Sam Wood (footballer)

Samuel James Wood (born 9 August 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays for Cray Wanderers. Wood is a left-sided and right-sided player who can play either at full back or on the wing.[3]

Sam Wood
Personal information
Full name Samuel James Wood[1]
Date of birth (1986-08-09) 9 August 1986[2]
Place of birth Sidcup, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Team information
Current team
 Cray Wanderers
Youth career
1999–2003 Cray Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Cray Wanderers 93 (8)
2005–2008 Bromley 108 (5)
2008–2012 Brentford 108 (4)
2011–2012 → Rotherham United (loan) 26 (1)
2012–2017 Wycombe Wanderers 183 (14)
2017–2018 Eastleigh 36 (0)
2018–2020 Bromley 74 (0)
2020–2022 Dover Athletic 33 (2)
2022– Cray Wanderers 49 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 22 April 2023 (UTC)

Playing career

Early career

Sam Wood started playing football for Long Lane before joining Cray Wanderers.[4] He progressed through the ranks at the club before joining the reserve team in 2002 and eventually making his first team debut in 2003. During his time at Cray, he became a fans' favourite, helping the club to the quarter-final of the FA Vase, and promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in the club's history, in the 2003–04 season,[5] and scoring Cray supporters' goal of the season to clinch a 2–0 victory against AFC Wimbledon to end their 78-game unbeaten run.[6] He finished his Cray career with 8 goals from 93 games,[4] and then signed for Bromley, the club whose ground Cray shared, in 2005. While a non-league footballer, he also worked as a body double (for the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo),[7] for USC at Bluewater and in advertisement for Nike and Adidas.[3]

At Bromley, Wood won the Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2006 and the Club Player of the Year in 2007, and scored 21 goals from 159 appearances. His performances attracted interest from professional clubs, and after trials with clubs including Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wood joined League Two club Brentford in May 2008.[8]

Brentford

After impressing in pre-season, Wood made his Football League debut for Brentford against Bury, but picked up an injury in their 1–0 loss which kept him out for a few weeks.[3] He proved his fitness by playing the full 90 minutes – and scoring – in a practice game,[9] and returned to the first team as a substitute in the 1–1 draw with Lincoln City.[10] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 December against Exeter City,[11] and played regularly for the first team, helping the Bees to the 2008–09 League Two title,[3] as well as scooping several individual awards including the supporters' Player of the Season.[12]

In his second season, Wood lost his place on the left wing due to the form of Myles Weston, but was a regular in the team, either playing on the right wing or at left-back in place of the injury-prone Ryan Dickson.[3]

Wood spend the majority of the 2011–12 season on loan at Rotherham United, making 26 appearances and scoring one goal.[13] At the end of the season he was released by Brentford.[3]

Wycombe Wanderers

In July 2012 Wood signed a two-year deal with Wycombe Wanderers, after interest from AFC Wimbledon. He scored a 35-yard volley on his debut.[14] which was later named as Wycombe's 'Goal of the Season'. Like at Brentford, Wood played at either left-back or left midfield. His versatility was recognised supporters as they named him their player of the season.[15]

Wood continued to hold down a regular place in his second season with the club. Despite avoiding relegation to the non-league on the final day of the season, Wood was rewarded with a new two-year contract taking him to July 2016.[16] During the 2014-15 League Two play off final Wood had his penalty saved during the shootout, resulting in Southend United gaining promotion.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Wood left Wycombe Wanderers after his contract was not renewed.[17]

Non-League

Upon the expiration of his contract with Wycombe, Wood returned to non-league to join National League side Eastleigh on a two-year deal.[18] After just one season with the club, Wood had his contract terminated by mutual consent after expressing a desire to leave the club.[19]

Having had his contract with Eastleigh terminated, Wood returned to former club Bromley having previously played for the club from 2005 to 2008.[20] Wood was with the club for two seasons, the second of which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic[21] before his departure from the club was announced on 1 August 2020.[22]

On 27 August 2020, Wood joined fellow National League side Dover Athletic, linking up with former manager Andy Hessenthaler who had previously managed Wood at Eastleigh, where he was appointed captain for the season.[23] Wood's first season with the club was halted when in February 2021, Dover placed all members of staff on furlough until they received appropriate funding to be able to continue playing after the decision was made for the season to continue.[24] On 26 March 2021, it was announced that all of Dover's results from the season were to be expunged and the club would receive a £40,000 fine and a 12-point deduction for the following season.[25] Wood signed a new contract with the club in June 2021, one of only four players to do so with the club also switching to part-time contracts.[26][27] On 1 February 2022, Wood left the club by mutual consent.[28] He joined Cray Wanderers the same day and played in the 3-2 win at Potters Bar Town.[29]

Career statistics
As of match played 26 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cray Wanderers 2004–05[30] Isthmian League First Division 31400—00314
Bromley 2005–06[31] Isthmian League Premier Division 30300—5[lower-alpha 1]4357
2006–07[32] 36200—2[lower-alpha 2]0382
2007–08[33] Conference South 42000—00420
Total 108500— 741159
Brentford 2008–09[34] League Two 40120001[lower-alpha 3]0431
2009–10[35] League One 43230101[lower-alpha 3]0482
2010–11[36] 20110214[lower-alpha 3]0272
2011–12[13] 5000102[lower-alpha 3]080
Total 10846041801265
Rotherham United (loan) 2011–12[13] League Two 26110—00271
Wycombe Wanderers 2012–13[37] League Two 35310101[lower-alpha 3]0383
2013–14[38] 43230003[lower-alpha 3]0492
2014–15[39] 44521103[lower-alpha 4]0506
2015–16[40] 29240101[lower-alpha 3]0352
2016–17[41] 32231105[lower-alpha 3]0413
Total 183141324013021316
Eastleigh 2017–18[42] National League 35010—1[lower-alpha 5]0370
2018–19[42] 1 0 — — — 1 0
Total 36 0 1 0 — 1 0 38 0
Bromley 2018–19[42] National League 41020—1[lower-alpha 5]0440
2019–20[42] National League 33030—1[lower-alpha 5]0370
Total 74050—20810
Dover Athletic 2020–21[42] National League 15200—1[lower-alpha 5]0162
2021–22[42] National League 18010—10200
Total 332100020362
Cray Wanderers 2021–22[43] Isthmian League Premier Division 133———133
2022–23[44] Isthmian League Premier Division 36420—3[lower-alpha 6]2416
Total 497200032549
Career total 648372928135672046
  1. Appearances in Isthmian League Cup
  2. Appearances in Isthmian League play-offs
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. Appearances in EFL League Two play-offs
  5. Appearance in FA Trophy
  6. Appearances in FA Trophy, London Senior Cup and Isthmian League play-offs

Honours
Cray Wanderers
Bromley
Brentford

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2009 and 31/08/2009" (PDF). The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  3. "History Boys: Sam Wood". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  4. "Cray Wanderers – A Complete Statistical Record". Cray 150 Publications. 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  5. Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2003–04" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  6. Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2004–05" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  7. [Wycombe Wanderers: Lionel Messi's body double & fame in Singapore]
  8. Amos, Stuart (9 May 2008). "Wood good enough to make the grade, says former boss". Epsom Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  9. "Midweek Update". Brentford F.C. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  10. "Brentford 1–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  11. Wickham, Chris (28 December 2008). "Exeter 0–2 Brentford". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  12. "Wood Wins Player of the Season". Brentford F.C. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  13. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  14. York 1–3 Wycombe 18 August 2012
  15. Lewis & Wood pick up fan awards 29 April 2013
  16. Sam Wood signs new contract 23 May 2014
  17. "Ainsworth reveals contract decisions". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  18. "Eastleigh: Sam Wood joins National League club on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  19. "Sam Wood Leaves Eastleigh". www.eastleighfc.com. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  20. "Wood returns to Hayes Lane". www.bromleyfc.tv. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  21. "National League clubs vote to end regular season immediately". BBC Sport. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  22. "Squad update: 1st August". www.bromleyfc.tv. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  23. "WOOD IS A WHITE". www.doverathletic.com. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  24. "Dover Athletic: National League club places entire staff on furlough as season continues". BBC Sport. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  25. "Dover Athletic: National League club hit with fine, points deduction and results expunged". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  26. "Champions League final: Dover Athletic face ruin in 'dog eat dog' football world". BBC News. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  27. "CAPTAIN AGREES NEW DEAL". www.doverathletic.com. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  28. "WOOD LEAVES CLUB". www.doverathletic.com. 1 February 2022.
  29. "Potters Bar Town 2 Cray Wanderers 3". www.craywanderers.com. 2 February 2022.
  30. "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  31. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  32. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  33. "Conference South guide – Bromley". 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  34. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  35. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  36. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  37. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  38. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  39. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  41. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  42. Sam Wood at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  43. "Cray Wanderers | Appearances | Sam Wood | Football Web Pages".
  44. "Cray Wanderers | Appearances | Sam Wood | Football Web Pages".
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