Woking Matchday Programme by ForestGreenRovers

Jose 10 Minutes with Marquez

In the past fortnight, Forest Green Rovers were pleased to announce that academy player Jose Marquez signed his first professional contract with the club.

Marquez has spent a majority of the 2024/25 season with Southern League Premier South side, Hungerford Town where he’s already managed eight goals this year.

Ahead of our National League fixture with Woking, read what Jose had to say on his incredible personal achievement!

How are you feeling about signing your first professional contract?

I’m really happy to sign my first pro contract. I’ve been at the club since I was 12-years old so to go through the ranks and get to this stage, I’m very

You’re not just scoring at FGR but with Hungerford Town, two for FGR, eight for Hungerford, how pleased are you with

that form?

When you’re scoring and playing well football is enjoyable. Scoring goals is what I do so I’m really happy to be doing that at both Forest Green and Hungerford.

You’ve had battles with an ACL injury, talk us through some of the challenges faced and thoughts around that time?

It was a tough time. No player wants to get injured and to do it when I was so young it was tough for me, but my family and friends helped me get through it and come out the other side positive.

I’m just happy to be fit again now and back playing football.

You’ve been involved with the first team recently, how important has that been?

It’s a big step up from under 18s but I’m really enjoying, and all the lads been amazing with me. They’ve got me involved and now I’m starting to get use to the standards.

Describe yourself as a player?

I’d say hard-working, physical as I like to rough up defenders and I’d say clinical as well. Marquez37

Opposition The

Forest Green Rovers welcome Woking to The New Lawn for the first time since 2017 hoping to maintain our unbeaten record at home.

The Cards’ last visit to Nailsworth saw a seven-goal thriller with Rovers coming out 4-3 winners.

Goals from Keanu Marsh-Brown, Christian Doidge and two late Omar Chaaban strikes earned Rovers an important three points on our way to securing a play-off spot.

A 10-man Rovers settled for a point in our recent meeting back in October with a Kyle McAllister strike just before half time securing us the draw.

The Cards have spent the season battling around the bottom half of the table but have picked up some important points here and there.

Draws with Tamworth, Hartlepool United and Yeovil Town alongside victories over Dagenham & Redbridge, Maidenhead United and Altrincham have seen them begin to pull away from the bottom four.

Away from the league, they are enjoying a successful campaign in the FA Trophy reaching the quarter-finals where they will meet Oxford City.

The Cards’ recent turn in fortune could be down to their new manager, Neal Ardley, who took the helm back in December replacing Michael Doyle.

Ardley boasts an impressive coaching CV having recently been the manager of York City, Solihull Moors, Notts County and AFC Wimbledon where he earned promotion to League One.

Another reason for the Cards’ turn around could be the loan signing of Junior Morias from Notts County.

Morias had spent the first half of the season on loan at Dagenham making 19 league appearances whilst scoring six goals.

Since his arrival at the Cards less than a month ago, Morias been a handful for teams and scored his first two goals for the club against his former side Dagenham.

Saturday’s game will also see Rovers’ centre-back, Cian Harries, face off against his old side after joining Rovers from the Cards in January.

Established

Woking Football Club, known as the Cards (from the Cardinal red of the red and white halves), was formed in 1887. The Club joined the West Surrey League in 1895/96, winning the title by one point on the final day of the season.

Crest

Woking Football Club's crest has evolved over time, including a period of online voting to choose a new crest in 2021.

Stadium

Kingfield Stadium, currently known as the Laithwaite Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons, has been home to Woking since 1922. The ground has a capacity of 6,036 spectators, including a small open terrace on one side of the ground known as ‘moaners’ corner’.

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