Arthur Wood (footballer born 1894)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Wood was an English goalkeeper who played for Southampton
and Clapton Orient. He was the son of the England
international forward, Harry Wood
.
, where his father was living whilst playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers
. His father's career took him to Southampton
in 1898 where he remained until he retired. According to "The Alphabet of the Saints", "he had been taken to the Dell to watch his father but had been inspired by the exploits of two great Southampton 'keepers, Clawley
and Robinson
". Arthur Wood was given a trial in April 1913 and was taken on to the staff at The Dell.
on 9 September 1914 in a 3–2 defeat at Luton
, replacing Ernie Steventon
. He retained his place for six matches before Steventon returned in October, followed by a longer spell from December to March. By the end of the 1914–15 season he had made 19 appearances, exactly half the league matches played, as well as playing in all four matches in the FA Cup
.
During the First World War
, Wood enlisted in the Royal Engineers
, but his military duties allowed him to turn out for Southampton in the various War Leagues. On the resumption of League football in 1919, Wood started as the first-choice keeper, and played in the opening 18 matches, before he was replaced by George Wilcock
. Wilcock left Southampton at the end of the season and was replaced as first-choice 'keeper for Southampton's first season in the Football League
by Tommy Allen
. Wood only made two Football League appearances for the "Saints" before moving to Clapton Orient in May 1921.
, Wood soon became first-choice goalkeeper and missed only a handful of matches in the next eight seasons, being ever-present for each of the seasons from 1922–23 to 1925–26. From 1925–26 onwards, Clapton struggled in the league, finishing one place above the relegation zone for three consecutive seasons, before they were relegated to the Third Division South
in 1929.
By now, age was catching up with Wood and his appearances over the next two years were less regular until he retired in the summer of 1931. In his ten years at Clapton Orient, he "became something of an institution" with nearly 400 appearances in all competitions.
teams, Ryde Sports
and Newport
. He died at Portsmouth
in April 1941, aged 47.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Clapton Orient. He was the son of the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international forward, Harry Wood
Harry Wood (footballer)
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:...
.
Career
Wood was born at WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, where his father was living whilst playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. His father's career took him to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1898 where he remained until he retired. According to "The Alphabet of the Saints", "he had been taken to the Dell to watch his father but had been inspired by the exploits of two great Southampton 'keepers, Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
and Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
". Arthur Wood was given a trial in April 1913 and was taken on to the staff at The Dell.
Southampton
He made his first-team debut in the Southern LeagueSouthern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
on 9 September 1914 in a 3–2 defeat at Luton
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, replacing Ernie Steventon
Ernie Steventon
Ernest "Ernie" Steventon was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton in the years prior to World War I.-Football career:...
. He retained his place for six matches before Steventon returned in October, followed by a longer spell from December to March. By the end of the 1914–15 season he had made 19 appearances, exactly half the league matches played, as well as playing in all four matches in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Wood enlisted in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, but his military duties allowed him to turn out for Southampton in the various War Leagues. On the resumption of League football in 1919, Wood started as the first-choice keeper, and played in the opening 18 matches, before he was replaced by George Wilcock
George Wilcock
George Harrie Wilcock was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs either side of the First World War.-Football career:...
. Wilcock left Southampton at the end of the season and was replaced as first-choice 'keeper for Southampton's first season in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
by Tommy Allen
Tommy Allen (footballer)
Thomas "Tommy" Allen was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Southampton in the 1920s and later for Coventry City.-Early career:...
. Wood only made two Football League appearances for the "Saints" before moving to Clapton Orient in May 1921.
Clapton Orient
At Clapton, playing in the Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, Wood soon became first-choice goalkeeper and missed only a handful of matches in the next eight seasons, being ever-present for each of the seasons from 1922–23 to 1925–26. From 1925–26 onwards, Clapton struggled in the league, finishing one place above the relegation zone for three consecutive seasons, before they were relegated to the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
in 1929.
By now, age was catching up with Wood and his appearances over the next two years were less regular until he retired in the summer of 1931. In his ten years at Clapton Orient, he "became something of an institution" with nearly 400 appearances in all competitions.
Later career
Wood then returned to the south coast and made occasional appearances for Isle of WightIsle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
teams, Ryde Sports
Ryde Sports F.C.
Ryde Sports Football Club was an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.Before its demise, Ryde Sports was for many years a successful and significant club on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire, and an important part of the town of Ryde.-Foundation:Ryde Sports F.C. was founded in 1888...
and Newport
Newport (IW) F.C.
Newport F.C. are a football club based in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England, They were founding members of the Wessex League in 1986.-History:...
. He died at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in April 1941, aged 47.