Woking's Academy Brigade Face Four-Match Week Marathon
The Cards' youth setup braces for a fixture pile-up that would make even Pep Guardiola reach for the paracetamol, with four matches crammed into three days across multiple age groups.
While the senior professionals are probably enjoying a well-earned midweek rest, Woking's academy youngsters are about to discover what proper fixture congestion feels like. The Cards' youth setup has managed to squeeze four matches into three days during the week beginning April 27th - a scheduling feat that suggests someone in the academy office either has a peculiar sense of humour or seriously underestimated their diary management skills.
The marathon begins on Monday evening when Woking's U17s, masquerading under the rather charming guise of Knaphill, take on Westfield at 19:45. Quite why the youngsters need an alias remains unclear - perhaps they're moonlighting as football detectives or simply trying to throw off opposition scouts with their cunning disguise.
Tuesday brings a double-header that would test the stamina of even the most dedicated youth football parent. First up, Woking's U18s host Dorking Wanderers in what promises to be a local derby with genuine bite, given both clubs operate at similar levels in the football pyramid. The National League Alliance Division F encounter should provide a proper test for the young Cards.
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday but mercifully at the more civilised hour of 14:00, Woking's U19 EDS squad make the trek to Eastleigh. The EDS tag suggests these are the cream of the crop - the future stars who'll either grace the Kingfield Stadium pitch or, more likely, end up explaining to future employers why they spent their formative years chasing leather around muddy pitches.
As if three matches in two days weren't enough punishment, Wednesday evening sees the U18s back in action against Abbey Rangers at 19:30 in the Suburban Football League Premier Division. By this point, the academy physio will presumably be working overtime, and parents will be questioning their life choices while contemplating yet another dash across Surrey.
The fixtures span multiple venues including Knaphill FC and Woking College, meaning the club's minibus driver deserves a special mention for services to youth football logistics. With matches across Allied Counties, National League Alliance, and National Academy League competitions, it's a proper mixed bag that reflects the complex web of youth football hierarchies.
While these fixtures might not generate the headlines that senior football commands, they represent the lifeblood of any club with genuine ambition. Somewhere among these academy ranks could be the next player to make the step up to first-team football - though they'll need to survive this week's fixture pile-up first.