Former Lincoln City striker John Marquis has joined National League side Woking after leaving Shrewsbury Town at the end of last season.
Woking have confirmed that the experienced centre-forward has signed a one-year contract at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. He arrives with more than 500 EFL appearances and 171 senior goals behind him.
Marquis spent the summer playing for the PFA XI as he searched for a new club, scoring four goals during their pre-season programme. Those included a brace against Barnet, as well as goals against Hednesford Town and Queens Park Rangers Under-21s.
The 34-year-old joined City on a short-term contract in January 2022 after leaving Portsmouth. He scored on his debut away at Plymouth Argyle, although we were beaten 2-1 at Home Park, and went on to register five goals in 20 appearances during the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.
Marquis helped Michael Appleton’s side move away from the League One relegation battle, with his physical presence giving us a more experienced option in attack. He was released when his contract expired that summer and subsequently joined Bristol Rovers, where he scored 13 league goals across two seasons.
The former Millwall forward moved to Shrewsbury in 2024 and spent two campaigns with the Shropshire club, scoring 14 times in 76 league appearances. He was released following their relegation from League One at the end of last season.
Marquis enjoyed the most prolific period of his career with Doncaster Rovers, scoring 61 league goals in 134 appearances between 2016 and 2019. He helped Doncaster win promotion from League Two during his first season and was subsequently named the division’s Player of the Season, as well as earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
He later joined Portsmouth and scored 28 league goals during three years at Fratton Park, having also represented the club during an earlier loan spell from Millwall. His lengthy career has included further spells with Northampton Town, Gillingham, Cheltenham Town, Leyton Orient and Torquay United.
Woking will now hope Marquis can transfer that experience and goalscoring record into the National League as they look to improve their attacking options.
Comments Welcome!