Alan Woodward

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This is very sad news, was one of my United All time hero's. The best winger we have ever had, and a member of a great team. Did not get the recognition he deserved. A few years after he retired, along came a certain David Beckham, lauded as a great crosser of the ball, and a dead ball specialist. He was not a patch on Woody, the best crosse and died ball footballer I have ever seen. His shooting powers were also legendary. a sad day for me.
 
Superblades said:
A player well before my time. One thing what has struck me is how my generation / the younger generation will probably not see a player of his standard not only play for the Blades but be a legend for many years to come. I also read somewhere that someone had a pint and a chat with him in the old crown on London road after the 125 celebrations, something the younger generation won't ever get to experience with how football is today.

RIP
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Brayford is seen around the fans a fair bit.
 
I was shocked a few years ago to hear that Woody was seriously ill and so chuffed when he pulled through. Even better when he turned up at the Lane recently to celebrate the 125. Now to hear this, I'm absolutely gutted. The best striker of the ball, as many people have alluded to, scorer of spectacular goals on a regular basis, we have never had a player since who could hit a ball as hard or as accurately and I don't think we ever will. Gil and now Woody, that great promotion side of the early seventies is being re-assembled upstairs. Sincere condolences to all his family and friends. RIP LEGEND.
 
crucialkneeligaman said:
I was shocked a few years ago to hear that Woody was seriously ill and so chuffed when he pulled through. Even better when he turned up at the Lane recently to celebrate the 125. Now to hear this, I'm absolutely gutted. The best striker of the ball, as many people have alluded to, scorer of spectacular goals on a regular basis, we have never had a player since who could hit a ball as hard or as accurately and I don't think we ever will. Gil and now Woody, that great promotion side of the early seventies is being re-assembled upstairs. Sincere condolences to all his family and friends. RIP LEGEND.
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And Trev of course, bloody hell, how could I forget him ?.
 
Lane Ender said:
Abselutly gutted to hear this Woody is my favourite player of all time and that includes TC.
One of the best strikers of a dead ball ever.
RIP Woody thanks for the memories
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Currie and Deane were not the same as they both jumped ship to scummy Leeds, which is bound to lower their standing compared to Woody.
 
BerksBlade said:
RIP Woody, and thanks for the great memories.
Hopefully the club will do something to create a permanent reminder of a truly legendary Blade.
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Ive no real idea why there's no statue of the great man already, forget all this about them needing to have gonne to pastures new prior to getting a,statue and a stand. Ridiculous, its not exactly as if we are overflowing with heroes is it? Forty yeard time no one will be remembering any of our current squad..but we will still recall Woody.
 
Rollerball said:
A true gent, a player that had red n white blood, top man and a truly gifted and talented players.
The word legend is thrown around but as a blade this man was and will always be, to me at least THE legendary blade, I still don't understand how TC, great tho he was beat woody to greatest blades player ever, a travesty in my book.
Missed by blades of a certain age for ever more.
Bye woody RIP a TRUE Blade
Thoughts to those you leave behind.
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I have thought that throughout my life and I wrote that Woody on his Facebook page a few years ago. Why do I say it? Length of service, no defections, more underrated than TC, just an all round humble footballer. My oh my, humble footballer. Whatever happened to that phenomenon, orr even that concept?
 
boo radley said:
Just a little snippet on RS - Twats. A full hour special on Brian Laws leaving the pigs and one of the greatest if not the greatest? player to come from and play locally and an incidental mention TWATS.
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Sums them up. They spent days lamenting smegsons departure but Woodward gets nothing.Pig radio.
 
Eskimo said:
Really gutted. He was just coming into the team the first season I started watching United with my grandad. We used to go to the reserves one saturday and the first team games the next. I think at first he was regarded as a bit 'nesh', but he soon improved and started banging in wonder goals. he was a well established favourite before Currie arrived. Looking back it's amazing no one tempted him away after we were relegated in 1967 as it was clear by then he was something special. Of course if he had played for one of the premiership darlings he'd have been picked for England and there'd be a state funeral.

Maybe I was lucky enough to see him play 200 games and I can't remember a bad one (maybe red and white tinted glasses). I can honestly say It was an immense privilige to watch one of the best players of his generation playing so well and so long for us.
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The good thing about him never being tempted away was he remained our Alan Woodward not a player who was tempted up the M1 to try and find fame. Loved the man.
 
Sad news. First started watching Utd in 1968 and the 70-71 promotion season was the first one I started to get taken by my dad on a regular basis. What a fantastic player Woody was and his partnership with TC was the best I have ever seen. As well as his legendary shooting ability he was one of the best wingers of his era. He had the ability to control a pass on the run, beat his man and cross the ball all in one movement without stopping, an art rarely seen these days. He was also the best taker of a corner ever. My Dad and my Grandad used to argue who was the better player, TC or Woody. TC was a bit to flamboyant for my Grandad with his long hair and shirt outside his shorts. Dad would wind Grandad up saying Woody was rubbish and then he would smash one in from 25 yards and Grandad would just sit there with a satisfied smirk on his face.

One goal that stands out for some reason was one against York in the league cup who at that time were 3 leagues below us. It was 2-2 with seconds to go when Woody picked the ball up 30 yards out and absolutely smashed it into the roof of the net. It was one of the hardest shots I have ever seen.

The fact that his name is still sung by fans today shows what a Blades legend he is. In all my years supporting the Blades, Woody TC and the rest of that side is still the best I have seen.

Thanks for the memories Alan. RIP.
 

RIP...a real legend who I would have seen being around 8 when he left but can't really remember anything from that time other than Alex Sabella. Did he come back to play in the TC testimonial & did he ever get his own testimonial? It's great being able to see the videos of Woody's goals & show my own kids what he was capable of......love the old shirts & badge, could that be the reason for the last 40 years?
 
Silent Blade said:
I can remember three headers (two of which I was at the game) and yes, it was the second of his hat-trick goals against Southampton. It was at the Lane End, a cross came from the left and Woody dived to head it past Eric Martin (Saints keeper), this one on the video (5.55) was at Burnley in February 1975 (I wasnt at that match) and the third I can remember was in the 4-1 home win against Luton in March 1978. There is a photo of him beating Bobby Campbell (a strong striker and a good header of the ball) to head the ball in. Just remembered reading my dad's report of our 1-1 draw at Wolves in 1974-75 and I think he said our goal was a Woody header
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That was a reight game to me at the time, aged 13..Luton 4 1, Stainrod up front etc. Magic Woody.
 
Superblades said:
A player well before my time. One thing what has struck me is how my generation / the younger generation will probably not see a player of his standard not only play for the Blades but be a legend for many years to come. I also read somewhere that someone had a pint and a chat with him in the old crown on London road after the 125 celebrations, something the younger generation won't ever get to experience with how football is today.

RIP
Click to expand...
Indeed. My mum used to see a very young Keith Edwards on the,53 after first team games,at the lane.
 
Eskimo said:
Really gutted. He was just coming into the team the first season I started watching United with my grandad. We used to go to the reserves one saturday and the first team games the next. I think at first he was regarded as a bit 'nesh', but he soon improved and started banging in wonder goals. he was a well established favourite before Currie arrived. Looking back it's amazing no one tempted him away after we were relegated in 1967 as it was clear by then he was something special. Of course if he had played for one of the premiership darlings he'd have been picked for England and there'd be a state funeral.

Maybe I was lucky enough to see him play 200 games and I can't remember a bad one (maybe red and white tinted glasses). I can honestly say It was an immense privilige to watch one of the best players of his generation playing so well and so long for us.
Click to expand...
Aroundabout 1978, and by now a lane veteran, suddenly I knew all there was to know. While mum served pints in lane end upper, I decided at one stage that Woody was on the wane. Recall telling mum, and I was nearly purple faced with exasperation, how Woody had allegedly dribbled past three players in order to effect a back pass to Conroy or whoever in our net v Burnley I think . Probably never happened but I recall I said he was going downhill. Mum said no way, sister Ange age 8, had a crush on him she admits nowadays.
 
CG Blade said:
This is very sad news, was one of my United All time hero's. The best winger we have ever had, and a member of a great team. Did not get the recognition he deserved. A few years after he retired, along came a certain David Beckham, lauded as a great crosser of the ball, and a dead ball specialist. He was not a patch on Woody, the best crosse and died ball footballer I have ever seen. His shooting powers were also legendary. a sad day for me.
Click to expand...
Difference number one is football had already been corrupted and destroyed by the time Beckham arrived. No fault of Beckham but when Woody played footballers were in the real world.
 
MalvernBlade said:
RIP...a real legend who I would have seen being around 8 when he left but can't really remember anything from that time other than Alex Sabella. Did he come back to play in the TC testimonial & did he ever get his own testimonial? It's great being able to see the videos of Woody's goals & show my own kids what he was capable of......love the old shirts & badge, could that be the reason for the last 40 years?
Click to expand...
Yes, Woody came back for TC's testimonial in Oct 1986 and I think he scored two goals. Woody's testimonial was against Wendy in May 1974
 
My abiding memory of Woody was the part he played in the 1-0 home against Leeds (circa 1969 - think YTV also televised). Hodgy went off very early in the game (1st ten mins???) if memory serves me right after breaking his finger stopping a Lorimer pile driver free kick. Woody went into goal and produced a string of superb saves that Hodgy would not have been capable and we won the game with Mick Hill scoring the winner. The only shot that would have beaten him that day would have been one of his own specials. :):)
 
hello said:
Aroundabout 1978, and by now a lane veteran, suddenly I knew all there was to know. While mum served pints in lane end upper, I decided at one stage that Woody was on the wane. Recall telling mum, and I was nearly purple faced with exasperation, how Woody had allegedly dribbled past three players in order to effect a back pass to Conroy or whoever in our net v Burnley I think . Probably never happened but I recall I said he was going downhill. Mum said no way, sister Ange age 8, had a crush on him she admits nowadays.
Click to expand...
Yes, it was against Burnley in Oct 1976. Earlier in the 2nd half, Woody received a short free kick from outside the box (on the left side) at the Kop End and delightfully chipped the ball over the defensive wall and keeper Gerry Peyton hitting the inside of the post and in for the only goal of the game. In the dying minutes Woody was holding the ball up on the left wing before he unexpectedly ran all the way towards our goal and pass the ball to Jim Brown to "waste time". Most of the fans (my dad too) were laughing their heads off but I was one of the few who thought we should have been looking to score a second goal rather than "waste time" like this
 

ghandi said:
My abiding memory of Woody was the part he played in the 1-0 home against Leeds (circa 1969 - think YTV also televised). Hodgy went off very early in the game (1st ten mins???) if memory serves me right after breaking his finger stopping a Lorimer pile driver free kick. Woody went into goal and produced a string of superb saves that Hodgy would not have been capable and we won the game with Mick Hill scoring the winner. The only shot that would have beaten him that day would have been one of his own specials. :):)
Click to expand...
November 1967. Highlights of the match was shown on ATV in the next day. I remember some years later my dad was telling me how brilliant Woody was in goal for 81 minutes against Lorimer and Johannesen
 
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