Woking Football Club | First Team | Profiles

Woking Football Club, The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9AA • 01483 772470

11. Paul Hodges

The versatile forward, who can play out wide or in the number ten position supporting the striker, signed a contract extension with the Cards in the summer of 2019 after becoming a key part of manager Alan Dowson’s promotion winning team.

Paul first joined Woking the previous year following a successful trial period. Despite his relatively small stature, he quickly stood out to fans during pre-season, scoring against Football League side AFC Wimbledon whilst also setting up numerous chances for teammates. After signing for the team just before the start of the season he quickly became a hugely important impact player, with his pace and quick feet regularly too much to handle for National League South defenders, particularly when he was coming on as a second-half substitute against tired opponents. He would eventually make an impressive 46 appearances in all competitions, including 26 starts, scoring seven goals – most notably netting the winner against Oxford City in a 3-2 victory, in just his second home game for the club. However, it was an uncanny ability to win penalties that perhaps most endeared him to both supporters and his own teammates, as his direct running and trickery were regularly rewarded.

The hugely popular attacker can also claim to have arguably the longest association with the club of any player in recent years. Born and raised in the area, Hodges is a long-time supporter of the club, and was even a ball boy for the Cards during his youth. After spending time with Reading as a teenager he seemingly put his football career to one side to concentrate on becoming a teacher, whilst continuing to play part-time for local sides Abbey Rangers and Hartley Wintney, for whom he scored 30 goals in all competitions the season before joining Woking. After continually impressing he was finally given the opportunity to join the Cards, a chance he grasped with both hands, and hasn’t let go ever since.

2019/20 Sponsor: GU7 Cardinals