Wanted - Memries of Alan Woodward

[JJ Sefton]

For summat I'm working on, I wanted to ask Blades who saw the great man play if they could write a few short words, two or three sentences, about his play, his style, him generally, his role in the team(s) he played in, whatever really.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Grecian2000]

Where to start Walthy.

Part of my youth watching the great man.

The little triangle of Badger, TC and Woody operating down the right was a joy to behold. Power, pace and, almost effortless, footballing skill. Think Harley, Brown and Tonge or Lowton, McDonald and Williamson from later times and multiply by FIVE (at least). That's how good it was to watch when they were on song.
Crossing, dead balls (i.e free kicks and corners), deputy goalkeeper (especially 11/11/67 vs Lees) but most of all "the shot". Could blast the thing harder than anyone playing at the time (stick your Peter Lorrimer or Alan Hinton up your arse) and scored some wonderful goals.
However, the day that sticks out most is the angriest I've ever been at a football match. The day Kevin McNally sent him off at Burnley for complaining after we'd had a perfectly good goal disallowed by saying "If that's how it's going to be we might as well go home". Nearly caused a riot down the big side at Turf Moor.
Loved the man.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Happy to oblige - a very direct player, with a constant supply line of passes from Len Badger or Tony Currie. When he broke into that upright, loping stride, you knew his mind was on goal. When he hit the ball, there was a blur before the net bulged, or someone was mortally wounded on the Kop.

Great player (in an era of greats), a good man, but above all a great Blade.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

The abiding memory is striking the ball so cleanly. Corners, free-kicks or shots from almost anywhere, Woody always seemed to strike it true and with awesome power when needed. It helped that he had thighs like tree trunks in getting the power, but it was mainly technique that enabled him to hit it so sweet time and time again.

 

[Woodwardfan]

One promotion season he scored 21 and had 29 assists, which represented 75% involvement in all United's goals, not a bad achievement when Currie was in the team as well!

What more can I say?

My No.1 Blade player in my days watching since 1956. Just look how many posters on S24SU have adopted Woody's name for this forum and it's 37 years since he played his last game.

True hero, True Blade.

 

[Bladebri]

Not only a legend but a hero to so many blades fans, the goal against Everton I think when he hit the ball over the keeper was pure class, kids looked up to him a true role model a super blade who will alway be remembered.

 

[metalblade]

Oh yes Woody made the game look easy which to him I suppose it was, his heading was a bit on the weak side otherwise he had the lot. Never seen anyone generate so much power into shots but look at old photo's and see the guy had legs like a bodybuilder, he could shoot with both feet, bend it with the inside or outside of the foot left or right it didn't matter (Beckham don't come close) on more than one occasion his shots knocked defenders off their feet until the ice cold sponge of the physio brought them round. What sticks in my mind was he could be running to the kop at full speed and just a yard or so away from the by-line a flick of the right foot would cut the ball back to the penalty spot, a defenders nightmare a centre forwards dream. First game of the season might have been 72 at newly promoted Birmingham we was right behind the goal when Woody hit the winner (1-2 win) and I'll tell you everyone ducked the ball was bouncing back out of the goal before the keeper hit the floor from his gesture of a dive, he never got near it.

 

[Mad Mick]

I remember the rivalry with Leeds, and who had the hardest shot Peter Lorimer or Woody. Lorimer played for Scotland and Woody in any other era would have played for England.
To my mind there was no contest, Lorimer was good but Woody was a in different class.

 

[blade too long]

Wanted - Memories of Alan Woodward

 

[Edinblade]

All the above are fantastic memories. I think what I remember most is the way he took corners. From the right hand side he would hit an in-swinger with the outside of his right foot. He struck it hard and usually just below the height of the goal. Any keeper at the back post would panick as the ball would be virtually over the line before they could reach it. Corners in those days were greeted with massive cheers, he generated so much excitement. I have no idea how many goals came from those corners, but it must have been quite a few, some of which went straight in without anyone else touching the ball.

 

[Edinblade]

My memory is fading, but I'm sure Woody scored the winner at Old Trafford one Boxing Day. He broke away down the right hand side and struck a beauty in the net.
Having been 1 down that made it 2 - 1 to the Blades quite late in the game. At which point after trying to keep quiet we made a sharp exit before the rather unsociable Man Ure fans spoilt our day.
Apologies if any of the above is incorrect.

 

[Edinblade]

Having enjoyed the days of watching Tony Currie, Len Badger and Sir Alan Woodward along with the rest of that team I can assure everyone no three players have ever come within a million miles of being that good.

 

[Bert]

Bert once had a piss next to him at Leicester Forest services when we were returning from an away game.
It is impossible to get a better claim to fame than that.

 

[Silent Blade]

One promotion season he scored 21 and had 29 assists, which represented 75% involvement in all United's goals, not a bad achievement when Currie was in the team as well!

1969-70 wasnt the promotion season

 

[Silent Blade]

I have no idea how many goals came from those corners, but it must have been quite a few, some of which went straight in without anyone else touching the ball.

he scored direct from corners at least 4 times

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/alan-woodwards-goals-and-assists.40133/

 

[Dnblade]

Remember Woody from my early days at the Lane,when he was another one off the youth production line along with the likes of Len Badger,Bernard Shaw,Mick Jones..and the Blades legend Joe Shaw was still in the side,although my memory of Joe is sadly very sketchy.
He seemed an ever present on the right wing..He made taking a corner into an art form ..inswingers,outswingers..the only player who could actually score from a corner and mean it.He was very consistent...must have been a dream for the strikers,as you knew he'd put in a great cross or corner..linked up well,could strike a ball as good as anyone.
Great memories of him being one of the key players in our '71 promotion side,and then in his later years being the senior pro around the time we had Alex Sabella,and alongside another batch of youngsters like Kenworthy,Stainrod,Edwards and Hamson....A pleasure to have been around to witness the likes of Woody...Legend!

 

[finlaytheblade]

he scored direct from corners at least 4 times

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/alan-woodwards-goals-and-assists.40133/

Scored a cracker at west brom i think it was the season we were relegated (67-68) he was a teenager
and not really known about as he wasnt a regular at that time. Cut in from the right wing and from the old inside
right position leathered it with his left foot from around 25 yds it screamed into the top corner the entire crowd went silent for a few seconds it was a stunning strike obviously after the initial silence blades fans celebrated..I think a
player called smith (united) or a baggies player broke his leg in that match.Longg

 

[finlaytheblade]

didnt get chance to finish my post computer on the blink i meant to finish with a long long time ago but the goal i can see even now when i close my eyes.We will never see the likes of him again

 

[blade too long]

a goal at Coventry , 35 to 40 yards out , no run up just swung that leg of his and it went like a rocket into the top corner
their keeper was asking their defender to move not realising the ball had flown past him seconds earlier, he just heard a whoosh

 

[Silent Blade]

Scored a cracker at west brom i think it was the season we were relegated (67-68) he was a teenager
and not really known about as he wasnt a regular at that time. Cut in from the right wing and from the old inside
right position leathered it with his left foot from around 25 yds it screamed into the top corner the entire crowd went silent for a few seconds it was a stunning strike obviously after the initial silence blades fans celebrated..I think a
player called smith (united) or a baggies player broke his leg in that match.Longg

Willie Smith was signed from Cumnock (Scotland) in 1966, scored for us in his debut match you are talking about. Played only two more games for us (v Fulham in Cup and v Southampton) before going back to Scotland.
Your description of Woody's goal at WBA in 1966-67 season is just like how it was reported in the Green Un report
GOAL - v WBA (a) 11.2.67. Woodward beat two men cutting in from the right and when 25 yards out let fly a left foot drive which shot into the netting way beyond Osborne's right hand. The goalkeeper never had a chance

 

[Silent Blade]

a goal at Coventry , 35 to 40 yards out , no run up just swung that leg of his and it went like a rocket into the top corner
their keeper was asking their defender to move not realising the ball had flown past him seconds earlier, he just heard a whoosh

This one? If so, I was there too!

GOAL - v Coventry (a) 28.3.75. The match was in injury time and there proved to be twenty seconds left when Woodward, picking up the last pass from the masterly Currie, curved a superb shot up and over the busy penalty area into that deadly top corner which is so inaccessible for goalkeepers. United's manager Ken Furphy was in no doubt about the quality of it all; "It wasn't goal of the month", he said, "for me it was the goal of the century. For a player to take control in a situation like that, find the time to look up and put it there was just brilliant".

 

[Hodgyman]

I was privileged to see most of Alan's career with United and the main things that stick in my mind to this day are him being the best right winger I have seen at BDTBL for or against us and a terrific striker of the ball - he could hit a ball so hard it went out of shape causing the ball to change direction many times before hitting the back of the net. One particular special goal, not for it's importance but it's sheer class and power of two of United's greats. It was against York City in the league cup (I think). TC took a corner from the John Street side at the BL end and Tee'd up a first time, full blooded volley from Alan which screamed into the roof of the net. I was fortunate to be in the upper tier of BL stand and had a perfect view of it's powerful and irregular flight.

The versatility of the man who even starred as make-shift goalkeeper and towards the end of his career as a midfield general after TC vacated the position.

I was also proud to have met him personally when he graciously accepted the invitation to present trophies in the end of season presentation night for a local amateur football club that I played for. He was such a modest and down to earth character whose love of the game shone through.

 

[Silent Blade]

One particular special goal, not for it's importance but it's sheer class and power of two of United's greats. It was against York City in the league cup (I think). TC took a corner from the John Street side at the BL end and Tee'd up a first time, full blooded volley from Alan which screamed into the roof of the net. I was fortunate to be in the upper tier of BL stand and had a perfect view of it's powerful and irregular flight.

This is the description of his goal against York according to the Morning Telegraph

GOAL - v York (h) 5.10.71. Salmons making a despairing run down the left, saw his shot deflected into the path of Woodward in the inside right position. The ball seemed nearer his left foot than his right foot, but the winger improvised a stupendous right foot volley from 22 yards, which swerved high into Hillyard's left hand corner.

 

[Benny and the Blades]

Always seemed a very quiet man in a game, never a show off just class with the ball.
Remember thinking at one time what a forward line we could have had back then if they had held on to Birchenall and Jones.

11 Salmons 10 Birchenall 9 Jones 8 Currie 7 Woodward. and it would have cost the club £26,500 The fee they paid for Currie...

 

[Dnblade]

Anybody remember the Woody goal which stuck in the top left corner stansion ..from about 25/30 yards I think..can't remember who it was against..and who can forget his part in that 7-0 thrashing of Ipswich where he got 4.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I will contribute more later in the week, ut for now I will say I agree that no one, especially not fucking Lorimer, was fit to tie his shoelaces.
And yet YTV used to drool over Lorimer for his so called 90 mile an hour shot , while a genius like Woody got fuck all.
Lorimer got esteem as he played for scummy Leeds, fairness,and objectivity must go out the window where Leeds,are concerned. I do not care what Lorimer was like, I will never accept that he was as good as Woody. As for Hinton..fuck off Clough..

 

[Knackered Blade]

This one? If so, I was there too!

GOAL - v Coventry (a) 28.3.75. The match was in injury time and there proved to be twenty seconds left when Woodward, picking up the last pass from the masterly Currie, curved a superb shot up and over the busy penalty area into that deadly top corner which is so inaccessible for goalkeepers. United's manager Ken Furphy was in no doubt about the quality of it all; "It wasn't goal of the month", he said, "for me it was the goal of the century. For a player to take control in a situation like that, find the time to look up and put it there was just brilliant".

I would just like to back up Silent. I was in line with the edge of the penalty area on the terrace. Woodward was just outside the penalty area. He received the pass, looked up and chipped it into the top corner. Absolute class! People remember his powerful shooting, but this goal showed a less seen side of his game, a more subtle way of scoring a goal.

 

[Bert]

a goal at Coventry , 35 to 40 yards out , no run up just swung that leg of his and it went like a rocket into the top corner
their keeper was asking their defender to move not realising the ball had flown past him seconds earlier, he just heard a whoosh

The goal at Leicester direct from a corner.......a youthful Bert was in that crowd behind the goal.

 

[Silent Blade]

The goal at Leicester direct from a corner.......a youthful Bert was in that crowd behind the goal.

I was sat at the other end. at the time I never thought anyone could score direct from a corner!

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I've always thought that the John Harris team was the best that United has ever produced, but this stroll down memory lane has made me realise that it's probably also the best that Sheffield has produced.

In terms of entertainment, there has been nothing to touch them and (playing the old fart game here), I only wish that the forum's young guns could be transported back to a time when attacking football and consummate skill were a regular part of Saturday afternoons.

Woody, Currie, Badger, Salmons et al, what a genius was John Harris - that team was not only Sheffield Steel, it was also pure gold.