George Wood (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Wood is a Scottish
former football
goalkeeper
.
for whom he scored a goal from his own penalty area against Queen of the South
goalkeeper, Allan Ball
.
He moved to Blackpool
in 1972, for £10,000 (an initial £7,000, followed by another £3,000 after twelve appearances), as cover for John Burridge
. After spending time in the Reserves, Wood made his debut on 15 April 1972, in a 2-0 home victory over Oxford United
. He then spent the next four years jostling for the No. 1 jersey with Burridge, eventually establishing himself in 1975-76 after Budgie was sold to Aston Villa
.
He was signed by First Division
Everton
for £150,000 on 18 August 1977. He was the Toffees first-choice goalkeeper for the next three seasons, making over 120 appearances and making his debut for Scotland
, against Northern Ireland
on 22 May 1979.
Wood was signed by Arsenal
in August 1980 for £140,000, earmarked as the successor to Pat Jennings
, with whom he shared the first-team goalkeeper's spot for the next three seasons, making 61 appearances in goal for Arsenal. However, Jennings' longevity counted against Wood and he was unable to supplant the Irish veteran; Wood was given a free transfer in May 1983. He joined Crystal Palace
and was their first choice keeper for the next four-and-a-half seasons, making 192 league appearances, and winning the "Player of The Year" award in 1986.
Wood joined Cardiff City
in January 1988, where he made 67 league appearances, and ended his league career with a loan spell at his old club Blackpool in 1989, and a single season at Hereford United
in 1990-91
. He then had stints at non-league Merthyr Tydfil
and Inter Cardiff (a side he later managed).
and then later Jim Leighton
keeping him out of the side. He earned four caps for Scotland between 1979 and 1982, the last coming against Northern Ireland on 28 April 1982, and he was a backup goalkeeper at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
.
, having previously worked in a similar position at Cardiff City
.
In June 2009, Wood was appointed as goalkeeper coach at Swindon Town
, and in August 2011 he returned to former club Blackpool for a third time in a similar role.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Club playing career
George Wood started his career at East StirlingshireEast Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
for whom he scored a goal from his own penalty area against Queen of the South
Queen of the South
For other uses see Queen of the South Queen of the South is an alternative title for the Queen of Sheba. The phrase Queen of the South is used in the New Testament and is attributed to Jesus Christ....
goalkeeper, Allan Ball
Allan Ball
Allan Ball is an English former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982...
.
He moved to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1972, for £10,000 (an initial £7,000, followed by another £3,000 after twelve appearances), as cover for John Burridge
John Burridge
John Burridge is an English former football goalkeeper who played for 29 different clubs in a career that lasted nearly 30 years. Overall, Burridge played 771 league games in the English and Scottish leagues, and several more at non-league level...
. After spending time in the Reserves, Wood made his debut on 15 April 1972, in a 2-0 home victory over Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He then spent the next four years jostling for the No. 1 jersey with Burridge, eventually establishing himself in 1975-76 after Budgie was sold to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
He was signed by First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
for £150,000 on 18 August 1977. He was the Toffees first-choice goalkeeper for the next three seasons, making over 120 appearances and making his debut for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 22 May 1979.
Wood was signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in August 1980 for £140,000, earmarked as the successor to Pat Jennings
Pat Jennings
Patrick Anthony "Pat" Jennings OBE is a Northern Ireland former football player. He played 119 games for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper, a figure which at the time was a world record and is still a Northern Ireland record, in an international career which lasted for over 22 years...
, with whom he shared the first-team goalkeeper's spot for the next three seasons, making 61 appearances in goal for Arsenal. However, Jennings' longevity counted against Wood and he was unable to supplant the Irish veteran; Wood was given a free transfer in May 1983. He joined Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and was their first choice keeper for the next four-and-a-half seasons, making 192 league appearances, and winning the "Player of The Year" award in 1986.
Wood joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in January 1988, where he made 67 league appearances, and ended his league career with a loan spell at his old club Blackpool in 1989, and a single season at Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in 1990-91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
. He then had stints at non-league Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
and Inter Cardiff (a side he later managed).
International career
Wood's international career was only fleeting, with first Alan RoughAlan Rough
Alan Roderick Rough is a former Scottish international goalkeeper, who won over 50 caps and played in two FIFA World Cups...
and then later Jim Leighton
Jim Leighton
James "Jim" Leighton MBE is a Scottish former football goalkeeper. Among the clubs he played for are Aberdeen , Manchester United, Arsenal, Dundee and Hibernian.-Club:...
keeping him out of the side. He earned four caps for Scotland between 1979 and 1982, the last coming against Northern Ireland on 28 April 1982, and he was a backup goalkeeper at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
.
Coaching
He was the goalkeeper coach at Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, having previously worked in a similar position at Cardiff City
Cardiff city
Cardiff City may refer to:* Cardiff city centre* Cardiff City Council* Cardiff City F.C.* Cardiff City L.F.C.* Cardiff City Stadium...
.
In June 2009, Wood was appointed as goalkeeper coach at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, and in August 2011 he returned to former club Blackpool for a third time in a similar role.