Woking

Ground: Kingfield Stadium

Visits: 1

Date: 26th March 2016

Match: Woking - Kidderminster 1-1 (National League)

Attendance: 1 730

There were no games in League 1 or 2 on Easter Saturday at a new ground for me. Instead I looked at the fixture list in the National League (Conference Premier) and decided to go to Forest Green Rovers v Aldershot. Forest Green are currently second the table and might be promoted to League 2 next year. Less than three weeks ago the game at the New Lawn, the home of Forest Green Rovers, was moved to Good Friday though and I had to look elsewhere. The easiest option in the National League was Woking v Kidderminster and I decided to go to this game. From my base in Swindon I had to change trains twice but it was still quite a short journey. My first train of the day left Swindon at 10.41 and after changing trains in Reading and Guildford I arrived in Woking 12.26. There was a weather warning for high winds but the weather was alright, no rain and not too much wind, as I made the 20-minute walk to the ground. Woking play at the Kingfield Stadium which has a capacity of 6 000. The ground is a bit unique with the, by far, biggest stand being behind one of the goals. 2 200 can be seated in this stand. The other end is a covered terrace. One of the side stands is an open terrace while the other is a strange looking affair. One open terrace, two small covered stands (of which one probably used to be the main stand) and a wheelchair area. Kingfield Stadium has character and is well worth a visit.

I was outside Kingfield Stadium shortly before 1 pm and with two hours to kill I asked a steward where the bar at the ground was. She replied it was inside the ground and if I went to the players & officials entrance I could pay my entrance fee there and then get access to the bar. Being warm and showing Halifax v Altrincham on a big screen the bar was certainly a good place for me. The referees in today's game were actually in the bar as well. Coffee and not beer for them though. At 2.30 I was joined by fellow FGG board member Chris (as well as his son, brother in law and nephew). Chris is a West Bromwich fan but living in Redditch Kidderminster are his second team. There was no segregation at this game and we decided to sit among the Harrier fans in the end stand. Most of the Woking fans were in the terrace opposite us and at half-time many fans switched ends. I have never seen that before in England and it seems like a great thing to do. Woking have only taken two points from their last eight league games and are currently mid-table. Kidderminster are bottom of the table but still brought around 150 fans to this game. The attendance was given as 1 730 which was higher than I had expected beforehand.

The game was not too exciting but still ok entertainment. Woking made it 1-0 in he 14th minute and were the better team in the first half. They had a few chances in the early stages of the second half as well but couldn't find the goal which would have killed the game. Instead Kidderminster scored, from a stunning strike, in the 79th minute to make it 1-1. No more goals and after the final whistle I said good-bye to Chris and made my way back to the train station. The forecasted heavy rain didn't arrive until I was in the train. The journey, with two changes, back to Swindon went smoothly. Tomorrow it is time to move on to London and hopefully three games in the London area on Monday.

woking fc