Alan Woodward

Alan Woodward (7 September 1946 – 21 May 2015) was a professional footballer who played in the position of outside right for Sheffield United over a 16-year period between 1962 and 1978.

For the Grimsby Town player, see Alan Woodward (footballer, born 1947). For the British computer scientist, see Alan Woodward (computer scientist).

Alan Woodward
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-09-07)7 September 1946
Place of birth Chapeltown, Sheffield, England
Date of death 21 May 2015(2015-05-21) (aged 68)
Place of death Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Barnsley Boys, England Youth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1978 Sheffield United 538 (158)
1979–1981 Tulsa Roughnecks 47 (12)
1979–1980 Tulsa Roughnecks (indoor) 23 (31)
Total 608 (201)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Woodward or Woody as he was nicknamed, will be best remembered for his powerful shots. He was also a dead-ball specialist, especially effective with corners, and scored directly from them on many occasions. Wearing the No.7 shirt; he possessed pace, power, and skill and was a local lad who, it is often said, missed out on international recognition because of his temperament. He played in the Sheffield United goal to cover for injuries.

His first appearances for Sheffield United came in their two County Cup (a regional competition for teams in South Yorkshire) fixtures of season 1963–64, against Rotherham United in the semi-final and Barnsley in the final. The County Cup competition was won by United 4–3 with Woodward scoring the first goal of the game and the first of his first team career.

His League debut came against Liverpool at Anfield on 7 October 1964 and his first goal came on 31 October against Leeds United at Elland Road. He scored 4 goals (including a penalty) in a 7–0 home victory against Ipswich Town on 27 November 1971. He left United at the start of season 1978–79, his final goal being a penalty against River Plate of Argentina, in order to play for the Tulsa Roughnecks, where he was nicknamed "the Boomer" for his strong, high arching and accurate passes and shots on goal, in the North American Soccer League.

He remains the Blades' leading post-war scorer and made a total of 538 league appearances for United.

After retirement Woodward remained in Oklahoma for the rest of his life. In 1984, he established the competitive youth soccer club, Tulsa Sheffield United FC. Throughout his long career whether playing, coaching, training, and volunteering he made a huge impact on youth soccer in Oklahoma. He also worked for American Airlines, retiring in 2009 after a 20 year career. He died on May 21, 2015, at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sheffield United 1963–64[2] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 1 2 1
1964–65[3] First Division 27 7 3 1 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 31 8
1965–66[4] First Division 23 3 2 1 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 26 5
1966–67[5] First Division 41 11 4 0 5 3 3[lower-alpha 1] 1 53 15
1967–68[6] First Division 33 6 3 1 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 38 8
1968–69[7] Second Division 42 12 1 0 1 0 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 47 12
1969–70[8] Second Division 42 18 2 0 3 3 2[lower-alpha 1] 1 49 22
1970–71[9] Second Division 42 15 1 0 2 0 4[lower-alpha 2] 3 49 18
1971–72[10] First Division 40 15 1 0 5 5 — 46 20
1972–73[11] First Division 39 10 1 0 5 1 4[lower-alpha 3] 2 49 13
1973–74[12] First Division 42 17 1 0 1 1 4[lower-alpha 4] 0 48 18
1974–75[13] First Division 42 12 2 0 4 1 3[lower-alpha 5] 2 51 15
1975–76[14] First Division 41 10 1 0 2 0 7[lower-alpha 6] 5 51 15
1976–77[15] Second Division 40 10 2 0 1 0 5[lower-alpha 7] 0 48 10
1977–78[16] Second Division 39 12 1 0 1 0 4[lower-alpha 8] 0 45 12
1978–79[17] Second Division 5 0 0 0 1 0 3[lower-alpha 9] 0 9 0
Career total 538 158 25 3 32 14 47 17 642 192
  1. Appearance(s) in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup
  2. Two appearances one goal in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup; two appearances two goals in Watney Cup
  3. Three appearances two goals in Watney Cup; one appearance in Texaco Cup
  4. Two appearances in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup; two appearances in Texaco Cup
  5. Appearance(s) in Texaco Cup
  6. Four appearances three goals in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup; three appearances two goals in Anglo-Scottish Cup
  7. Two appearances in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup; three appearances in Anglo-Scottish Cup
  8. One appearance in Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup; three appearances in Anglo-Scottish Cup
  9. Appearance(s) in Anglo-Scottish Cup

References
  1. https://tulsaworld.com/obituaries/localobituaries/alan-woody-woodward/article_8ec4c3d8-5f9b-5293-bb8c-34712efa107f.html
  2. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 417. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  3. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 419. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  4. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 421. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  5. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 423. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  6. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 425. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  7. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 427. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  8. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  9. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 431. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  10. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 433. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  11. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 435. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  12. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 437. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  13. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 439. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  14. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 441. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  15. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 443. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  16. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
  17. Clarebrough & Kirkham (2012). Sheffield United: The Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing. p. 447. ISBN 978-1-78091-019-2.
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