Patience appears to have paid off for Woking with a growing optimism the club is about to resume its place at non-league’s top table.
Back in the mid-1990s, the club won the FA Trophy three times, achieved five successive top-five finishes in the Conference and specialised in FA Cup upsets.
A steady decline ended with relegation in 2009 but Garry Hill, appointed manager in 2011, led them to the Conference South a the following season.
Hill has consolidated for the past two campaigns, although a dreadful start last season almost cost him his position.
Chairman Mike Smith backed his manager and his faith has been rewarded with a fine start to the current campaign.
Woking are third in the table after eight games with five wins and three draws.
Scott Rendell, who has found a home at the Kingfield Stadium after a nomadic career, leads the scoring charts with seven goals and a first ever victory at rivals Aldershot Town has got the West Surrey side bouncing.
“We’re all pushing together and all credit to the chairman and the directors,” said Hill after the midweek win over the Shots.
“The club’s on the up, there’s no doubt about that and we can’t turn around and say we’ll do this or we’ll do that but we’re going in the right direction and it has to continue.”
Woking had a kind start to the campaign that allowed them to continue the momentum from the end of last season, when the Cards won eight of their final 12 matches.
Hill strengthened well over the summer with James Clarke, Joey Jones, Theo Lewis and Kieran Murtagh proving to be shrewd additions.
Hill said: “We’ve got boys who are sitting on the bench, we’ve got players like Kevin Betsy to come back into contention and Adam Newton and John Nutter.
“There’s a very useful squad here at Woking at the moment but we’ve got to keep going.”
How will the Blues fare in Surrey?
0+ VOTES SO FAR
Last season Chester produced a battling and committed display to win 1-0 at Woking thanks to Jamie Menagh’s strike.
Even though the two clubs go into the game in contrasting form, Hill expects the Blues to put up a good fight and is hoping his side’s impressive start can swell the home crowd.
“It’ll be tough, we know that,” said Hill.
“We’ve got to make sure that the excitement don’t take over and we get a rude awakening on Saturday
“Steve Burr’s always done very well and it’ll be a hard game but I’m asking, I’m pleading and I’m saying that the Woking faithful, who have been different class, turn out in numbers
“You’ve got 18 points out of 24, you’re playing your part and we’re a team in this league this year which is going to be well respected.”
