Stan Woodhouse
Encyclopedia
Stanley "Stan" Woodhouse (10 February 1899 – 18 March 1977) was an English footballer who played initially as an inside forward
and later as a half back with Bury
and Southampton
in the 1920s and 1930s.
and played as a teenager for Monk's Hall in the Cheshire County League
, before joining Bury
in May 1921. At Bury he played at inside right making six appearances in each of the 1921–22 and 1922–23 seasons. In 1923–24 he made eleven appearances, contributing three goals as Bury gained second place in the Second Division table
thus gaining promotion to the top flight.
In a bid to strengthen the team for their return to the First Division
, Bury signed Southampton
's experienced left half Bill Turner
with Woodhouse and John Callagher moving to the south coast as part of the deal. Woodhouse made his debut for Southampton on 30 August 1924 in the opening match of the season playing at inside left, before losing his place to Cliff Price
after six games. He made a few spasmodic appearances at inside left, before switching to left half for a few matches near the end of the season.
The following season he began to make the left half spot his own, lining up with either George Harkus
or Bert Shelley
on the right and Alec Campbell
or Arthur Bradford
in the centre. He soon established himself as "a half-back of some standing" and rarely missed a match over the next five seasons. In 1926–27
he only missed two league matches and appeared in all six FA Cup
matches in Saints' run to the FA Cup Semi-final at Stamford Bridge
on 26 March 1927, which Southampton lost 1–2 to Arsenal
. During this season manager Arthur Chadwick
settled on his favoured line-up with eleven players featuring in at least 35 of the 42 league games; Woodhouse lined up in midfield alongside Bert Shelley
and George Harkus
in front of full-backs Michael Keeping
and Ted Hough
.
Woodhouse was "an unsung player (who) was nevertheless a vital cog in the team – his probing passes were a special feature of his game". He continued to appear regularly although injury restricted his appearances in 1930–31 and 1931–32. For the start of the 1932–33 season he switched across to the right, with Bill Luckett on the left (and Arthur Bradford in the centre) until February when Luckett was pushed forward and Alec Campbell
came in on the right of the half-backs, with Woodhouse reverting to the left.
He continued to feature regularly on either flank for the next few seasons until age and injury caught up with him and, like his long-serving partner Arthur Bradford
, he retired at the end of the 1935–36 season
. Woodhouse spent twelve seasons at The Dell, during which he made a total of 366 appearances (with 5 goals); all his league matches were in the Second Division in a period during which the Saints struggled financially and were generally forced to sell their better players to survive. At the time of his retirement, his total of 351 league appearances was only exceeded by Bert Shelley
.
before returning to Southampton
where he became the licensee of the Bricklayers Arms in Warren Avenue, Shirley.
In 1951 he spent a few months as trainer to Southampton's youth teams. He died in Southampton on 18 March 1977, aged 78.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
and later as a half back with Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and 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 the 1920s and 1930s.
Playing career
Woodhouse was born in WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
and played as a teenager for Monk's Hall in the Cheshire County League
Cheshire County League
The Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....
, before joining Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in May 1921. At Bury he played at inside right making six appearances in each of the 1921–22 and 1922–23 seasons. In 1923–24 he made eleven appearances, contributing three goals as Bury gained second place in the Second Division table
Football 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...
thus gaining promotion to the top flight.
In a bid to strengthen the team for their return to the 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....
, Bury signed 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...
's experienced left half Bill Turner
Bill Turner (footballer)
William "Bill" Turner was an English footballer who played as a half back with Southampton, Bury and Queens Park Rangers in the 1920s.-Football career:...
with Woodhouse and John Callagher moving to the south coast as part of the deal. Woodhouse made his debut for Southampton on 30 August 1924 in the opening match of the season playing at inside left, before losing his place to Cliff Price
Cliff Price
Ernest Clifford "Cliff" Price was an English footballer who played at inside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
after six games. He made a few spasmodic appearances at inside left, before switching to left half for a few matches near the end of the season.
The following season he began to make the left half spot his own, lining up with either George Harkus
George Harkus
George Cecil Harkus MBE was an English professional footballer who played as a half back for Southampton in the 1920s before serving with distinction in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-Early days:...
or Bert Shelley
Bert Shelley
Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton...
on the right and Alec Campbell
Alec Campbell (footballer)
Alistair Kenyon Campbell was a professional footballer who played nearly 200 games for Southampton in the first quarter of the twentieth century, before briefly becoming manager at Chesterfield....
or Arthur Bradford
Arthur Bradford (footballer)
James Arthur Bradford was an English footballer who played his entire professional career as a half back with Southampton...
in the centre. He soon established himself as "a half-back of some standing" and rarely missed a match over the next five seasons. In 1926–27
1926-27 in English football
The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
he only missed two league matches and appeared in all six 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...
matches in Saints' run to the FA Cup Semi-final at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
on 26 March 1927, which Southampton lost 1–2 to 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...
. During this season manager Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
settled on his favoured line-up with eleven players featuring in at least 35 of the 42 league games; Woodhouse lined up in midfield alongside Bert Shelley
Bert Shelley
Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton...
and George Harkus
George Harkus
George Cecil Harkus MBE was an English professional footballer who played as a half back for Southampton in the 1920s before serving with distinction in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-Early days:...
in front of full-backs Michael Keeping
Michael Keeping
Alexander Edwin Michael "Mike" Keeping was an English footballer and manager. He coached Real Madrid C.F. from January 1948 to October 1950.-Southampton:...
and Ted Hough
Ted Hough
Edward "Ted" Hough was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Southampton playing as a centre-half and later as a full-back.-Southampton:...
.
Woodhouse was "an unsung player (who) was nevertheless a vital cog in the team – his probing passes were a special feature of his game". He continued to appear regularly although injury restricted his appearances in 1930–31 and 1931–32. For the start of the 1932–33 season he switched across to the right, with Bill Luckett on the left (and Arthur Bradford in the centre) until February when Luckett was pushed forward and Alec Campbell
Alec Campbell (footballer)
Alistair Kenyon Campbell was a professional footballer who played nearly 200 games for Southampton in the first quarter of the twentieth century, before briefly becoming manager at Chesterfield....
came in on the right of the half-backs, with Woodhouse reverting to the left.
He continued to feature regularly on either flank for the next few seasons until age and injury caught up with him and, like his long-serving partner Arthur Bradford
Arthur Bradford (footballer)
James Arthur Bradford was an English footballer who played his entire professional career as a half back with Southampton...
, he retired at the end of the 1935–36 season
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
. Woodhouse spent twelve seasons at The Dell, during which he made a total of 366 appearances (with 5 goals); all his league matches were in the Second Division in a period during which the Saints struggled financially and were generally forced to sell their better players to survive. At the time of his retirement, his total of 351 league appearances was only exceeded by Bert Shelley
Bert Shelley
Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton...
.
Later career
After retiring from professional football, Woodhouse had a brief spell with Basingstoke TownBasingstoke Town F.C.
Basingstoke Town Football Club is an English football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Camrose, named after their late benefactor, Lord Camrose. Their motto, 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', means 'No stepping...
before returning to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
where he became the licensee of the Bricklayers Arms in Warren Avenue, Shirley.
In 1951 he spent a few months as trainer to Southampton's youth teams. He died in Southampton on 18 March 1977, aged 78.
Honours
BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
: Runners-up 1923–24