Tim Buzaglo & The Warhol Moment

Woking  3  East Thurrock United  0

National League South

Life changed completely for Woking striker Tim Buzaglo on a cold Saturday afternoon in January 1991.

A goal down at West Bromwich Albion, the Isthmian League club were staring at what seemed an inevitable defeat in the Third Round of the FA Cup at the Hawthorns. But then it all changed.

Buzaglo equalised just after the break.  And as the non-league visitors, who back then were not even a top flight semi-professional club, took complete control of the game, the same player completed his hat-trick as Woking ran out 4-2 winners.

It went mental for 48 hours, television and radio interviews, the back pages of the Sunday papers, Buzaglo was a superstar, it was his Andy Warhol moment, his life would probably never be the same again.

Leslie Godson Stand

I’ve never seen Woking play, let alone visit their Kingfield stadium, but, I couldn’t help but make an immediate link with Buzaglo every time I heard the clubs name.  Granted, had his name been Tim Smith, it might have erased itself from memory, but prior to that day in 1991, Woking were a relatively unknown outfit, yet afterwards they became one of the most famous non-league clubs in the country, just as much as Buzaglo for that brief period became a household name.

The history of Woking football club is a story of a club who rose to become one of the biggest names in non-league football, but at the same time, they’re a club that have probably frustrated many as they’ve never realised their full potential, and that of course is making it to the Football League.

An Isthmian League club for more years than many care to remember, they were a lowly Division Two South side back in the mid-Eighties, but under legendary manager Geoff Chapple they had made it through to the Premier Division by 1990, and just two seasons in, they were crowned champions and with it came promotion to the Conference.

The View From Moaners Corner

Many pundits felt it was only going to be a matter of time before they made it to the professional ranks, but the nearest they got to it was a couple of runners-up places in successive seasons during the mid-Nineties. After that they never really threatened again, and by the time we’d moved into the mid-Noughties it was a struggle, and relegation to the Conference South came in 2009.

It took three seasons to bounce back, where they remained for six years, prior to relegation again at the end of last season. While you could argue that they’ve underachieved slightly in terms of the league, you certainly couldn’t say that about cup competitions.

Starting with the FA Cup, the famous West Bromwich season saw them reach the Fourth Round and with it came a home draw against Everton. Back then you could switch games, which they did to Goodison Park, and lost 1-0.

From The Top Of The Stand

For a number of years after that they were guaranteed a First Round Proper starting point as opposed to having to start in the Fourth Qualifying Round. Victories came against the likes of Yeovil Town, Barnet, Millwall (away), and Cambridge United, while the Third Round was reached again, only to lose to Coventry City in a replay after drawing 1-1 at Highfield Road.

Once having to start in the Qualifying Round again, appearances in the Cup proper were not as frequent, however, last season they recorded a fantastic 3-0 victory at Bury, while this season a 1-0 victory at Swindon Town set up a Third Round tie against Premiership Watford at Kingfield, which they lost 2-0.

It was the FA Trophy though where Woking set records. In 1994 they beat Runcorn at Wembley to win the competition for the first time, while the following year they did it again by beating Kidderminster Harriers.Two years later and they completed a hat-trick of wins when Dagenham & Redbridge were beaten under the twin towers. They also reached the Final in 2006 but this time came out second best to Grays Athletic at Upton Park.

Spot The East Thurrock Fan

It’s also worth noting that some Conference sides were allowed in the Football League Trophy for a period in the Noughties, and in the competition now known as the Checkatrade Trophy, they recorded a famous 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at Kingfield. Oh happy days, for all Derby County fans that is!!

So, this season and they sit just behind Torquay United in second place, and with the two clubs meeting in April, it could be a very interesting finish indeed. A controversial 1-0 home defeat to Dartford in midweek didn’t help matters, but with struggling East Thurrock United in town, you fancied them to get back on track.

It's A Big-Un!

The journey down the M1 and round the M25 was problem free, in fact the only traffic issues were in Woking itself, where the smart and surprisingly large town centre was busy with shoppers and consequently cars. Kingfield, or the Laithwaite Community Stadium as it’s now know, was found with ease, and parking was found on a side street  less than a five minute walk away.

Entrance was £15, but today it was segregated and all 30 away fans had to enter through a separate turnstile and kept under guard on the open terraces. Why, you might ask? Crowd trouble at the away fixture in Essex it seems, which to be honest was probably nothing to do with East Thurrock United, and probably more to do with West Ham United! Anyway, better to be safe than look stupid I guess!

The Woking End

The ground is a Bobby Dazzler, upon entering the huge Leslie Godson Stand sits behind the goal and is without doubt the focal point. A single tier of seats stretches steeply from front to back, and from the top a superb elevated view of the action can be had. This stand is relatively new, while the rest of the ground is older by comparison.

Two small stands sit on the Kingfield side of the ground, one for Directors and Media, the other for Families. The dressing rooms and clubhouse sit behind, while to one side is the famous ‘Moaners Corner’ Terrace. On the opposite side is an open terrace used by away fans when segregation is needed, while behind this is a large David Lloyd centre which provides a natural wall. Behind the opposite goal is a covered terrace that looks like it’s been re-clad in recent years, and from inside here a fantastic atmosphere is created, especially when over 1,600 are in the ground as they were for the game.

It’s a mixture of the old and the modern, with a mish-mash of structures dotted around. If anything it probably charts the rise of the club more than anything as developments and additions have been made along the way. That said, the club have announced only this week that plans are underway to completely redevelop the stadium, so watch this space.

Close Up Of The Old

The game, while a 3-0 home win, wasn’t as one sided as the score line would suggest. On loan striker Dave Tarpey gave the cards a first half lead before a neat finish from Greg Luer ten minutes before the break doubled the lead. United did create chances though, and could easily have found the net either side of the break, and it wasn’t until two minutes into injury time that Woking scored a third courtesy of a header from substitute Jake Hyde.

Before the game, I was reading an article from less than a month ago, in which Tim Buzaglo, now 57, was interviewed.  He described the aftermath of the WBA game as “A Bloody Nightmare!” with the barrage of attention he received, combined with having to hold down a day job, making his life simply hellish.

A head injury saw Buzaglo forced to quit football, whereby after that he ended up playing international cricket for Gibraltar, very successfully.

The man who put Woking on the map thanks to his fifteen minutes of fame, Tim Buzaglo, they owe him a debt of gratitude.

Match Action