Saturday 8 August 2026
Woking Football Club began their 2026/27 Enterprise National League season with a disappointing 0-3 home defeat to Sutton United at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. The result leaves the Cards bottom of the early table after the opening round of fixtures.
Goals from William Nightingale and Omar Mussa secured the victory for the visitors on a difficult afternoon for the home side. The defeat marks a challenging start under interim management following significant changes at the club in recent weeks.
Former England international Jermain Defoe parted company with Woking by mutual consent in late July, just two weeks before the new campaign began. Defoe had taken charge in March 2026 after the departure of Neal Ardley and oversaw the final six league matches of last season, guiding the team to a 10th-place finish. He described his short tenure as an “eye-opening managerial experience” in a statement following his exit.
In the wake of Defoe’s departure, the club placed player-goalkeeping coach Craig Ross and coach Jake Hyde in interim charge of the first team. The pair had previously taken temporary control earlier in 2026 and will continue to oversee operations while the search for a permanent manager continues. Director of football Jody Brown has spoken of the need for stability and continued recruitment as the club looks to build on recent progress.
Woking have been active in the transfer market this summer. Midfielder Steven Turner arrived on a season-long loan, while defender Jaiden Putman joined on a short-term youth loan from Queens Park Rangers. Experienced midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey has been named club captain for the forthcoming campaign. Other recent additions include winger Taylan Harris and defender Shadrach Ogie, who signed a two-year deal after leaving Gillingham.
Pre-season had mixed results. Woking recorded a 3-0 victory over Eastbourne Borough in their final friendly but suffered defeats against Portsmouth and Braintree Town. The squad numbers for the new season were confirmed in the days leading up to the Sutton fixture, with supporters also collecting season ticket cards ahead of the opener.
The National League Cup groups and fixtures have also been confirmed, offering an additional competition for the Cards this term. Matches will be available to watch on DAZN, which continues its expanded coverage of the National League.
Woking’s next fixture is an away trip to Gateshead on Saturday 15 August. The side then return home to face AFC Fylde on 22 August before travelling to Hornchurch later in the month. With a new captain in place and fresh faces in the squad, the focus now turns to recovering from the opening-day setback and establishing consistency under the interim coaching team.
The club has thanked supporters for their continued backing and emphasised its commitment to delivering objectives both on and off the pitch at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Attention now shifts to the coming weeks as Woking look to climb the table and build momentum in the 2026/27 season.