Jacob Greenwood

After a disappointing Bank Holiday weekend Woking return to Kingfield to face Gateshead as the Cards go in search of their first home win of the season. As for our visitors, Gateshead are yet to win this season and have already seen a managerial departure. We talked to Andrew McInnes (@AMcInnes1991) before his side embark on their 600-mile roundtrip.

Hi Andrew, after a turbulent end to last season seeing you play your home games at a variety of different grounds and only avoiding relegation by a point, it must be nice to have started with a clean slate this season?

Yes very nice. It wasn’t very good to be a heed fan last season. Having to play a ‘home’ game as far as Boston. Thankfully the pitch is all sorted now and looking better than ever thanks to some skilful groundsmen that we have. Another big factor has been our superb chairman who without him, we may have not been a football club this season. His passion for the club is second to none!

You’ve only picked up one point so far this season but have had some reasonably tough games, how have Gateshead fans reacted to the first few weeks of the new campaign?

We have had some tough games. Playing Kidderminster, who I am tipping to win the league, was always going to be a hard first game for us. From my point of view, our team still haven’t gelled yet. The players are still learning each other’s game but it won’t be long till it all clicks and we can crack on.

Your ex-manager, Anth Smith, resigned after your 2-1 defeat to Barent, did that come as a shock and who are you hoping will replace him?

It was a shock. You don’t expect your manager to throw in the towel after 7 days. But good luck to him. He was obviously wanting to go for it this season after the signings he made but it was not to be. Personally, I hope to see Nolberto Solano come in. He has experience of turning a team around after a stint managing a struggling team in Peru. He is the type of person who would get us playing proper football and could attract players to the club. He has always said he wants to manage in the north east too so you never know.

What are your expectations for the new season? Will surviving be enough to satisfy the fans or are many people setting their sights on a top half finish?

After signing the likes of Richard Brodie, Adam Boyes and Josh Walker to name a few, I don’t see why we can’t finish in a play-off position. The quality in the squad is there to go for it.

Who have been your stand out players so far and who will Woking have to look out for on Saturday?

Richard Brodie has been a threat in front of goal in all the games so far this season. Also Adam Boyes has yet to break his duck so it’s only a matter of time before he gets a goal.

Finally, what is your score prediction?

I’ll say a scrappy 2-2. If not that, a 7-6 win for us might be entertaining! You never know in football! HEED ARMY!

Come on you Cards!

Picture by David Holmes. A full set can be found at wokingfc.co.uk