Woking v Aldershot Town, the next best thing to Reading v Aldershot

On April 12th 1958, 71,000 spectators crowded into Wembley Stadium to watch two Isthmian League sides, Woking and Ilford, compete for the FA Amateur Cup.

Woking were captained that day by the wonderful Charlie Mortimer, a man who gave such brilliant service to Woking FC, after playing just over seventy games for Aldershot. In his brief period with the Shots, he scored 28 goals, including five in one game against Leyton Orient. But it was at Woking that his legendary status was confirmed – netting 250 goals in 363 games. Undoubtedly the  pinnacle of his career was reached when he lifted the Amateur Cup high above his head on his 30^th birthday, following a 3v0 victory at Wembley.

 

Charlie Mortimer taught at Cove School and he was awarded an MBE for his services to football, no doubt as a result of his inspirational work with the Aldershot and Farnborough Schools FA.

And my memories of those great Amateur Days are always reinforced when I return to Kingfield. Parking my car in what were once our Grammar School’s playingfields, followed by a short walk past the boundary fence that separates Loop Road from Kingfield, a barrier that rarely caught our stray shots from landing in the club’s ground….

Yes, the trip back to Woking never disappoints. 

When I left the Grammar School in 1971 Woking were a mature amateur club, and one that probably looked down on the somewhat grubby demeanour of the ‘professional teams’ from places like Aldershot and Accrington and Barrow. But as the world moves on, I am comfortably reassured by the prevailing amateur feel at Kingfield.

 

 

 Reassuringly amateur Woking 2 v 3 Grubby professional Aldershot Town