Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 1
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures for August 2026
Saturday 15th August
15:00 – Bishop’s Stortford v Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Dunmow Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5RG
Wednesday 19th August
11:00 – U17/U18 v Kinetic Foundation: Friendly
Martin Tyler Performance Centre (MTPC), Woking College, Rydens Way
14:00 – U19 (EDS) v Tonbridge Angels: Friendly
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
Friday 21st August
19:45 – Cobham v Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Reg Madgwick Stadium, Leg O’Mutton Field, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, KT11 3EP
Monday 24th August
19:45 – Guildford City v Woking U17: Allied Counties Youth League – East Division
Guildford Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford, GU1 1UP
Wednesday 26th August
19:45 – Metropolitan Police v Woking U17: Isthmian Youth League Cup – First Round
Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey KT8 0BT
Thursday 27th August
19:45 – Woking U18 v TBC: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
Woking U19 (EDS) begin their National Academy League South Division fixtures on Wednesday 2nd September.
Woking U18 begin their National Academy Alliance League Division F fixtures on Wednesday 9th September.
Woking U17 begin their Isthmian Youth League West Division fixtures on Monday 7th September.
For further information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy ‘X’ page.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
The Academy website is wokingcitc.org
All of these bulletins for the current season can be found on the Woking FC website by selecting the menu of options and going to ‘News’.
Pre – Season to date Summary
The EDS began with a 3 – 3 draw against a strong Binfield team, the goals coming from Joe Callow, Will Richards and Academy debutant Nick Alves. This was followed up with a 2 – 2 draw at Sheerwater, another team with Step 5 experience, Callow and Frankie Bushby with the goals.
Westfield, as one might expect, proved a more difficult opponent, and left with a 4 – 1 victory. The defensive work of Joel Jennison-Leppa and, especially, goalkeeper Aaron Sings preventing a more emphatic scoreline. At least a neat finish from Callow maintained his goalscoring form. Callow finished the last Suburban League season well, including a four-goal haul against Slough Town, and enters his second year looking at home alongside the third years.
We then celebrated the naming of the Martin Tyler Performance Centre with a 3 – 3 draw against Martin’s old club, Corinthian Casuals. Alves was on the scoresheet again, the beneficiary of a brilliant Will Ledbury through ball. Then second-year Will Richards, another who looks at home with the third years, got a brace to underline the quality of his creative play. (See the last item on this bulletin for a fuller report on the evening.)
The Second Years also began with a 3 – 3 draw, with Molesey the visitors – Harry Munden, Logan Jaques and Arthur Periera the goalscorers. The under 18s then welcomed French side Brio Academy and were on the right side of an entertaining 4 –2 scoreline – an own goal and Jayden Mansour adding to two more Callow goals, Joe benefitting from Mansour’s fine wing play for both.
A visit to Dunstable then provided an insight into the work to be done, Jojo Ampah scoring our only goal in a 1 – 4 defeat. The response was positive, a hard-fought 4 – 3 victory over a stronger Folkestone Invicta side than the first years had beaten emphatically earlier in the day. A Max Thomas strike and an own goal, both created by the work of George Loader, saw Woking 2 – 3 behind, before a great run and cross from Zack McColl set up Mansour for a 75th minute equaliser. Setting the stage for a Luke Manly 90+6 minute headed winner.
The First Years, a number of whom were involved with the scholars last season, settled in for the new season with a 4 – 1 victory over Swindon Supermarine. Luca Chevellier netting a hat-trick, with the help of two penalties, and Leighton Spence, with a fine individual goal as reward for an accomplished all-round performance, the goalscorers.
The under 17s followed this with a 2 – 1 victory over a strong Wimbledon side. Jerome Musi, and Spence, both scoring excellent goals, the latter a 90+3 minute winner hitting the top corner from the edge of the area.
Their next match was the more straightforward 13 – 1 defeat of Folkestone Invicta. Theo Hornbuckle (2), Ben Golding, George Ellis, Max Canham, Callen Carter (2), Oliver Kumbaro and Chevellier (2) all getting in on the goalscoring act, alongside a Musi hat-trick, with one very strong header the pick of the bunch.
A short training camp/tour then took the first and second years to the Netherlands. The year groups were mixed for two games. The first game against an International Sports Revolution Academy side saw a 3 – 5 defeat, with Jack Donkin, Harley Adams and McColl getting the goals. The second game, against PEC Zwolle, saw a 1 – 2 defeat, with Richards scoring for Woking. As well as a healthy amount of training the visit also took in Vitesse Arnhem v RKC Waalwijk, and a visit to the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
Introducing this season’s Elite Development Squad (EDS)
We continue to build on last season’s inaugural year with our new group of Third Years/Under 19s, which aims to continue to provide a pathway to the Clubs’ First Team Squad.
At the time of writing the ‘26/27 EDS is made up as follows:
Player, Position, Previous Club
George Hill, Goalkeeper, Corinthian Casuals: George is now dual registered with, and also playing for, Kingstonian.
Aaron Sings, Goalkeeper, Woking Academy
Dom West, Goalkeeper, Camberley Town: Having spent pre-season with the Woking First Team squad Dom is now dual registered with, and also playing for, Binfield.
Louie Boyle, Right Back, Woking Academy
Dillan Davies, Centre Back, Woking Academy
Joel Jennison-Leppa, Centre Back, Woking Academy: Joel is dual registered, as he was last season, with Sheerwater.
Eddie Scott, Centre Back, Woking Academy
Joe Frawley, Left Back, Woking Academy
Frankie Bushby, Centre Midfield, Woking Academy
Josh Ewing, Attacking Centre Midfield, Camberley Town
Will Ledbury, Centre Midfield, Woking Academy
George Mattingley, Centre Midfield, Woking Academy
Minkah Okogie, Centre Midfield, Hastings United
Jack Samuels, Centre Midfield, Bromley
Jack Tricker, Left Back/Left Midfield, Woking Academy
Nick Alves, Left Midfield, Spanish fifth tier
Seyi Akinwalere, Forward, Woking Academy
Jojo Ampah, Forward, Woking Academy
Timothy Francis, Forward, Woking Academy
Jalil Page, Forward, Woking Academy
They have been joined during pre-season by Joshua Allan, Alex Jefferies, Will Richards, Sonnie Leedham, Joe Callow and Harvey Johnson who are all going into their Second/Under 18 year at the Academy.
Those from the EDS who featured in the First Team’s pre-season fixtures, having been training with Craig Ross’ squad are:
Jalil Page – played the first half at Sholing and was a 73rd minute substitute at Eastbourne Borough.
Jack Tricker – played the second half at Sholing, the second half at Braintree, and the last 15 minutes against both Reading and Eastbourne Borough.
Whilst last years’ graduates Joden Trickett, with a goal at Salisbury, Kemall Wilson and Mikey Verga have also had game time.
Updates on some of last season’s graduates
Sam Saward, Goalkeeper: Continues with Horley Town, where he helped win promotion to the Isthmian League last season.
Mikey Verga, Goalkeeper: Continues to be involved with Woking’s First Team Squad, getting game time in the pre-season friendly against Eastbourne Borough.
Bailey Cotton, Right Back: Now with Broadbridge Heath.
Jack Lewis, Right/Left Back: Now with Abbey Rangers.
Chris Rangel, Centre Back: Now with Uxbridge.
Kemall Wilson, Centre Back: Spent pre-season with Woking’s First team squad, getting game time against Watford, Sholing, Portsmouth and Eastbourne Borough.
Josh Solecki, Centre Midfield: Now with Broadbridge Heath.
Quincy Patterson, Centre Midfield: Now with the Aldershot Town Under 21s.
Tom Dryer, Winger: Has signed a contract with Woking’s First Team, and played at Sholing, setting up a goal, and against Portsmouth, where his work again led to a goal, before picking up a hamstring injury which frustrated the rest of his pre-season.
Joden Trickett, Striker: Spent pre-season with Woking’s First Team Squad, scoring in the friendly at Salisbury.
League fixture (home) details for the 2026/27 season
EDS, National League Under 19 Academy South Division. Martin Tyler Performance Centre (MTPC), Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking play in the Premier Division of the Suburban Football League. Whilst there is not an age limit for this League most clubs view it as a predominantly youth league, and Woking field a team based on second years, with some first years, and some from the EDS. Usually MTPC, Woking College, 19:30, Thursday.
The National League structure also offers Woking a place in Division F of their Alliance Leagues. This team is largely made up of second years. MTPC, Woking College, Wednesday, daytime.
Woking return to the West Division of the Isthmian League Youth system. The league is for under 18s, although in recent seasons Woking have fielded a team largely made up of first years. MTPC, Woking College, 19:30, Thursday.
This season Woking under 17s will play in the Allied Counties Youth League – East Division. Knaphill FC, 19:30, usually Monday.
The under 17s will also be entering the Tactic League. Friday daytime at MTPC, Woking College.
Naming ceremony of the Martin Tyler Performance Centre
An excellent evening at the Cardinals in the Community (CITC) facilities at Woking College on 21st July began with an opportunity for some of those who are part of the Academy football programme to enjoy the newly laid 3G pitch.
The under 12 to under 14 girls enjoyed a well-structured training session, whilst the under 11 and under 12 boys enjoyed a thrilling game of 8-a-side which ended 5 – 3. The players’ determination, and their eagerness to play structured, passing football, was notable across both activities.
After opportunities to take a tour of the facilities, the Chairman of CITC, Sam Loxton, officially introduced the evening. Sam outlined the extensive work of the Charity both through the Academy, and in the wider community, before introducing Martin Tyler.
Whilst Martin spoke of being ‘honoured’ and ‘humbled’ by the naming of the Centre (which came after much persuasion from Mr. Loxton), it is clearly an appropriate, and well deserved, recognition of a lifetime of dedication to Woking Football Club. Martin fell in love with the club on his first visit at the age of eight, in 1953, and has been lifelong fan, assistant manager and coach, both with the first team, and more recently when invited to add his wisdom and experience at the Academy.
Martin’s playing career, as a strong centre-forward, before he took up his career in television, saw him play for Corinthian Casuals from 1968 to 1973. The Isthmian Premier League was the peak of non-league football at this time, and his career included a game at Woking in Nov 1971, with Geoff Chapple scoring in a 3 – 0 win for Woking, and Martin marked by Brian Finn.
So, it was appropriate that Corinthian Casuals were the opposition on the evening for the Woking Elite Development Squad. The game was fitting of the occasion, a thoroughly entertaining 3 – 3, with much good play from Woking’s senior academy players.
Woking U19s (EDS) 3 – 3 Corinthian Casuals
In line with the celebratory mood of the evening Martin took kick off, before assuming his usual position ‘propping up the dugout’.
Woking took the lead on 12 minutes, Joel Jennison-Leppa heading a Casuals’ corner clear to Will Ledbury, whose visionary through ball played in Nick Alves to superbly slot across the ‘keeper into the bottom corner. Counter-attacking football at its best.
The visitors equalised on 22 minutes, Frazier Osunkoya hitting a fine low drive from the edge of the penalty area. Woking could have defended better, and the same could be said when an error gave Jordan Brooks a tap-in to make it 1 – 2 after 28 minutes.
Casuals led at the break, but Woking were level on 47 minutes. Fine ‘pass and move’ play saw Will Richards and Alves exchange incisive passes before Richards drove home from ten yards.
Casuals were back in front on 67 minutes through Jack Butler, Woking opened up rather too easily. But Woking would have the final goal on 80 minutes.
Joshua Allan kept the Cards in the game with a great save from a header at a corner, before Harvey Johnson’s powerful shot was parried to Richards who turned the ball home.
Woking could have had a winner but couldn’t convert any of their remaining chances as the game came to its close.