Guildford City versus Woking
Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup Semi-Final
Wednesday 15 March 2017 at 7.45pm
It is 51 years since Guildford City faced their local rivals Woking FC in a competitive match on the playing field. By dint of the fact that Guildford City played their football in the professional Southern League, whilst Woking played in the amateur Isthmian League, clashes didn’t occur too often. The two sides first played each other in September 1921 when City (then monikered United) won 2-1 in the FA Cup. The last meeting between the two sides was on 2 October 1965 when Guildford romped to a 6-0 victory over the Cards in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. This was the season that City made it through to the second round proper of the competition where they lost to Queens Park Rangers.
Today there are four divisions separating the two sides with Woking now established in the National League. Guildford City play their football in the Premier Division of the Cherry Red Combined Counties League and have enjoyed a mixed league season thus far. It is though in cup football that City has enjoyed their best moments. In the FA Cup in September Guildford eventually went out to Isthmian Premier Division leaders Bognor Regis Town in a game where the CCL side impressed everybody present with their performance. In the Surrey Senior Cup City have battled past three fellow CCL clubs to reach the semi-final stage for the first time in their history. The club have been rewarded with a dream match against our illustrious near neighbours.
If you ever saw Guildford City play at Joseph’s Road in front of large crowds and hanker after those days, or if you just care about the future of football in the town, then your place on the evening of 15 March will be at the Spectrum supporting the local side in their big match.
Please arrive early as a larger than average crowd is expected. There is free parking at the Spectrum and there is a licensed bar and refreshment facilities inside the ground. For those travelling by public transport the 100 bus service runs regularly to the Spectrum from the Friary Bus Station in the town centre. Ground admission at the Spectrum is £7 adults, £4 concessions and £1 Juniors.
