Woking have been tipped to win promotion by some fans after signing an FA Cup hero and experienced EFL players ahead of the 2022/23 season.
It will again being one of the toughest National League campaigns to win promotion from with lots of money expected to be paid to secure a place in League Two.
Chesterfield led the way for much of last season, however a managerial exit and a collapse in form saw them drop from 1st to 7th in the table.
This gave others teams an opportunity to fight for top spot, Stockport Wrexham, Solihull and Halifax all having a chance to do just that.
However it was the Hatters who held firm, kept getting points on the board, and ultimately were deserved champions with attention turning to the playoffs with many expecting Wrexham to win it.
However after comeback, extra game winners and some thrilling scorelines, it was 6th place Grimsby who claimed the second promotion place, beating 3rd place Solihull in the final.
Woking meanwhile finished 15th, picking up 53 points from 44 games played, 20 points clear of the drop zone, and 20 behind the playoffs.
Darren Sarll swapped Yeovil for the Cardinals mid-season, so change was a must over the summer with the boss wanting to put his own stamp on the squad and boy is he ambitious judging by recent signings.

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WOKING STATEMENT
Woking Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Scott Cuthbert.
The defender will join the Cards from Stevenage on 1st July on a deal through to the end of the 2022/23 season.
Cuthbert, 35, came through the Celtic academy and featured 29 times for St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League on loan. 213 League One appearances for Swindon Town and Leyton Orient followed, before 236 League Two appearances for Luton Town and Stevenage.
Scott captained Luton Town to League One promotion in 2017/18. He moved to Stevenage ahead of the 2018/19 season, winning the Club’s player of the season award in his debut year. He leaves the EFL with 449 appearances and a wealth of experience for the Cards.
“Scott is the balance that we need in terms of having lots of athleticism, lots of younger players of an age where they still need to improve and need support,” said Manager Darren Sarll.
“Scott is those things – experience, a brilliant character. I was quoted last year saying that I felt the squad lacked some toughness and resilience, some robustness and character. Scott is exactly that. He is an experienced and older player and, to me, the dressing room is only as good as the senior players.
“He will be a huge influence both on and off the pitch, whether fit or injured. He has a huge role to play in the character and feel of the group. He still has so many qualities as a player to give: a very good defender, organiser of a team, and he fits along with our other signings to make the team more of an EFL-type side.
“I’m delighted, after a very long pursuit and with him turning down many other clubs, that Scott Cuthbert will be a Woking player,” Sarll added.
Hear from Scott as he joined the Cards in his first interview.
SEE MORE: National League outright title winner odds revealed for 2022/23
Woking Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Padraig Amond.
The forward will join the Cards from Newport County on 1st July, on a deal through to the end of the 2023/24 season.
Amond, 34, came through the Shamrock Rovers academy, featuring 75 times for the Hoops before a move to Sligo Rovers in 2010, where he went on to score 23 goals in 36 appearances. His form earned a move to Pacos de Ferreira in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
Padraig’s first move to England was Accrington Stanley in 2011. Morecambe came calling in 2013 and across four seasons he featured 160 times in League Two.
Grimsby Town signed the forward ahead of the 2015/16 National League season, as Amond scored 30 goals in 40 league appearances for the Mariners, guiding them to promotion back to League Two.
After a spell at Hartlepool United, Padraig signed for League Two Newport County in 2017. He scored 41 goals in 161 League Two appearances, as well as goals against Leicester City, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur in the Emirates FA Cup.
“When you look at the centre-forward market now and previously, and what was open and available to this football club, we never had what I would consider a serial goal-scorer that has shown repeatedly in his career that he can score goals, said Woking Manager Darren Sarll. “Padraig is exactly that.”
“He has – as a character – a consistency playing in high-pressure matches. He has a professionalism that I have always stressed about improving at the Club, and he comes so fit and hungry to have a successful two years with us.”
“All of these credentials rolled into one will only mean good things for the players around him, himself, and the Club. This is one I have held out for for a long time, stretching back to before I was at Woking. I am very excited to work with a player of this calibre,” Sarll added.
Hear from Padraig in his first interview:
The following players remain under contract with the club, or have signed new deals during the season:
Craig Ross, Kyran Lofthouse, Joe McNerney, Josh Casey, Rohan Ince, Tyreke Johnson
Departs: Max Kretzschmar
Discussions: Inih Effiong
The following players have returned to their parent clubs following the conclusion of their loan deals:
Nicke Kabamba, David Longe-King, Louie Annesley
The following players have been released following the expiry of their contracts:
Mark Smith, Tom Champion, Moussa Diarra, Jamar Loza, Solomon Nwabuokei, George Oakley, Tarryn Allarakhia, Tommy Block, Leo Hamblin, Selim Saied
Agrees to sign / new deal: Luke Wilkinson, Dan Moss, Ricky Korboa, Jack Roles, James Daly, Jermaine Anderson, Ian Dyer, Reece Grego-Cox
SEE MORE: York City boss targets promotion as club signs player from League One side
Fans reacted with Woking tipped to win promotion after signing an FA Cup hero and some experienced EFL players…
ON CUTHBERT
@failedstuntman: Great signing for Woking, loved him at the O’s he will give you 100% every game. good luck Scott
@SellarsStacey: Superb player for us! Best of luck Scotty Cuthbert
@richardpotty: Good bit of experience to be fair 👍
@GrazVegas80: Brilliant at Luton. Heck of a signing for Woking.
@joshh_h2003: Captain. Leader. LEGEND! Best of lucky Scotty Cuthbert 🧡
@AdamCFC22: W signing
@ForeverAYellow: Wow what experience he’s bringing to the club, could be great for the dressing room and youngsters coming through bidding for a first team spot
ON AMOND:
@brandonca03: You’re winning the league, look after him
@WillB_2003: Once again, wow
@xDANxWOODHEADx: Some signing that! Welcome Padraig
@OliverSwaby1: What an incredible signing
@OffTheLineBlog: Super signing for #WokingFC. Use him properly and he will get 20+ goals next year with the right service.
@EC1901_: That’s a quality signing lads. Fair bloody play
@Jacob_Welch00: Fair play, that’s a fantastic signing
@deano_sparks87: a real natural finisher will sure score goals for woking cracking bit of business look after the guy
@KyleTalbot7: Crikey he’ll tear that league apart
@andrew_youngers: Some signings you lot are making this summer 👏🏼
@NiallTDuffy: Great footballing brain and a brilliant club man to boot. You’ve got yourselves a proper signing there! Good luck, Podge.
@winters107: Trust me…he will score lots of goals in the national league.
@stevedarney: Now that is a signing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 fairs.
@Matt69tomo: Should still be playing league football not pub football. Hopefully bags a few against the sCUNTS
@Jacobwilhelmmay: Bloody hell that a good signing I think your atleast be in playoff with Darren sarll with manager he did well at Yeo with no backing so who know what h can do with backing aha
@DavidBu67718114: Hope you have a great season Podge. #gtfc fan
YOU BEAUTY 🤩🤩 #COYCards 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/SHRN5hGxVZ
— Crouchy (@ben_pxrker_) June 22, 2022

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