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Despite being fired by telephone from his former club, Woking manager Frank Gray did the right thing when his new club played against his old. What a refreshing change from the more normal ‘win at all costs’ philosophy of the ‘Beautiful Game’.

It was goalless with only five minutes to go when Woking defender Matt Ruby went down injured in his own half.

A Grays player booted the ball into touch so he could be treated. When Ruby recovered, the ball was returned to play and Woking’s Matt Pattison passed it back to Grays’ keeper Ross Flitney.

Except the ball was caught by the wind and the pass turned into a lob. Flitney was stranded and Woking were 1-0 up and looking at their first win of the season. A couple of the Woking players celebrated.

But Frank Gray didn’t celebrate. He walked on to the pitch and made for his captain, Tom Hutchinson. A linesman tried to usher Gray away but he kept walking. He was told he could be sent off. He still kept walking. He told Hutchinson what had to be done. Hutchinson relayed the message to the rest of the team. Some of them were crestfallen. Grays took the kickoff and when striker Ben Watson took the next touch, the Woking players stood still.

When Watson got to the goal, the Woking keeper Nick Gindre put his head in his hands and stepped aside, too. The game finished 1-1.

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