Blackburn Rovers academy product Alan Judge has today been revealed as Woking’s latest signing, as announced on the club’s official website.
Currently sat just three points above the relegation zone, Wokingare aiming to preserve their National League status this season and have brought in the experienced Judge to further bolster the midfield. Having won four of their last five games, the Cards have moved up to 14th but are by no means safe in a wide-open relegation scrap.
Experience is no doubt needed to get the club through until the end of the season and the signing of Judge represents just that. With well over 400 EFL appearances to his name, just under 200 of those coming in the Championship, the now 35-year-old has a plethora of experience to bring to Michael Doyle’s side.
Somewhat of a journeyman, the Irishman started his career with then-Premier League side Blackburn Rovers. Despite not appearing in the top flight for Rovers, the midfielder was in and around the first team from a young age, turning professional at 17, and would be utilised in cup competitions.
In search of more senior experience, Judge would join Plymouth Argyle on loan for the second half of the 2008/09 season and would return for another year the following season. Then joining Notts County on loan, that move would be made permanent the following January.
His time at Notts County was rather successful and he’d be a mainstay at Meadow Lane for his two seasons with the club. Those performances for the Magpies would earn the former Irish international a move back to Blackburn but he’d once again struggle for game time, being limited to just 14 Championship appearances for the club. A loan move to Brentford would then be made permanent and Judge would enjoy a consistent five years with the Bees before moving to Ipswich and most recently Colchester United.
There are however some risks attached with the signing, those being that Judge has not made a senior appearance since the December of 2022 following a triple rupture in his knee. Now aged 35, it is unknown what level he’ll return at, he has supposedly been playing for Colchester’s under-21 side recently, though a return to senior football is a totally different beast.
Writer’s View
The signing of Judge seems as if it is somewhat of a free hit by Woking. Only signing him until the end of the season, just six games, will allow the club to assess what level the midfielder is at. It’s rather obvious given his age and the injury that he won’t reach his best, but if able to show a decent enough level, he could well return next season .
In fairness to the midfielder, he has had a long and successful career but potentially hasn’t quite reached the heights that many thought he may coming through the academy.
The move seems like the last roll of the dice for Judge in professional football, and his status in these final six games will be worth monitoring.
Senior Editor
