Academy Bulletin 26/27 - Week 5
Written by Ian TilleyUpcoming Fixtures: Week commencing 7th September 2026
Monday 7th September
19:30 – Hayes & Yeading United v Woking U17: Isthmian Youth League West Division
The 1878 Stadium, Burnham Football Club, Wymers Wood Road, Burnham, SL1 8JG
Wednesday 9th September
13:30 – Woking U18 v Boreham Wood: National Academy Alliance League Division F
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
14:00 – Aldershot Town v Woking U19 (EDS): National League Under 19 Academy South Division
Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst Memorial Park, Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, GU47 9BJ
Thursday 10th September
19:30 – Wokingham Town v Woking U17: Allied Counties Youth League Cup – First Round
Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Lowther Road, Wokingham, RG41 1JB
19:45 – Woking U18 v CB Hounslow & Abbots: The Michael Bidmead (Suburban League) Challenge Cup – First Round
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
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
Links to the Academy YouTube channels are also on the Academy ‘X’ page.
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’.
Match Reports and Team Details – Week commencing Monday 31st August
Wednesday 2nd September
Woking U19 (EDS) 2 – 2 Forest Green Rovers: National League Under 19 Academy South Division
MTPC, Woking College, Rydens Way
Forest Green Rovers are a very good addition to the Division for this season, and Woking should not be disappointed with their hard-earned point.
An early booking for Ed Scott for pulling back an opponent did make Woking’s task a little more difficult, but they were competing well, with Jalil Page and Timothy Francis creating chances for each other, and George Mattingley winning the ball well in midfield.
Woking had the lead on 19 minutes, Will Ledbury in the right place to intercept, as the FGR ‘keeper tried to play out under the pressure of Page’s closing down, before rounding the custodian and slotting home. On 27 minutes Francis did well to intercept another errant pass but could not escape the attentions of the covering defender.
The visitors came close to equalising on 28 minutes, Aaron Sings making a very good save diving to his left, and Jack Samuels making an excellent covering challenge to be first to the rebound.
Nick Alves created chances for Page and Ledbury before good defending from Joel Jennison-Leppa preserved the lead, but this was a temporary reprieve. On 34 minutes Aaron Sings made a good reflex save, but from the resulting corner Woking’s detailed preparation was undone, an unmarked attacker slamming home a volley from six yards.
Woking responded well, pressing forwards, but let themselves down again in added time, the importance of marking at set pieces further underlined as the visitors took the lead, a free-kick flicked on, and knocked in at the far post.
Half-time: Woking 1 – 2 Forest Green Rovers
FGR appeared content to let Woking have more of the play in the second half, but their game management plan was to have a sting in the tail for them.
Woking did have defending to do, substitute Dillan Davies covering the visitors breaks well, but were able to go in search of a clear chance. On 67 minutes Rovers did well to clear one cross off the line, whilst Seyi Akinwalere and Page both had half chances and Josh Ewing’s shot, on 75 minutes, from the edge of the penalty area, flew off the top of the crossbar.
On 86 minutes Woking made what would prove to be a decisive move. Joe Callow coming on for Ed Scott, the defence changing to a back three, and the extra forward increasing the Cards’ threat.
Callow was soon into the action and saw a defender’s block take the pace off his shot from the edge of the area. And with the game in the third minute of added time, Woking drew level. Callow’s determined pressing saw the ball break to Alves, whose shot was closed down, but broke to the edge of the area where Ledbury smartly fired beyond the ‘keeper’s reach and into the top corner.
Ledbury did win a free kick on the edge of the area as Woking looked for a winner, but Alves’ shot was well held by the ‘keeper, and honours were shared. Head Coach Carl Downs hoping that Woking can become “more clinical in final areas”.
Woking: Aaron Sings, Louie Taylor-Boyle, Edward Scott (Joseph Callow 86), Joel Jennison-Leppa © (Dillan Davies 60), Jack Samuels; Minkah Okoiji (Joshua Ewing 60), George Mattingley; Timothy Francis (Seyi Akinwalere 65), William Ledbury, Nicholas Alves; Jalil Page. Unused substitute: Dominic West (GK).
Goals: Ledbury 19, 90+3.
Friday 4th September
Aldershot Town 2 – 2 Woking U18: Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst Memorial Park
As with Wednesday’s game, a positive start, a drop off after taking the lead, and a much stronger second-half.
Harvey Johnson and Nat Flemming were soon into their task, winning the ball in midfield, with Jaden Mansour and Will Richards causing problems further up field.
Joshua Allan did have to make a good save low to his left, but on eight minutes Woking had the lead. Allan played a great long ball down the centre of the pitch, and with George Loader challenging intelligently the ball broke to Mansour who passed it calmly into the bottom corner.
With Woking missing the opportunity to take control the game became end-to-end, with possession regularly changing hands, and Aldershot hit a warning shot which came off the top of the crossbar.
Allan made another good save, and Casper Hammond a covering challenge, but on 27 minutes Woking’s defence was breached. Possession was conceded too easily, and a far post header crept into the bottom corner agonisingly out of Allan’s reach.
Five minutes later the Shots had the lead, the strike from the edge of the area found Allan stranded in the middle of his goal as the ball found the same corner of the net. The lead threatened to extend before the break, but Allan dealt well with the danger, his catching reassuring.
Half-time: Aldershot Town 2 – 1 Woking
Encouraged by their instructions the Cards reapplied themselves to the task, with the introduction of Will Hurp renewing their midfield drive.
Mansour, Richards, Hammond and Hurp were all involved in attacking threats, and on 53 minutes Hurp hit the post – Loader’s build-up play to the fore as his dribble and pull-back created the chance.
A good covering challenge from Byron O’Donnell dealt with an Aldershot break, and Woking were level on 60 minutes. Hurp did well to win possession in defensive midfield and played the ball to Mansour whose pass through the middle was moved on by Loader to Max Thomas, running in from the right to beat the onrushing ‘keeper with a shot to the top corner from 15 yards – A top-quality counterattack at speed.
Both sides were to have chances to find a winner, with Aldershot forced into a number of fouls to delay further Woking counterattacks. Hurp came close with a drive from 30 yards which went narrowly over, and a brilliant mazy dribble by Daejharn Wells into the penalty area ended with his cross eluding his teammates.
As the 90 minutes drew to a close, Allan was pleased to find a far post header back across goal was into his arms. Then in added time Mansour nearly got on the end of a Hurp pass but was bravely thwarted by the ‘keeper, who required treatment for his troubles and although he was able to walk off was substituted as a concussion caution. Aldershot, with an outfield player now in goal, dealt with the corner that had arisen, and there was no further time for Woking to test the stand-in custodian.
Woking: Joshua Allan, Casper Hammond, Luke Manly ©, Byron O’Donnell (Sonnie Leedham 69), Daejharn Wells; Nat Flemming (Will Hurp 46), Harvey Johnson; Max Thomas (Alfie Moult 77), Will Richards, Jaden Mansour; George Loader (Arthur Pereira 90). Unused substitute: Callum Collins (GK).
Goals: Mansour 8, Thomas 60.
Loan (Dual Registration) Players Watch
Tuesday 1st September
Dillan Davies, Centre Back, EDS: Abbey Rangers: Played the first 64 minutes of the 1 – 0 victory over Virginia Water in the Combined Counties Premier Division South (Step 5). Dillan played the role he played as a schoolboy in central midfield, doing very well as a shield for his defence with some excellent challenges. His forward play was also sound, with academy graduate Jack Lewis ahead of him in attacking midfield.
Friday 4th September
George Hill, Goalkeeper, EDS – Kingstonian: Played the full game in the 1- 0 victory at Three Bridges in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. George was rightly proud of the clean sheet.
Saturday 5th September
Josh Ewing, Attacking Centre Midfield, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Played the first 69 minutes of the 3 – 1 victory over Laverstock & Ford in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. Attendance: 197.
Ed Scott, Centre Back, EDS – Tadley Calleva: Was on the substitutes’ bench for the 3 – 1 victory over Laverstock & Ford in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
Other News
Please find attached below a copy of the press release regarding Kemall Wilson’s First Team contract.
Woking Football Club are pleased to announce that academy graduate Kemall Wilson has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Wilson has progressed through the Woking academy and has now taken the next step in his development by putting pen to paper on a professional deal.
Speaking after signing, Kemall said: “I’m really proud to sign my first professional contract with Woking.
I’ve worked hard to get to this point and I’m grateful to everyone at the club who has supported me. I’m excited for what’s ahead and I can’t wait to keep developing and hopefully make an impact.”
Jody Brown, Director of Football added: “Kemall spent time with us last season and has been with the senior squad all of this pre-season, his development has been really nice to see.
“It’s credit to him and the academy staff that he has earned his contract – He’s competitive in training, absorbs information and equipped himself well in pre-season games.”
Everyone at Woking wishes Kemall every success as he begins the next chapter of his career with the Cards.
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.