Following Woking FC’s end to last year’s National League season in mid-table, the possibility of a relegation struggle in 2017 seemed unlikely. However, January has seen the team fall back into the bottom four. So will Woking avoid relegation?

Woking Football Club’s assistant manager, Steve Thompson, states that the team still has “strong belief” that they can avoid the drop, undoubtedly boosted by a crucial win against Torquay United in their last game. The win had followed a run of three straight defeats, including back-to-back losses to local rivals Aldershot Town FC. However Woking manager Gary Hill had remained optimistic, saying that the Torquay match was the win they had “warranted over the last two weeks” and that in the previous matches they had been “unlucky not to get anything out of them”.

Saturday’s postponed match against Tranmere Rovers (due to a frozen pitch) led to Woking dropping to 22nd place (third from bottom) after both relegation competitors Maidstone United and Guiseley were victorious. Despite Woking’s game in hand, the club’s fans will be unquestionably disappointed looking at the league table. But the manager has made it clear that he is working hard to bring in new players to add more quality to his squad.

The club’s relegation would mean more than simply damaged pride. If Woking are relegated from the non-league top division the club’s economic position would be weakened further with diminished crowds. Moreover, the loss of National League football would mean more obscurity and subsequently less TV money. Woking would struggle to hold on to their talented players, who will be keen to continue playing National League football, whilst finding it difficult to attract new players. Similarly, the presumption that relegated teams will easily return to the division has long been dismissed. For instance Altrincham FC, who were relegated last season, have struggled to regain momentum and now sit bottom of the league below.

Only time will tell if Woking FC avoid relegation but Gary Hill is evidently doing all he can to ensure the Surrey team stay up. However, the team’s current position suggests that there will be a struggle until the final game of the season in late April.

George Lanigan - St George’s College, Weybridge