rendell and Kevin Betsy have been put to rest, while hopes that other players whom we had seen on loan might join – in particular, Keiran Murtagh and Joey Jones – have been happily fulfilled. In addition, we’ve had the welcome confirmation that Mike Cestor and John Nutter are also staying, although the latter will be on non-contractual terms because of work commitments. Finally, Garry has presented us with three, very promising-looking, newcomers in the shape of defender James Clarke, attacking midfielder Theo Lewis and, a couple of days ago, new keeper Jake Cole, formerly with Plymouth Argyle.

Garry can’t be far off completing his squad, although there is clearly room for at least one more forward to complement the current strike force. Several trialists featured in the Falkirk game, including Ollie Taylor, whom we saw in last year’s pre-season fixtures, but Garry may also be looking – as he has very successfully done before – at bringing in a promising young striker from a League club.

FULHAM XI

Fulham are expected to bring their U21 squad to Kingfield. They have a very successful youth set-up, with the U18 side having won the Barclays Premier League U18 title for the past three seasons, while last season Fulham reached the final of the FA Youth Cup, losing only narrowly to Chelsea. The squad features a number of very talented players, several of whom have already made their first-team debuts for the Cottagers. They include French striker Moussa Dembele (not to be confused with Tottenham’s Belgian midfielder), Danish youth international midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen, French forward Ange-Freddy Plumian, defender Stephen Arthurworrey, who had an extended loan spell at Tranmere last season, and centre-back Josh Passley. Many of the players will of course be known to Kevin Betsy, who coaches at Fulham.

ADMISSION

Adults £8
Concessions £4
U16s FREE

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

There is a new-look programme to cover all the home pre-season friendly games. Read Garry Hill’s thoughts as the pre-season gathers pace.

NEXT GAMES

The Cards’ next home friendly on Saturday 26 July is sure to attract a bigger than usual crowd, with AFC Wimbledon likely to bring a good following.

The Cards’ remaining pre-season friendlies are:

Wednesday 22 July (7.45pm) Frome v Woking XI
Saturday 26 July (3pm) Woking v AFC Wimbledon
Wednesday 30 July (7.45pm) Woking v Crawley Town
Saturday 2 August (2pm) Basingstoke Town v Woking
Tuesday 5 August (7.45pm) Woking v West Ham XI

The Conference Premier season starts in earnest on Saturday 9 August when Woking travel to Alfreton Town. The first home game is on Tuesday 12 August when Dartford are the visitors. Why not order a season ticket if you haven’t already got one? It could be an exciting campaign!

Come on, you Cards!