Academy Bulletin Pre-Season 2025/26
The new first year scholars at the Laithwaite Community Stadium
Written by Ian Tilley & Holly PorterIntroducing the Elite Development Squad (EDS)
The Academy now has a squad of Third Years/Under 19s, with the aim of providing a pathway to the Clubs’ First Team Squad.
At the time of writing the EDS is made up as follows:
Player Position Previous Club
Mikey Verga Goalkeeper Woking Academy
Sam Cockwell Goalkeeper Kingstonian
Bailey Cotton Right Back AFC Wimbledon
Jack Lewis Right/Left Back Woking Academy
Chris Rangel Centre Back Merstham
Kingston White-Glean Centre Back Beaconsfield
Harrison Stevens Centre Back Woking Academy
Sonny Parkes Left Back AFC Bournemouth
Cameron McQueen Centre Midfield Cray Wanderers
Josh Solecki Centre Midfield Merstham
Quincy Patterson Centre Midfield Hanworth Villa
Lucas Boxall Attacking Centre Midfield Woking Academy
Kooshan Hayati Attacking Centre Midfield QPR
Jayden Hudson-Odoi Winger Kingstonian
Tom Dryer Winger Woking Academy
Jayden Smith Winger Woking Academy
Joden Trickett Striker Sutton United
Stefan van Wijngaarden Striker Woking Academy
They have been joined during pre-season by Dillan Davies, Louie Boyle and Jalil Page, who are all going into their Second/Under 18 year at the Academy.
A number of the EDS have already featured in the First Team’s pre-season fixtures, having been training with Neil Ardley’s squad. Sonny Parkes was among the scorers at Cray Valley PM, whilst Lucas Boxall, Joden Trickett and Mikey Verga have also had game time.
Reports on the EDS’ pre-season friendlies from Holly Porter
Thursday 10th July
Pre-Season Matchday One: Woking EDS 2 - 2 Hampton and Richmond Borough XI
After the launch of the Elite Development Squad over the summer, the team came together for their first full 90 minutes as a group against a Hampton and Richmond Borough XI in early July. A 4th-minute goal from their opponents put the young Cards on the back foot in the early stages, with a calm finish from close range remaining the only thing that separated the two sides at half-time.
It was half-time substitute Page that put his side level in the 63rd minute. He firstly did well to create some space for himself after being quickly closed down in the penalty area, with a composed finish to cancel out his opponent’s early lead. Less than 10 minutes later, a penalty provided the perfect opportunity for Woking to take the lead in the tie, and Patterson made no error with his 72nd-minute spot-kick, powering the ball into the net to score his first in a Woking shirt.
A shot from outside the box in the 83rd minute saw the sides level once again after the effort worked its way across a crowded box, and into the bottom corner in the final goal of the game, thus ending a 2-2 draw.
Tuesday 15th July
Pre-season Matchday Two: Woking EDS 0 - 4 Hanworth Villa
On a much cooler evening than the first pre-season tie, former Woking Club Captain Josh Casey and his Hanworth Villa side took to Woking College to challenge the EDS squad. Putting the back line, and Cockwell, under pressure from the outset, the home defence did well to soak up the early pressure, and Cockwell stepped up when needed to make some crucial early saves.
Just before the 30-minute mark, however, Hanworth were able to take the lead. A corner ball was initially cleared, but the follow-up shot from outside the box took several deflections in the penalty area before it hit the back of the net. Just 5 minutes later, Hanworth got their second in a well-worked move. The ball was played over the top of the box from the right-hand side, headed back into the centre of the penalty area, and hit first time. The effort struck the underside of the crossbar before hitting the back of the net, which doubled the away side’s advantage. A corner was powered in by a header in the 43rd minute, which increased Woking’s deficit to three at the break.
Hanworth got their fourth and final goal just before the hour mark, with the first effort hitting the post, but the follow-up making no mistake. Despite the scoreline, the young Cards looked threatening on the attack across both halves and certainly showed defensive strength for large periods of the game, promising for a group in only their second pre-season fixture.
Thursday 17th July
Pre-season Matchday Three: Woking EDS 3 - 1 Binfield FC
An early goal once again separated the two teams, much like in the first pre-season fixture, but this time in favour of the Cards, as Trickett scored his first in Woking colours. In the 6th minute, Hudson-Odoi chased a ball down the left touchline, doing well to take on the tracking back defender and get his shot away, forcing the keeper to make a save which pushed the ball back out into the centre of
the box. Arriving in the penalty area, Trickett took the first-time effort well and fired high into the net to secure the advantage.
Plenty of promising play followed for the home side, with a number of chances on goal to double their lead, but it was Binfield who netted next, and who were able to place themselves level. The first effort was saved by Cockwell, but Binfield were able to capitalise on the loose ball and fired into the net in the 27th minute, which, at the end of the first 45, left the teams all square at the break.
Boxall got himself back on the scoresheet in the second half, with two goals in just over 10 minutes, which allowed for some breathing room for the home side. The first came in the 53rd minute, when he headed in Cotton’s cross to re-establish the Woking lead. The second came in the 64th minute, when he rounded the keeper and calmly slotted across goal to double the advantage.
Woking had this advantage reduced with 10 minutes to play as an effort from Binfield looped over the box and into the left inside netting, but at full-time a first pre-season victory was awarded to the young Cards as they held onto their 3-2 advantage.
Thursday 24th July
Pre-season matchday four: Woking EDS 2 - 2 Westfield FC, at Woking College
A fixture made in Woking saw neighbours Westfield take to the college as the final pre-season challenge on home turf for the young Cards. It was Westfield who opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with the ball being pulled back to the edge of the area, and their forward having picked their spot, slotting calmly past Verga to take the advantage. This lead was doubled just under 10 minutes later when former Woking academy player Lui Edwards was able to break into the box ahead of the recovering Woking defence, and fire into the net from close range.
The two-goal deficit at half-time left the EDS with an uphill second-half battle, but they did manage to fight their way back into the tie, alongside some excellent interventions from Cockwell in the Woking net. After some strong chances across both halves for the Cards, it was Boxall with the breakthrough in the 63rd minute. A very overcrowded penalty area saw several shots blocked before Boxall etched his name into the scoresheet once again, having forced the goal from close range. With 5 minutes to go, Hayati broke through and hit the post, which left the loose ball to be fired home by Trickett. Both teams searched for the winner, but when time ran out, a far better second-half performance from the home side earned them a draw.
Tuesday 29th July
Pre-season matchday five: Ascot United 1 - 3 Woking EDS, at Ascot Racecourse
The only pre-season fixture away from Woking College saw the EDS travel to take on Ascot United. Plenty of chances for both sides made for an exciting start to the game, with the deadlock being broken by Page in the 20th minute. A fantastic ball from Boxall split the defence and sent Page through on goal with a brilliant run. His shot back across the goal left the home keeper with no chance, and placed the visitors in the lead. Just two minutes later, that lead was doubled by Patterson, with an effort from outside the penalty area which drove itself into the bottom left corner. Despite pushing on for a third, and a number of strong chances from Ascot, the two goals in quick succession made up the half-time scoreline.
A familiar name on the scoresheet, Boxall netted once again in the opening stages of the second half. The 52nd minute saw a deep free-kick initially defended by the hosts, but the follow-up shot from Boxall took a deflection and powered into the bottom corner to make it three. With 15 minutes to go, the home side did slash their three-goal deficit to two. A quickly put together and clever string of passes allowed for an effort to be struck from inside the penalty area, with the shot working its way across goal and past Cockwell, who was equal to every other effort in the clash. Despite the home side getting one back, Woking remained on top in yet another strong pre-season showing.
Under 17s and 18s Update
We will introduce this season’s first years and re-acquaint ourselves with those returning for their second year, in the weeks ahead.
Both year groups have had pre-season games against Step 4 and Step 5 clubs, who fielded some of their first team players, which will hopefully start to build bridges for the future journey on from academy football. Woking have competed well against older and physically stronger opposition, and the Cards own patterns of play are already clearly in evidence.
Look out for names like Hurp, Gondwe, Gales, Sam and Fisher among the first years. Whilst the familiar name of Hayden Vally has already been on the score sheet for the second years.
Upcoming Fixtures – The Academy’s season starts on Friday 15th August 2025
Friday 15th August
19:45 – Aldershot Town v Woking; Suburban Football League - Premier Division
Bottom Meadow, Yorktown Road, Sandhurst GU47 9BJ
Wednesday 20th August
19:30 – Chipstead U18 v Woking U18; Isthmian Youth Football League - Central Division
High Road, Chipstead, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 3SF
Thursday 21st August
19:30 – Woking v Sheerwater; Suburban Football League – Premier Division
Knaphill FC, Redding Way, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey GU21 2AY
The Under 17s begin their National League Alliance – Division E fixtures on Wednesday 3rd September.
The Elite Development Squad (EDS) begin their National League Academy - South Division fixtures on Thursday 28th August.
Loan (Dual Registered Players) watch:
Sunday 10th August
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Ascot United: Played the first sixty minutes in the 1 - 0 defeat at Littlehampton in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Tuesday 12th August
Tom Dryer, Midfield, EDS – Westfield: Played the first sixty one minutes (going off when it was 2 – 1), in the 3 – 1 victory at Horndean in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Joden Trickett, Forward, EDS – Ascot United: Came on as a 76th minute substitute (with the score at 3 – 1), in the 3 – 1 victory over Binfield in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4).
Quincy Patterson, Midfield, EDS are both also with Westfield but have not yet made their debuts.
Other News
Sonny Parkes, the EDS left-back, continues to be involved with the First Team squad. Sonny played in the last three pre-season fixtures, playing the last five minutes against a Tottenham Hotspur XI, the first sixty minutes against a Fulham XI, and the last five minutes against a Bournemouth XI. He also came on as a 65th minute substitute in the National League Cup match against West Ham United under 21s. Sonny has acquitted himself well, both defensively and going forwards, rising to the challenge, in particular, of playing against West Ham’s Junior Robinson.
Mikey Verga, the EDS goalkeeper, played the final fifteen minutes against Bournemouth, and whilst he only had a couple of routine tasks to carry out, he was faultless in them.
League fixture plans for the 2025/26 season
The EDS will play in the National League Under 19 Academy South Division. These games are usually played on Wednesdays, with a daytime kick off. The venue for home games being either Westfield Football Club or Woking College.
Woking will continue to enter the Suburban Football League, playing in the Premier Division. Whilst there is not an age limit for this League most teams view it as a predominantly youth league, and Woking will field a team based on second years, with some first years, and some from the EDS. Home games are played at Knaphill Football Club at 19:30 on a Thursday.
The National League structure also offers Woking a place in Division E of their Alliance Leagues. This team will be a mix of first and second years, with home games usually played at Woking College on a Wednesday daytime.
Woking will continue in 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. Home games are played at Knaphill Football Club at 19:30 on a Thursday.
For up-to-date information on fixtures please refer to the Woking Football Club Academy X (twitter) page.
Information is also available on the fulltime.thefa.com website.
The Academy website is wokingcitc.org