Alan Woodward's goals and assists

[Silent Blade]

Thanks to Matthew Bell of Flashing Blade for sending me the attachment of the feature I did for Flashing Blade in around 2002. I will copy and paste each season per page so that you can read about Woody's goals and assists in one particular season you enjoyed in one page rather than having to read the whole lot in one page.

Having watched the Blades regularly since 1970 it was a real privilege seeing many of Alan Woodward's great goals and assists from crosses or corners. I have therefore been to the Sheffield Library to look in the Green ‘Un and Morning Telegraph archives to look up reports of the games he played and the goals he scored or created.
Woodward joined the club as an apprentice in 1962 after being a regular in the Barnsley schoolboys team the previous season. His wing exploits in the Northern Intermediate League and Central League drew many admirers and during the 1963/64 season quite a few of the Lane faithful wrote to the Green ‘Un sportsbag suggesting that Woodward should be given a chance in the first team. The United youth team had won the Northern Intermediate League and Cup double.
Here are a couple of paragraphs from the United v Leeds second leg of the N.I.L. Cup final report. The Blades won 2-1 at Leeds in the first leg and won the second leg by 1-0; “Barry Wagstaff slung a 30-yard pass out to Woodward and Birchenall soared like an eagle to head home the winger's pin-point centre. After tasting the heady heights of success, the 5,101 crowd saw a dejected Woodward kneeling on the spot ten minutes later after blazing a spot kick wide.”
The United team that evening was Dave Walton, Len Badger, Bernard Shaw, Frank Barlow, Charlie Bell, Sam Clarke, Alan Woodward, Barry Wagstaff, Alan Birchenall, Mick Jones and (?) Disney. Walton, Clarke and Disney never played for the first team. Included in the Leeds side were David Harvey (who was Scotland's goalkeeper for a few years and still played for Leeds in the 1980s), Jimmy Greenhoff (who had success at Stoke and Manchester United), Paul Madeley (who went on to be a long servant for Leeds and played for England), Eddie Gray (another long servant who played for Scotland), Rod Belfitt (who played for Ipswich under Bobby Robson) and Terry Hibbitt (who went on to be a crowd favourite at Newcastle).
In recognition of Woodward’s achievements, produced below are descriptions of his goals and assists from reports in the Green ‘Un and Morning Telegraph during his first-team career:-

1964-65
27 league plus 3 FA Cup appearances
8 goals, 6 assists
GOAL - v Leeds (a) 31.10.64. Woodward jabbed home his first goal for the club after Hartle had beaten three men to feed Jones and the centre forward pulled the ball back for Woodward to do the rest.
ASSIST- v Sunderland (h) 21.11.64. Hartle headed the goal following a fine centre by Woodward.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (h) 5.12.64. Woodward created a fine opening for Tony Wagstaff to fire in an oblique shot past Withers.
GOAL - v Tottenham (h) 12.12.64. Jennings tried to bounce the ball on a soggy surface, Woodward challenging hopefully and pounced on the sticky ball, swept it past the goalkeeper and crashed it into the net.
GOAL - v Burnley (a) 19.12.64. From a bad back pass Woodward snapped up the chance to lob the ball over the advancing goalkeeper's head. GOAL - v Manchester United (a) 28.12.64. Graham Shaw swung a long ball into the home goal, Pat Dunne failed to cut it out when challenged by Jones and Woodward pounced to score.
ASSIST - v Sheffield Wednesday (h) 2.1.65. Woodward swung a centre over and Birchenall timed his leap magnificently to head over the advancing Springett.
GOAL - v Bristol City (h) FA Cup replay 11.1.65. Matthewson's pass was coolly flicked on for Woodward to sweep a left-foot shot past Gibson.
ASSIST - v Bristol City (h) FA Cup replay 11.1.65. Jones headed home a shot by Woodward.
GOAL - v Birmingham (a) 21.1.65. Hartle dribbled the ball away from United's penalty area and the ball was carried right the length of the field for Jones to slip the ball inside Green for Woodward to beat Schofield as the goalkeeper came out.
ASSIST - v West Ham United (h) 6.2.65 Jones headed United into the lead but praise for the effort must be given to Woodward who chased a long ball by the right corner flag, stopped the ball, fell and still got up in time to pull back the centre which Jones converted.
ASSIST - v Blackpool (a) 20.2.65. Badger's free kick was neatly helped on by Kettleborough to Woodward and the outside right's lob had Waiters challenged by Jones in severe trouble. GOAL - v Blackburn (h) 27.2.65. Jones and Hartle had shots blocked on the line; the winger joined in the scramble to make sure.
GOAL - v Liverpool (h) 13.3.65. Bernard Shaw carried the ball well into the danger zone before tricking Liverpool defenders and slipping a ball out onto the right, which gave Woodward the chance to hammer a magnificent and oblique shot past Lawrence and just inside the far post.

 

[Silent Blade]

1965-66
23 league appearances plus 2 FA Cup
4 goals, 5 assists
ASSIST - v Arsenal (a) 6.11.65. Woodward slipped the ball through for the quick thinking Reece who pushed the ball past Burns (although Peter Howard in the Green Un thought it was Jones who passed to Reece but having seen the Match of the Day video of SUFC goals between 1965 and 1990 I am quite sure it was Woodward who made the pass).
GOAL - v Newcastle (h) 27.11.65. Woodward smashed home the penalty.
GOAL - v Burnley (h) 15.1.66. Birchenall made the running along the touchline and hit a fierce centre across the face of goal which Woodward slammed into the roof of the net.
ASSIST - v Fulham (h) 22.1.66. Woodward beat three men on the corner of the box before centring neatly to Birchenall beyond the reach of McClelland's arms.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 22.1.66. Following fine work by Matthewson and Tony Wagstaff, Woodward carried the ball into the penalty area before driving past McClelland.
ASSIST - v Sunderland (h) 5.2.66. A Woodward corner was beaten out, Matthewson returned the ball to the wingman whose centre was chested down by Barry Wagstaff before he blasted the ball into the net from twelve yards.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (h) 29.3.66. Holt's composure was shattered when Woodward beat off Clayton's challenge and crossed for Jones to take advantage of the gap and head home.
GOAL - v Man Utd (h) 16.4.66. Tony Wagstaff switched play with a 25-yard pass to Birchenall on the left wing and his cross was brilliantly headed home by Woodward with the Manchester United defence ruled out of order.
ASSIST - v Newcastle (a) 23.4.66. Badger set Woodward free down the right and his low sweeping cross caught McGrath flat-footed for Jones to nip in and beat Marshall before the Newcastle defence could recover their balance.

 

[Silent Blade]

1966-67
41 league appearances plus 4 FA Cup and 5 League Cup
14 goals, 11 assists
GOAL - v Sunderland (h) 20.9.66. Mallender set Woodward free down the middle and the outside right veered away from Harvey to leave Montgomery helpless with a left-foot shot.
GOAL - v Sheff Wed (a) 24.9.66. Bernard Shaw fed Reece and when the ball came across Ellis blocked efforts from Jones and Birchenall before Woodward nipped in to hit a low shot across Springett and into the net.
GOAL - v WBA (h) 1.10.66. Reece dribbled past three men before slipping the ball inside Collard, a gorgeous pass which Woodward accepted by blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
GOAL - v WBA (h) 1.10.66. Fenoughty pushed a ball through for Jones, who beat three men courageously, carried on, shook off the challenge of goalkeeper Sheppard and pulled the ball back for Woodward to stab the ball into the net from close range.
ASSIST - v Southampton(a) 8.10.66. Woodward deserved much of the credit for a fine centre which Jones soared to meet and head past the helpless McLaren.
GOAL - v Walsall (h) 26.10.66. Bell dispossessed a slow-moving Summers, Tony Wagstaff took up the running and Woodward finished it off in his stride with a fierce angled drive.
GOAL - v Walsall (h) 26.10.66. Lurking in the penalty area Woodward spun round on a Fenoughty pass and hit a left-foot volley which Carling failed to stop and the ball trickled agonisingly over the line for the winner.
GOAL - v West Ham (h) 29.10.66. Fenoughty robbed Moore, found Reece with a superb pass and the outside left caught two men on the wrong foot before passing to Woodward who made no mistake from close range.
ASSIST - v West Ham (h) 29.10.66. Woodward cut in to hammer a fierce centre which Burnett, challenged by Bell, turned into his own goal.
GOAL - v Blackpool (h) 12.11.66. Woodward drove the penalty wide but the ref ordered the kick to be retaken because a Blackpool player was still in the penalty area. This time Woodward made no mistake with the retaken kick.
ASSIST - v Man Utd (h) 26.12.66. A ball ran out to the right, apparently for a certain corner but Woodward snapped up the half chance and catching the ball on the line scooped it perfectly back for Birchenall to spring up like a jack-in-the-box and head home.
ASSIST - v Man Utd (h) 26.12.66. Woodward sent an accurate pass into the centre, this time from a free kick and up soared a spring-heeled Jones to head home the winner via the underside of the bar.
GOAL - v Stoke (h) 21.1.67. Jones, on the right, cut in and beat Farmer with a shot which Palmer managed to stop, but the right back could not stop himself and Woodward raced in to lash the ball and himself to the back of the net.
ASSIST - v Charlton (a) 28.1.67. Jones was the scorer, thumping the ball home after Woodward had beaten Wright with a good low cross.
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.
ASSIST - v Fulham (a) 18.2.67. The ball was helped on by Woodward to Jones, who sidestepped Dempsey and, from 20 yards, hit a great shot to the left of McClelland and high to the back of the net.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 25.2.67. A very intelligent through ball from Bernard Shaw did the damage as Southampton's defence were caught square expecting an offside decision that was never on and Woodward raced through the middle to hit the ball past McLaren, who was too slow to appreciate the obvious danger.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 25.2.67. Jones and Woodward won the ball almost on the goalline to the right of the Southampton goal and Woodward whipped in a rising shot, which flashed into the far top corner with McLaren standing helpless.
ASSIST - v Fulham (h) 1.3.67. Woodward, who had the beating of Callaghan throughout, neatly went round him on the outside and centred high across goal. The unmarked Punton, completely unflurried, waited and then smashed an unerring left-footed volley past the helpless Macedo.
GOAL - v Aston Villa (h) 18.3.67. Woodward lobbed a crossfield ball from Munks very craftily over Withers' head.
ASSIST- v Manchester City (h) 1.4.67. A minute before half time Jones gave this game a much needed tonic when he brilliantly headed a centre from Woodward downwards and past Ogley.
ASSIST - v West Ham (a) 4.4.67. Mallender missed Woodward's corner, Jones did not, and his first-time right-foot shot was nestling in the net before West Ham could make a move.
ASSIST - v West Ham (a) 4.4.67. Badger took up the running on the right and Mallender, running into position, crossed hard and low. Woodward produced one of his ‘specials’ that rocked the underside of the bar while West Ham were wondering what had hit them, Munks finished them off with a right foot shot of equal ferocity from the rebound.
ASSIST - v Chelsea (h) 17.4.67. Pouncing on a loose ball, Woodward twice held off Joe Kirkup before pulling his intended shot across the face of the goal. Jones, racing in at top speed, stuck out a leg and the ball bounced gently inside a post.
GOAL - v Leicester (a) 22.4.67. City's Goodfellow sent a sloppy pass on the edge of the box and Woodward nipped in to collect the ball, push it a yard and then hit a ferocious drive high into goal with Shilton helpless.

 

[Silent Blade]

1967-68
32 + 1 sub League appearances plus 3 FA Cup and 1 League Cup
6 League goals plus 1 in FA Cup, 6 assists
GOAL - v Manchester City (a) 16.9.67. A Badger cross was fumbled by Doyle as Jones challenged and Woodward hammered the ball into the net.
ASSIST - v Newcastle (h) 23.9.67. Woodward took the corner and Reece raced forward magnificently to send a glancing header past the baffled Marshall.
GOAL - v Wolves (h) 28.10.67. Woodward took his chance magnificently when Carlin sent him through. Woodward collected the ball beautifully on his toe, pulled it down, rounded Thomson and then the goalkeeper before coolly rolling the ball home.

Woodward replaced the injured Alan Hodgkinson in the 9th minute of the Sheffield United v Leeds United match (11.11.67). Woodward made two brilliant saves from Albert Johanneson and at the end of the match got a standing ovation from the crowd for a fine display and keeping a clean sheet.

ASSIST - v Coventry (h) 23.12.67. Coventry could not get to grips with a corner from the right, Addison headed for goal and though Hill was on the line with a cluster of City players, Addison claimed his first goal for his new club.
GOAL - v Coventry (h) 23.12.67. A great move started by Carlin ended with Addison putting Woodward through and the outside right got there before Glazier and rolled the ball past him.
ASSIST - v Southampton (a) 26.12.67. Woodward picked the ball up in midfield, raced out to the wing and sent over a pinpoint low centre into the six-yard area which Reece sidefooted in.
GOAL - v Southampton (a) 26.12.67, Woodward, a threat to the end, beat three men out on the right and hit a low shot inside the near post to make the scores again level.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 30.12.67. Reece was brought down by Webb in penalty area and Woodward made no mistake with the spot kick, sending Forsyth the wrong way.
ASSIST - v Arsenal (a) 13.1.68. After a brilliant run, Woodward found Addison inside the penalty area and the former Arsenal man hit a superb shot into the far top corner.
PENALTY MISS - v Manchester City (h) 20.1.68. Buckley was chopped down by Heslop after a great run had taken him almost within shooting distance. Woodward, however, shot almost straight at Mulhearn from the penalty spot
GOAL - v Blackpool (h) 17.2.68. Blackpool completely misjudged a Reece corner from the left, and Woodward met it on the volley with a ferocious left foot shot that gave Taylor no chance.
ASSIST - v Wolves (a) 23.3.68. United went three up after a superb header by Reece from a Woodward corner on the left.
ASSIST - v Liverpool (a) 12.4.68. Addison struck a good ball out of midfield for Woodward. His long, dropping centre to the far post looked easy meat for the Liverpool defence until Reece nipped in front of Lawler to cleverly head past Lawrence and into the far corner of the goal.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 23.4.68. A splendid through ball from Barlow enabled Woodward to ram home a brilliant goal.

 

[Silent Blade]

1968/69 was United’s first season back in the old Second Division since they were promoted to the top flight in 1960/61. With Alan Woodward approaching his peak and the teenage sensation Tony Currie starting his first full season, United were among the promotion favourites as they attempted to go straight back up. However, Arthur Rowley had been brought in as team manager, with John Harris stepping sideways to the position of general manager, and despite overhauling the squad, Rowley was unable to get the team to play to its potential and consequently they missed out, finishing a disappointing ninth. This is Alan Woodward’s record that season, using reports mainly from the Sheffield Star:
Alan Woodward 1968-69
42 League appearances plus 1 FA Cup and 1 League Cup
12 league goals, 13 assists
GOAL - v Aston Villa (h) 10.8.68. Woodward, attempting to volley a Reece cross, hammered the ball out to Ferguson on the far touchline. Fortunately for the Blades, the outside right did not let this worry him when an almost identical opportunity presented itself in the tenth minute, Woodward volleyed a glorious goal following fine ground work by Reece and Addison.
ASSIST - v Millwall (h) 24.8.68. Carlin was fouled near the right corner flag, Woodward's free kick was a beauty and Addison beat off a two-man challenge to head down past King, the ball being tucked just inside the post.
GOAL - v Oxford (h) 14.9.68. The big Oxford defenders failed to clear Salmons' corner, Addison managed to stick out a foot and turn the ball into the path of Woodward, who hit a low one through a crowd of players to the back of the net.
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 18.9.68. With four minutes left United salvaged a point when Reece headed a low Woodward cross wide of Ian McKechnie.
ASSIST - v Blackpool (h) 28.9.68. It was in the 39th minute when Woodward swung over a corner and Reece soared magnificently above everybody else to score with a header tucked just inside the post.
GOAL - v Fulham (a) 9.10.68. An opportunist goal by Woodward did the trick. He moved in from the wing while Addison and Hill took away two defenders, and then released an explosive shot which dipped under the bar.
ASSIST - v Charlton (h) 26.10.68. Woodward sidestepped Kinsey very neatly, hit a low one past the advancing Wright and as Addison and Keirs lunged for the ball, the Blades centre forward got there first.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (a) 2.11.68. Woodward's corner kick was a good one and Colquhoun rose above everyone else to head well wide of Milkins.
ASSIST - v Bury (a) 16.11.68. A Badger free kick was only partially cleared by Bury and Woodward hammered a great volley towards goal but it struck a white shirt, rolled across the face of goal and Tudor raced in to stick out his left foot and tuck it in the corner of the net.
ASSIST - v Preston (h) 23.11.68. It came from a well taken Woodward corner kick, Tudor racing past the startled visiting defenders to thunder a magnificent header past the helpless Kelly.
ASSIST - v Preston (h) 23.11.68. Woodward cut in, pulled back yet another of his well-judged centres and to everyone's amazement McNab, the Preston player, headed it superbly into the top corner of the netting past a bewildered Kelly.
ASSIST - v Preston (h) 23.11.68. Reece headed a glorious third goal from another Woodward corner. This time it was an outswinger and Reece headed into the far corner with astonishing power considering the distance near the edge of the box.
GOAL - v Birmingham (h) 7.12.68. Woodward harassed Green, who tried passing back to Robinson, but Tudor got there first, headed the ball, and Woodward gave Herriot no chance with a fierce drive.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (h) 11.1.69. Woodward whipped over a fine cross which Tudor, diving to meet, headed back out! With Portsmouth at sixes and sevens the outside right smartly hammered the ball back and it flew past Milkins into the net aided by a Pointer deflection.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (h) 11.1.69. Powell broke up a Portsmouth move on the halfway line, passed to Woodward who went on to score a fine solo goal, running nearly half the length of the field before beating Milkins with a low drive from twelve yards.
ASSIST - v Carlisle (a) 18.1.69. In the 89th minute the Blades went ahead when Tudor flung himself to head home a Woodward corner in magnificent fashion.
GOAL - v Bury (h). 1.2.69. The fun was not over by any means, Woodward streaking away down the left in the 34th minute to shatter Ramsbottom with an astonishingly good drive on the run and the netting bulged.
GOAL - v Birmingham (a) 4.3.69. Colquhoun's big kick down the middle parted Birmingham's defence as if it were a pair of swing doors, and Woodward, timing his run superbly, nipped through the gap and chipped the ball sweetly over the advancing goalkeeper.
ASSIST - v Bristol City (h) 8.3.69. Tudor put United in front for the second time. It was Woodward's cross which gave Tudor and Currie the chance to score, and the centre forward got there first.
GOAL - v Bolton (h) 22.3.69. Badger's free kick to the far post was a good one, Munks headed wide of Hopkinson and Woodward raced in to lash the ball into the roof of the net.
GOAL - v Bolton (h) 22.3.69. United won another corner in the 83rd minute, it wasn't properly cleared, and Woodward from twelve yards hit home an unstoppable gift goal.
GOAL - v Charlton (a) 25.3.69. Hemsley sent Woodward away down the right and after the winger had turned inside two defenders he unleashed a low left-foot shot which Wright seemed to have covered. But to the horror of the home fans in the 12,385 crowd, he let the ball run through his legs.
ASSIST - v Norwich (h) 29.3.69. At long last we got a goal everybody had been waiting patiently for when Tudor headed for the top corner following a Woodward corner. Vasper was slow to get off the ground and was well beaten.
GOAL - v Blackpool (a) 5.4.69. Hodgkinson's huge clearance bounced awkwardly, Bentley slipped and Woodward raced away. The outside right deceived two players before hitting a low shot past Thomas' left hand from the edge of the penalty area.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (h) 12.4.69. Staniforth took his total to two in two impressive outings when he slotted home his second goal of the match following an incredible piece of work by Woodward, who took on three men and with a lot of luck and considerable persistence managed to turn the ball back to leave Staniforth with an easy chance.

 

[Silent Blade]

Rowley was sacked days before the start of the 1969/70 season and John Harris resumed his old role. Rowley had made some good signings and had assembled a good squad and so United were heavily favoured again. They were in the running most of the season and were highest scorers in the division, but four defeats on the trot in March proved fatal, though the season did bring the famous FA Cup defeat of Everton.
Alan Woodward 1969-70
42 League plus 2 FA Cup and 3 League Cup appearances
21 goals, 29 assists
ASSIST - v Middlesbrough (h) 9.8.69. After a fine run and cross by Woodward, Reece hit a brilliant volley while in mid-air to leave Short hopelessly beaten.
GOAL - v Middlesbrough (h) 9.8.69. Mick Heaton began the hard work down the left flank with an intelligent interception and follow up and when Woodward got control just inside the penalty box he sent the three white-shirted defenders the wrong way before beating Short with a beautiful low drive to the far corner.
GOAL - v Middlesbrough (h) 9.8.69. Though Reece and Currie were thwarted in scoring efforts the ball rolled out to Woodward, near the six yard box, and he hammered the ball home.
GOAL - v Charlton (h) 12.8.69. Woodward shot away the cobwebs with a memorable 74th minute goal. Currie and Reece provided the short build-up, leaving Woodward to coolly and brilliantly dribble on a sixpence around Went and Wright, before plonking the ball into the net.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (a) 16.8.69. A minute later Currie was on the mark again with a drive from close range, Woodward's work on the right having left the home defence looking very tatty.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (a) 16.8.69. Woodward ran nearly half the length of the field, leaving Travers and Hand trailing in his wake, and deceived Milkins with a smart side-step and rolled the ball home.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (a) 16.8.69. A low drive from Woodward was deflected into the net by Pompey defender Youlden.
ASSIST- v Bristol City (h) 26.8.69. Addison collected a Hodgkinson clearance and sent Woodward off down the right with a brilliant pass. The winger outpaced Drysdale and Connor, attempting to clear his cross, screwed the ball past his own goalkeeper.
GOAL - v Newcastle (h) 2.9.69. A corner was won within thirty seconds of the start. Woodward came across from the right to take it and his banana kick sneaked in at the near post as Powell harassed Craggs.
ASSIST - v Newcastle (h) 2.9.69. Woodward chased down the right flank and curved over an immaculate cross for Tudor to mark his return to the first team with a perfect header.
ASSIST - v Birmingham (a) 13.9.69. Tudor opened the scoring with a truly glorious goal. Currie began the work on the right before sending Woodward away and the outside right's made-to-measure centre was met by a jack-knifing header on the part of the centre forward.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 23.9.69. Colquhoun's pass gave Staniforth the chance to beat a defender. The inside left did the job well, zipping the ball forward for Woodward to run on and shoot past Davie in grand style.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 23.9.69. Woodward doubled the account ten minutes after half time, finishing a move he began with a splendid run down the middle, and steering the left-wing cross from Reece into the net.
GOAL - v Preston (a) 27.9.69. Woodward was sent away down the right by Badger. The winger beat a man and from way out near the corner flag hit a low one which swerved a little, was missed by the onrushing Currie and left alone surprisingly by Kelly.
ASSIST - v Hull (h) 4.10.69. With seven minutes gone Badger, Addison and Woodward combined to tee up a chance which Currie swept into the net from close range.
GOAL - v Hull (h) 4.10.69. Then in the eighth minute Woodward moved brilliantly away from his rival, cut in and unleashed a fierce left foot volley from 25 yards which sizzled past the diving McKechnie.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (h) 7.10.69. At half time, United led by one goal, headed by Reece in 41 minutes from a Woodward corner.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (h) 7.10.69. Hand intercepted a Powell pass intended for Currie, the centre half played the ball across the goalmouth instead of to Milkins who had left his goal. Harris struck out a boot, but only diverted the ball to Woodward and the winger shot all along the ground and into the net from 25 yards.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (h) 7.10.69. Reece took a pass from Woodward and slotted the ball past an apparently unsighted Milkins from the left corner of the penalty area.
GOAL - v Swindon (a) 11.10.69. There was only a minute and half left when a Woodward rocket shot from thirty yards left Downsborough wondering what day it was.
GOAL - v Blackpool (h) 18.10.69. Woodward raced fully thirty yards in chasing a long ball from Badger which was misjudged by Hatton. The Blackpool man then tried holding off Woodward with his arm, but the winger ignored all distractions, fastened on to the ball and hit a glorious low left-foot drive past Thomson.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (h) 1.11.69. Rovers' fine defence had its reputation damaged as a Reece cross was headed on by Woodward and Currie controlled the ball before slamming it home from close range.
GOAL - v Blackburn (h) 1.11.69. Credit must go to Addison for a magnificent pass from the centre circle that sent Woodward away. Wilson frantically tried to handle the ball but failed and Woodward was round him and placing a shot to the far corner.
GOAL - v QPR (a) 8.11.69. In the 74th minute Woodward got the goal the team's play deserved. The outside right collected a ball from Barlow beautifully on the edge of the box, left Harris well behind, and beat Kelly with a glorious shot.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (h) 22.11.69. United eventually broke the ice, thanks to another bad mistake by the young Villa keeper Phillips who dropped a corner from Woodward. Colquhoun raced in to lash the ball to the roof of the net.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (h) 22.11.69. Hemsley and Woodward took the ball half the length of the field before Woodward pulled back for Reece to slide it home.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (h) 22.11.69. In the last kick of the match Currie celebrated becoming a father this week by hitting the fifth goal following a smart interception by Woodward.
GOAL - v Carlisle (a) 29.11.69. An Addison through ball sent Reece away. The Welshman beat two men smartly then, slipping the ball past Ross, pulled it back for Woodward to head a simple goal.
ASSIST - v Birmingham (h) 13.12.69. Herriot tried to fist away an inswinging corner by Woodward from the left. He failed and the ball struck the far post before Addison just got a touch to score the second goal. Many in the crowd thought the winger had scored direct.
ASSIST- v Birmingham (h) 13.12.69. Then came the explosions. Currie didn't have the pace to beat Pendrey but won a corner, which was taken by Woodward and met by Colquhoun with an impeccable header by the near post.
GOAL - v Birmingham (h) 13.12.69. With 68 minutes gone Woodward, who had had a hand in all four goals, made it five and this time there was no doubt about the owner of the goal. A Barlow through ball, Woodward's shimmy sent two players the wrong way and the outside right was through to place his shot to the far corner.
ASSIST - v Norwich (a) 20.12.69. The move began just outside the Blades’ own penalty area with Currie beginning it, Badger and Barlow carrying it on, then Woodward whipped over a superb cross wide of Vasper for Tudor to head downwards.
ASSIST - v Watford (h) 27.12.69. Good work by Barlow helped to win another corner and when Woodward swung this over, Addison met it with a brilliant header.
ASSIST - v Everton (h) 3.1.70. Barlow foxed Everton on the right flank with a short pass to Woodward, whose long left-footed centre was met twelve yards from goal by Reece and the ball flew off his head into the far corner of the net with West hopelessly beaten.
ASSIST - v Everton (h) 3.1.70. Currie sent Woodward away, the wingman leaving Labone helpless before racing for the goal-line and pulling back the ball, Addison hurled through the air to head the ball firmly into the back of the net.
ASSIST - v Preston (h) 17.1.70. In the fourth minute of injury time Addison headed United's second goal after Woodward caught Ritchie in possession.
(The above match was the first match I attended as a committed Blade. I did attend some matches at the Lane before this but my concentration level was poor and I would not know any of the players' names).
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 31.1.70. Addison reduced the arrears with a header from Woodward's corner.
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 31.1.70. Addison grabbed a 59th minute leveller with a close-range flick that completed a move involving Currie and Woodward.
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 31.1.70. The Blades took the lead in the 72nd minute with a beautiful headed goal by Colquhoun from another Woodward corner.
ASSIST - v QPR (h) 24.2.70. The first corner was a marvel of inswinging accuracy, placed to the near post where Colquhoun headed in while the Rangers defence stared in disbelief.
ASSIST - v QPR (h) 24.2.70. The second corner by Woodward was floated high to the middle, where Reece rose like a dove to head a goal which had the Lane's biggest crowd of the season singing joyfully.
GOAL - v Blackburn (a) 28.2.70. United deservedly drew level in the 24th minute when Woodward, unmarked, volleyed an unstoppable drive past Jones following an excellent cross by Currie on the left.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (a) 28.2.70. Colquhoun, on the halfway line, sent Woodward away with an excellent pass and the wingman left Wilson well behind before whipping over a low cross which was thumped into the net by Currie, who beat Hunter in a determined dash for the ball.
GOAL - v Carlisle (h) 13.3.70. Garbutt brought down Addison just outside the penalty area, Barlow played his free kick a few inches to the right and Woodward walloped an unstoppable shot. Ross did not see the ball until he picked it out of the net.
ASSIST - v Leicester (a) 21.3.70. Addison won a shuddering tackle with Sjoberg in midfield, sent Woodward away and, as Woodward's shot eluded Shilton, Reece raced in to slot home.
(The above match was the first away game I attended. After the match I was autograph hunting outside the Filbert Street players’ entrance. Most of the United players were already in their coach and out of the blue Woodward signalled my dad to bring me over to the other side of the coach. My dad then lifted me up, despite my shyness, so that I could hand in my programme through the top of the coach window to Woodward and then he would make the other Blades players sign their autographs on my programme. It was an unforgettable gesture by Woody!).
ASSIST - v Millwall (h) 31.3.70. Yet another Woodward corner, this time from the left, ricocheted to Currie fifteen yards out and his right-foot volley exploded high into the right-hand corner of the net before King could make a gesture at a save.
GOAL - v Millwall (h) 31.3.70. Currie and Tudor, with a cute reverse pass along the back of the penalty, area set up the chance and Woodward, floating into the inside left position, drove it beyond King with a beautifully clean drive.
ASSIST - v Bristol City (a) 4.4.70. An inswinging corner from the left by Woodward and Colquhoun headed the ball downwards and past the despairing lunge of Jacobs.
GOAL - v Oxford (h) 15.4.70. Colquhoun played a long through ball, Tudor headed it down and Woodward took it round a defender before shooting past Barron.
GOAL - v Oxford (h) 15.4.70. Woodward walloped in number five - his 18th league goal in what for him has been a memorable campaign.

 

[Silent Blade]

1970-71
42 League plus 1 FA Cup and 2 League Cup games
15 goals, 19 assists
GOAL - v Swindon (h) 22.8.70. A clever cross from Currie was neatly flicked on by Reece - catching the Swindon defenders flat-footed - and Woodward volleyed the ball past an unsighted Downsborough.
ASSIST - v Swindon (h) 22.8.70. Colquhoun headed the late winner as he rose to divert a Woodward free kick in off the underside of Downsborough's bar.
OUCH! BET THAT HURT! - v Norwich (a) 29.8.70. A Salmons free kick to the far side of the box was played back by Badger and Woodward met it with a ferocious rising drive. Keelan knew nothing about it as the ball smashed against his chest and he was so shaken he had to have treatment.
The above match was ironically the first ever match that a Norwich supporter, who became my schoolmate and has remained a close friend since, went to. Some years ago on my visit to his house, his dad told me about the moment that Norwich's keeper Kevin Keelan was stunned after saving Woody's shot with his chest. It had amused many in the Carrow Road crowd.
GOAL - v Cardiff (a) 2.9.70. In the 68th minute Woodward struck a mighty free kick through a strong Cardiff wall and into the net from 30 yards.
ASSIST - v Millwall (a) 14.9.70. United went in front when Colquhoun headed home from a Woodward free kick just beyond the right edge of the penalty area.
GOAL - v Bristol City (h) 5.9.70. Just after Gerry Gow had put Bristol City three up, three angry Blades fans were led out of the ground by a policeman. In the 67th minute Woodward brought the biggest cheer yet when he hit a glorious goal from the edge of the box.
ASSIST - v Middlesbrough (h) 19.9.70. The Blades were in front with a goal brilliantly engineered by Badger, Currie and Woodward with Dearden scooping the ball home from close range.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (a) 30.9.70 Woodward's first in the 78th minute was a 25-yard drive which rose into the net past the helpless Milkins.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (a) 30.9.70. Seven minutes later Ley upended Dearden outside the Portsmouth penalty area, Barlow touched a short free kick to one side and Woodward drove fiercely into the net for his second goal.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (a) 30.9.70. A minute later Woodward broke away again. Milkins dived at his feet and the ball rolled away for Reece to run forward and push it into the goal.
GOAL - v Portsmouth (a) 30.9.70. If Woodward had been robbed of his hat-trick then, there was no stopping him a minute from the final whistle when, once again he galloped off on his own before unleashing a tremendous shot.
ASSIST - v Sheffield Wednesday (h) 3.10.70. In the 7th minute United went one up with a fine headed goal by Colquhoun. Woodward's free kick was met firmly at the far post by Colquhoun and Grummitt was left helpless.
ASSIST - v Sheffield Wednesday (h) 3.10.70. In the 11th minute United scored a second and again it was a Woodward cross that did the damage. Dearden soared magnificently above his rivals to head down into the corner and well to the right of Grummitt's despairing dive.
ASSIST - v Bolton (h) 20.10.70. Colquhoun ambled up to the near post for Woodward's right wing corner and, palpably alone, he simply headed the precise cross down and in. It was noticeable that at United's next corner two men watched the near post.
ASSIST - v Carlisle (h) 31.10.70. Heaton crossed an intelligent ball and Woodward smashed the ball towards the goal from the narrowest of angles with Dearden looking like the man who turned it past Ross.
ASSIST - v Carlisle (h) 31.10.70. Woodward's flag kick was as accurate as usual and Tudor got up well to direct an excellent header just in by the far post.
GOAL - v Oxford (h) 28.11.70. Sent away by Dearden's superb pass, Woodward beat two men in the penalty area before firing an angled shot inches inside the post.
ASSIST - v Charlton (h) 12.12.70. However, Charlton were torn apart in the second minute with a move begun by Currie, carried on by Woodward, with Barnwell prodding the ball home for his first senior goal for his club.
GOAL - v Leicester (h) 26.12.70. After being fouled by Cross just outside the box, Woodward bent a free kick round the wall of defenders and into the right hand corner, a shot which left Shilton stunned and stranded yards away at the other side of the goal.
ASSIST - v Portsmouth (h) 9.1.71. Currie did the initial good work with Woodward carrying it on and providing a perfect centre for Tudor to head a magnificent goal.
I remember Colquhoun shouting "It was me!" as most of the Blades players were congratulating Currie just after the goal. Colquhoun had been standing near the goal line when Currie made the shot and Colquhoun claimed that the ball hit his shin before it went in.
ASSIST - v Oxford (a) 30.1.71. From a Woodward corner, Dearden, burst through in the ninth minute, unmarked, to head a fine goal with the Oxford defence flat footed.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 6.2.71. Debut boy Ford deserves a lot of credit for some smart work on the left which sent Reece away and the Welshman tricked the advancing Read, pulling the ball back for Woodward to flick it over the line.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 6.2.71. It was a Woodward corner which was played back cleverly by Currie and the outside right sped in to thrash a great shot inside the near post.
GOAL - v Charlton (a) 13.2.71. Johnson was guilty of a poor back pass, Dearden read it well and raced away to pull the ball wide of Wright for Woodward, rushing up fast, to add the finishing touch.
ASSIST - v Sunderland (h) 20.2.71. A corner was cleared by Sunderland, but smartly played by Badger to Woodward, whose cross was met by Hemsley, who had crept behind their defensive wall almost unnoticed to head the ball home past Montgomery.
GOAL - v QPR (a) 13.3.71. With two minutes to go Woodward reduced arrears when he hit home a low cross from the right and his shot was aided by a deflection.
GOAL - v Blackburn (h) 20.3.71. Woodward rounded off a fine move with a low left-foot drive, the pace of which left Jones beaten.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (h) 20.3.71. Rovers were further shaken when, with three exciting minutes nearly completed, Ford chested down a Woodward corner and smashed home number two from close range.
ASSIST - v Blackburn (h) 20.3.71. From a Woodward corner, Colquhoun nipped in to head firmly past Jones.
GOAL - v Birmingham (h) 17.4.71. A Salmons long throw was headed on by Dearden and Woodward stuck out his boot, the ball rising and deceiving Kelly as it dipped in just under the angle of bar and post.
ASSIST - v Birmingham (h) 17.4.71. In the 89th minute Reece made the issue safe with a fantastic diving header from Woodward's cross.
ASSIST - v Cardiff (h) 27.4.71. Currie headed in Woodward's left-wing corner from almost on the goal line with Cardiff claiming vainly that Eadie was impeded.
ASSIST - v Cardiff (h) 27.4.71. A mistake by the craggy Murray was latched on to by Woodward, who otherwise had a disappointing match. The winger swiftly headed on the misplaced pass to Reece who lashed in an 18 yard drive which Eadie got his finger tips to but which still sped into the top left hand corner.
GOAL - v Watford (h) 1.5.71. Woodward shot the Blades into the lead they needed from the penalty spot. The award came when Gil Reece was brought down by Eddy after a clever run. Woodward, who gave up this job in First Division days, stepped up calmly to smash the ball high into the roof of the net.
ASSIST - v Watford (h) 1.5.71. In the 23rd minute the crowd went wild again when Reece thumped home a drive with incredible power and accuracy when fed by Woodward.

 

[Silent Blade]

1971-72
39 plus 1 sub League plus 1 FA Cup and 5 League Cup appearances
20 goals, 11 assists
(Excluding the abandoned match at Coventry)
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 14.8.71. Woodward opened the scoring season from the penalty spot after Gabriel was judged to have handled the ball in the box. Woodward sent Martin the wrong way to place his shot to the right of the goal.
ASSIST - v Leeds (h) 17.8.71. Sprake missed Woodward's corner kick and Flynn rose at the far post to head in.
ASSIST - v Leeds (h) 17.8.71. Another Woodward corner was headed back across goal by Flynn and Colquhoun headed in.
GOAL - v Everton (a) 21.8.71. With nine minutes left Woodward smashed
United into the lead with a ferocious shot from eight yards that found the net via the bar and post. The opening was created by Hockey's persistence followed by an intelligent pass and Everton thinking quite wrongly that Woodward was offside.
ASSIST - v Huddersfield (h) 31.8.71. Dearden got up well to head the first goal from Woodward's overhead kick.
GOAL - v Huddersfield (h) 31.8.71. Woodward made no mistake from the penalty spot sending Lawson the wrong way.
ASSIST - v Nottingham Forest (a) 4.9.71. Dearden climbed to rocket his header past Barron. Woodward provided the inch perfect cross after fine work by himself and Scullion.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 7.9.71. A Salmons centre was headed out to Hemsley whose shot was also headed clear, but this time the ball fell at Woodward's lethal feet and he hit it first time into the bottom right hand corner.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 7.9.71. Dearden slung over a cross from the right and substitute Gil Reece, on for Scullion and getting only his second taste of first team football this season, headed against a post. Once more Woodward's eye for the opportunity did not fail him as he rammed the ball home.
GOAL - v Leicester (a) 18.9.71 Four minutes from time Woodward scored direct from a corner, which was won by Salmons. Woodward's inswinger from the left completely deceived Whitworth by the near post, and left Shilton bamboozled.
GOAL - v York (h) 5.10.71. Woodward slapped the penalty low past Hillyard's left hand.
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.
GOAL - v Stoke (h) 9.10.71. Woodward scored his fourth penalty of the season, ninth goal in all with Banks going the wrong way.
ASSIST - v West Ham (a) 6.11.71. Reece demanded a fine save by Ferguson before beating him with a header from the resulting Woodward corner.
GOAL - v Arsenal (h) 8.11.71. The Arsenal defence caught square by Hockey's through ball, hesitated at in anticipation of an offside decision as Reece raced into the box. When many might have risked an angled shot, Reece kept cool. He stopped, neatly turned inside Roberts and Rice and pushed the ball across to Woodward, who stabbed it into the net.
GOAL - v Coventry (h) 13.11.71. In the 44th minute United broke the ice with Woodward scoring direct from a left flank corner kick. Woodward's inswinger completely fooled Glazier and his colleagues.
PENALTY MISS - v Coventry (h) 13.11.71. Woodward stepped up to hit the spot kick to Glazier's left but the keeper dived to save.
GOAL - v Coventry (h) 13.11.71. Currie and Scullion did the groundwork, Woodward chesting the ball into the penalty area before hammering an unstoppable drive past Glazier.
GOAL - v Ipswich (h) 27.11.71. United took the lead following a brilliant ball by Hemsley and some good running and unselfish work by Dearden. Woodward cut in and though his shot lacked his normal power it was incredibly accurate and tucked just inside the left hand post to beat Sivell's belated dive.
GOAL - v Ipswich (h) 27.11.71. Salmons was brought down at full speed by Hunter and Mr Gow gave the Blades a penalty. Woodward sent Sivell the wrong way with the spot kick.
ASSIST - v Ipswich (h) 27.11.71. Reece made it 3-0 with a brilliant header from a Woodward corner.
GOAL - v Ipswich (h) 27.11.71. Woodward completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute with a glorious left foot, first time volley, in meeting a ball by Hockey.
GOAL - v Ipswich (h) 27.11.71. In the 80th minute United made it seven with Woodward slamming home his fourth goal of the afternoon after Sivell could not hold a fierce Salmons drive.
INV - v Wolves (h) 11.12.71. Currie pulled a goal back from close range. Woodward's corner was headed back across goal, by Colquhoun, and headed to Currie's feet by Hockey.
GOAL - v Wolves (h) 11.12.71. From the spot kick Woodward stepped up to send Parkes the wrong way.
GOAL - v Nottingham Forest (h) 18.2.71. From an indirect free kick inside the penalty area, Currie set up Woodward to blast home his 18th goal of the season through the Forest defensive wall.
ASSIST - v Cardiff (h) 15.1.72. Mackenzie dashed through to power home Woodward's corner with all the certainty of a Ron Davies rather than a youngster notching his first goal for the club.
ASSIST - v Manchester City (h) 12.2.72. Dearden rose magnificently, surprisingly unaccompanied by City defenders, to power home a header from Woodward's corner.
GOAL - v Manchester City (h) 12.2.72. Woodward hammered home a penalty kick in the 50th minute after Dearden had been brought down by Bell.
ASSIST - v Manchester City (h) 12.2.72. Then in the 53rd minute Currie headed a glorious goal from Woodward's corner to put the handicapped Blades into a deserved lead.
ASSIST - v West Ham (h) 29.2.72. But Dearden made sure at his next opportunity, seven minutes later, when he went down to head Woodward's cross.
GOAL - v Everton (h) 18.3.72. With two minutes left Woodward equalised from the penalty spot after Henry Newton had brought down Currie.
ASSIST - v Newcastle (h) 1.4.72. Woodward headed on a cross from the left and Ford cleverly hooked the ball well beyond the reach of McFaul.
The Coventry v Sheffield United game played on 4.3.72 was abandoned after sixty minutes with the Blades leading 2-0. Here is how Peter Howard described both United's goals; “The Blades went into the lead with a goal superbly worked by Currie, Ford, Dearden and Woodward, who smashed home an unstoppable shot from close range. For the second goal Woodward's corner eluded the jumping Colquhoun and Currie, struck the surprised Blockley and shot past the astonished Glazier.”

It is interesting to read what great managers and players said about Woodward. Peter Howard wrote in the Green ‘Un on February 19th 1972; “Malcolm Allison, extrovert, talkative boss of Manchester City knows who is to blame for City's loss of a point at Bramall Lane last Saturday. Allison blames ...himself! He said, ‘It's my fault. I take full responsibility. I boobed. I should have told Joe Corrigan to stand in the middle of the line for Alan Woodward's corner kicks. Woodward is the best in Britain in these situations. He hits the ball with the outside of his foot and although he can get tremendous accuracy this way, the power is lessened. So it was pointless Corrigan standing at the far post. He wasn't to know this. This is my job and I should have covered it. I watched Sheffield United just before the game and Woodward did not have a right wing corner. I meant to come to the Dynamo Kiev match but I was ill and missed it. If I had been there, I would have spotted Woodward's trick and it could have saved a point.’”
Bobby Robson said after the Blades’ scoreless draw against Ipswich at the Lane in August 1972, "We came here with a little trepidation after losing 7-0 last season and we knew we mustn't lose an early goal. But in the end our worst problems were created by corners. That fellow Woodward is the best taker of corners I've ever known.”
Rodney Marsh said after a match against Fulham, "Nobody hits 'em better than Woody."
People say David Beckham is the best dead-ball specialist in the world but his right wing corners were very disappointing (his left wing corners were excellent) during the last World Cup and I was thinking, "If only Woody were taking the right wing corners". I think Matt Le Tissier is the only other British player I’ve seen who was as good as Woody at taking corners.

 

[Silent Blade]

1972-73
39 League plus 1 FA Cup and 5 League Cup appearances
11 goals, 8 assists
GOAL - v Birmingham (a) 12.8.72. Hockey's cross from the left was played back across goal by Dearden and only partially cleared. Woodward smartly smashed it past Cooper with such force that it hit the stanchion supporting the net and flew out again.
ASSIST - v Stoke (a) 23.8.72. Reece grabbed the lead in the 10th minute. Unmarked, he raced to head down a Woodward corner past John Farmer.
GOAL - v WBA (a) 26.8.72. In all this period Blades attackers had been very quiet but they scored with their first real shot at goal in the 21st minute, Woodward hitting a blistering shot from 25 yards into the top corner past Latchford's right hand. It came from a free kick tapped into Woodward's path after Robertson had handled a pass from Currie.
ASSIST - v WBA (a) 26.8.72. Cammack scored his first League goal for the Blades. Woodward's centre from the right was deliciously judged and Cammack's diving header was delightful. From ten yards he gave Latchford no chance.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 2.9.72. In the 27th minute Woodward notched the first goal of the season at the Kop end in fine style after a low cross from Salmons had put Burns and Steele in considerable confusion.
ASSIST - v Norwich (a) 9.9.72. Scullion did most of the midfield graft before feeding Woodward, who sent three men the wrong way before chipping the ball forward. Dearden missed his first chance with a misdirected header, but lunged forward to hook the ball over Keelan.
ASSIST - v Chelsea (h) 16.9.72. Dearden dived to head a fine goal following a Currie throw in lobbed on by Woodward.
GOAL - v Chelsea (h) 16.9.72. In the 16th minute Woodward smashed a penalty into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 after Dearden had been pushed over by Webb in chasing after a fine pass by Currie.
GOAL - v Manchester United (h) 30.9.72. Certainly, Woodward's mean shot from the penalty spot smacked of a man who still felt the earlier injustice. Twelve minutes earlier Manchester United were lucky not to concede a more obvious penalty when Woodward was felled by Dunne.
ASSIST - v Arsenal (h) 7.10.72. A great ball from Warboys sent Woodward away, and when he crossed low, new boy Blockley missed the ball, Dearden didn't, taking the ball in his stride to leave Barnett hopeless with a left foot shot.
GOAL - v Charlton (a) 10.10.72. With just eight minutes of normal time remaining
Woodward accepted a short corner from Dearden and bent the ball from an acute angle into the net for an equaliser.
ASSIST - v Charlton (a) 10.10.72. Dearden lunged at Woodward's corner, but it was
Currie who joyfully glanced the ball home.
GOAL - v Manchester City (h) 9.12.72. Dearden had the first chance, but his shot was pawed away by Corrigan, but Woodward, sensing the opportunity, stepped in to make no mistake with his left foot.
GOAL - v Leicester (h) 16.12.72. Woodward made no mistake from the penalty spot with enough power to beat Shilton who was diving the right way to his left.
ASSIST - v WBA (h) 6.1.73. Dearden took the ball round the desperate keeper only for Nisbet to stick out a foot and save at the expense of a corner. This brought United's third goal, MacKenzie soaring magnificently by the near post to turn Woodward's inswinger past Latchford.
ASSIST - v Norwich (h) 27.1.73. In the 30th minute Woodward's corner curved viciously, beating all the big men by the near post, but Dearden made no mistake, sweeping the ball home.
GOAL - v Norwich (h) 27.1.73. In the 36th minute Woodward took yet another corner on the left and this swung into the far corner for a deserved goal.
GOAL - v Arsenal (a) 3.3.73. In the 17th minute United went ahead with a goal by Woodward who smashed his shot in off Wilson when a long throw from Currie bounced over a ruck of players.
DOUBLE PENALTY MISS - v West Ham (h) 10.3.73. To the horror of the crowd Ferguson saved Woodward's first penalty, the keeper diving to his left. To the annoyance of West Ham, Mr Capey ordered a re-take because the keeper had moved before the kick and this time Woodward tried blasting the ball down the middle. Ferguson again got himself in the way, the ball flying off his leg into the air and after a scramble Dearden had his shot cleared.
GOAL - v Ipswich (a) 28.4.73. Woodward made no mistake from the spot kick, sending Best the wrong way.

 

[Silent Blade]

1973-74
42 League plus 1 FA Cup and 1 League Cup appearances
18 goals, 8 assists
GOAL - v Chelsea (a) 1.9.73. With fourteen minutes left United at last got their reward. A good ball from Bone sent Woodward running clear and the winger went on to hit a shot, which went through Bonetti's legs as the keeper came out at him.
ASSIST - v Arsenal (h) 4.9.73. The match was less than one minute old when Currie, Eddy and Woodward produced the first of many picture movements and when Woodward slipped over his cross the instinctive Dearden tucked it away without ever missing a stride as he ran in for the kill.
GOAL - v Arsenal (h) 4.9.73. In the ninth minute Currie insolently beat Storey but was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. Looking up, United's superstar slipped his free kick back for Woodward to whip his right foot shot along the ground, through the packed defence and into the corner of the net.
GOAL - v Spurs (a) 15.9.73. Woodward scored to complete 100 League goals for the club, and although he has certainly scored many more spectacular goals, I question whether he has shown such remarkable skill and calmness as he did for this one. Tottenham's defence got itself into a mess and Salmons was quick to pick up a loose ball and push it to Woodward out on the left inside the penalty area. The winger had an opponent with him, Jennings coming out and with almost no room Woodward curved the ball cleverly across the front of Jennings and watched it clip the foot of an upright and bounce gently over the line. Sir Alf Ramsey, a man not often known to show his appreciation, was at the match and he was overheard commenting to somebody at half time that Woodward's goal was "magnificent".
ASSIST - v Norwich (h) 22.9.73. City conceded a corner thanks to Bone's challenge. Woodward took it perfectly and Flynn, racing in, put an unstoppable header past Keelan.
GOAL - v Leicester (h) 6.10.73. Currie was brought down in the penalty area by Birchenall to give United their first spot kick of the season. The City players argued a bit at first with Birchenall in trouble with the referee but then Woodward stepped up to hit the spot kick fiercely past Shilton's left hand.
GOAL - v WBA (a) 8.10.73. Woodward collected a loose ball and ran forty yards up the field before tapping the ball past Latchford.
GOAL - v Stoke (a) 13.10.73. Dearden was upended by Smith and it was a borderline decision when the referee gave a free kick a yard outside the box. In the end it made no difference for despite the wall of defenders Woodward hit the free kick straight and low into the net. It appeared to fly through the wall giving the poor goalkeeper no chance.
There was a Sheffield Newspaper strike on most days in November 1973 and the accounts of the goals against West Ham and Coventry are from the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror respectively (copies of the match reports were posted from the Newspaper Library in Colindale, London). The descriptions of the goals against Derby (below) are by me as I watched the goals from the "100 Great Goals 1968-1981" video produced by Yorkshire TV.
GOAL - v West Ham (a) 10.11.73. Woodward's first, in the fifteenth minute, came from a sharp deflection off the luckless Taylor's body as the defender moved in to tackle. Up spun the ball and Ferguson, a few yards out, was left stranded as it looped out of his reach to settle gently in the net.
GOAL - v West Ham (a) 10.11.73. Woodward's second was a terrific volley from some twenty yards that might have gone anywhere. It was hardly seen until it flashed into the net. He met a Currie corner a foot above ground and crashed it home.
ASSIST - v Derby (h) 17.11.73. Woodward took a corner from the right and, despite slipping a little just before the kick, it was accurate enough for Flynn to head it over Boulton to give United the lead.
GOAL - v Derby (h). 17.11.73. Woodward picked up a ball in his own half and passed it to Badger, who returned the ball to Woodward on the right wing. Woodward then played a delightful one-two with Currie before sending home a powerful angled drive.
ASSIST - v Derby (h). 17.11.73. Colquhoun rose the highest to head in United's third from a corner on the left by Woodward.
GOAL - v Coventry (a) 24.11.73. From the resulting free kick United equalised. Woodward blasted it home from 25 yards on the stroke of half time.
ASSIST - v Everton (a) 15.12.73. Woodward took the corner from the left and his centre was met firmly by Colquhoun, who headed the ball past the stationary Lawson.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 22.12.73. The telling ball was a beautiful long cross by Salmons, which dropped to Currie in the Southampton penalty area. Currie showed great vision by nodding it calmly down to Woodward five yards away and, despite the attentions of McCarthy, Woodward made no mistake with a strong, low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 22.12.73. After 35 minutes United scored another brilliant goal. Again it was Woodward and this time it was that rarest of events, a Woodward header! Eddy began it all with a good ball to Speight and a splendid move flowed on through Currie and Salmons and when the cross came over, Woodward, unmarked, threw himself forward to head neatly and low into the net.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 22.12.73. Badger pestered Mills into conceding a corner and from the kick came one of the most remarkable goals seen at the Lane this season. Currie took it pulled it right back to Woodward, five yards outside the penalty area, and the winger hit another scorching shot which appeared to brush someone on the way in, but it was clearly Woodward's goal and the completion of a splendid hat-trick.
ASSIST - v Manchester United (a) 26.12.73. The Blades were back on terms after 26 minutes when Manchester failed to clear a Woodward cross and Currie snapped up the chance, shooting home from the inside of the penalty area.
GOAL - v Manchester United (a) 26.12.73. Holton allowed Connaughton's clearance to bounce over his head but Woodward - the leading first division marksman – reacted quickly enough to seize the chance, running on to draw Stepney and flick the ball wide of him for the late winner via the inside of the post.
GOAL - v Chelsea (h) 1.1.74. Woodward's corner was blocked by Chelsea's defence. Colquhoun miscued with what looked like a shot but the ball went out for Woodward to rip home a splendid angled drive to celebrate his 350th League appearance.
ASSIST - v Everton (h). 2.2.74. Woodward did well in a tight corner to get the ball across to Speight, who thumped it into the net for his first goal in the First Division.
GOAL - v Wolves (h) 5.2.74. Garbett's cross, intended for Salmons, was put well beyond Pierce's reach but Woodward quickly seized the ball and scored from an acute angle with a typically thunderous shot.
ASSIST - v Liverpool (h) 8.4.74. Nicholl it was who half hit the ball under Clemence's diving body to give the Blades victory after an incisive triangular build-up also including Garbett and Woodward.
GOAL - v Derby (a). 13.4.74. In the 60th minute, United pulled one back through Woodward. A Salmons crossfield ball found the wingman, who raced past Nish and cracked a superb drive into Boulton's right side corner.
GOAL - v Ipswich (a) 27.4.74. A ball out of defence found Field and the little No. 11 went splendidly down the line before crossing an accurate ball. Cammack did his part by beating the powerful Hunter in the air and when the ball fell to Woodward in space, the Lane top scorer made no mistake with a screamer into the top of the net.

 

[Silent Blade]

1974-75
42 League plus 2 FA Cup and 4 League Cup appearances
13 goals, 11 assists
ASSIST - v Newcastle (h) 27.8.74. Currie rolled in a free kick to the hard-working Woodward and when the winger's shot broke from a cluster of defenders Cammack struck to beat McFaul with a low drive from just inside the eighteen-yard box.
ASSIST - v Ipswich (h) 31.8.74. Woodward, with little space in which to work, sold a dummy to Hunter and fired in from close range. It was a vicious ball which hit the post and Mills, dashing back to cover, could not get out of the way and the ball rebounded off him into the net.
ASSIST - v Ipswich (h) 31.8.74. Picking up an astute pass from Woodward only fractionally inside the Ipswich half in the 58th minute, Field dribbled his way past the magnificent Beattie, Burley and Hunter in an electrifying run, and then from a difficult angle slotted the ball past the advancing Sivell to give United a commanding 3-0 lead.
GOAL - v West Ham (a) 7.9.74. This memorable goal is what I would describe as "the goal that defied science". My dad had driven down to my boarding school in Newbury for that day and took me and my three schoolmates to Upton Park to watch the match. Just before we got in the ground the gale-force wind blew a match ticket out of my dad's hand and he had to chase after it for about thirty yards. West Ham were leading 1-0 at half time and United faced playing against the strong wind for the second half and even if we had won a penalty it would be an almighty struggle to have enough power to shoot past the goalkeeper. Even now my Norwich-supporting mate would still recall the goal Woody scored in the match.
Here is what Benny Hill (not the comedian!) wrote in the Morning Telegraph two days later: “Long after Alan Woodward has finished his playing career, the fans will be talking about the goals he scored for Sheffield United; the spectacular, the face saving, the dramatic. Rarely it seems, is he involved in the run-of-the-mill goal. Invariably there are moments of drama when his power and skill combine to smash the ball into the net. At Upton Park he pulled one out of the hat to celebrate his birthday and put United level in the 78th minute; it was a wonderful example of his ability to read an opportunity and to do something positive as it comes. Intercepting a short pass from Holland just inside the West Ham half, Woodward streaked through the centre to slam the ball from 25 yards past a startled Day. John Lyall, the new West Ham manager, put the incident in a nutshell when he told me; “You can't give Woodward chances like that: he's too good a player.”
ASSIST - v Chesterfield (h). 10.9.74. Currie's masterful pass to Woodward started a three-man movement which ended with Dearden beating Tingay from close range.
GOAL - v Wolves (a) 24.9.74. Currie took the responsibility away from Field and sent the ball scudding from midfield to Speight. Speight used his head in answering Woodward's call for a centre which left the forward free with a blind-side header that gave Parkes no chance.
GOAL - v Liverpool (h) 28.9.74. Currie executed a typically precise, breathtaking long ball of some fifty yards to find Woodward, who, with superb accuracy, slotted a shot past Clemence.
ASSIST - v Everton (h) 12.10.74. Bradford swept a lovely pass out to Woodward. A quick low cross, a feint by Field and there was Dearden delighted to whack United in front.
GOAL - v Everton (h) 12.10.74. In the 27th minute the crowd got another helping of another Woodward magic. Bradford again provided a telling pass and Woodward read the situation splendidly to pick up a clearance by Kenyon and hoist the ball from twenty yards over Davies.
GOAL - v Birmingham (h) 26.10.74. Pendry, attempting to clear under pressure, slammed the ball against Gallagher and it rebounded to the unmarked Woodward, who was never a man to say no to a gift. Latchford had no chance in stopping Woodward's left-foot shot.
GOAL - v Norwich (h) 12.11.74. Little Tony Field did all the work with a splendid dribble and when he slipped it inside, Woodward blasted the ball handsomely wide of Keelan 35 seconds before the break.
ASSIST - v Burnley (h) 16.11.74. Field blasted the ball into the net following a left-side killer dribble from Woodward.
ASSIST - v Norwich (a) 27.11.74. Woodward, who often caused danger on both flanks, crossed the ball past three bemused Norwich defenders and Dearden sidefooted it home with ease.
ASSIST - v Arsenal (h) 28.12.74. A bad ball from George in the centre circle went straight to Woodward and United's No.7 left McNab in a great run down the right. Field, supporting well, took up a splendid near-post position and when Woodward hit a low one Field flicked it in before Rimmer could come out at him.
GOAL - v Spurs (a) 18.1.75. With two minutes left a great pass by Currie saw Woodward beat the offside trap and go on to beat Jennings with a delightful lob.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (a) 25.1.75. From an indirect free kick inside the box Currie touched it on and Woodward hit a strong, low shot which Field glided in on the way into the net.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 1.2.75. Faulkner had time to clear the ball but it bounced awkwardly for him and before he could recover Woodward was clear and he finished the run with a fierce low shot across Horn's body into the bottom corner.
GOAL - v Chelsea (h) 15.2.75. A gorgeous ball from Eddy dropped beyond Sparrow and Woodward was on it in a flash. Phillips narrowed the angle but the United striker hit it cleanly beneath him for a fine goal.
GOAL - v Burnley (a) 22.2.75. In the last minute Eddy provided a cross from the right for Woodward to head in the consolation goal at the far post.
GOAL - v Ipswich (a) 1.3.75. After 65 minutes United shattered the home team and their supporters by going ahead with a great goal by Woodward. Speight touched the ball to Currie on the left and the England man made ground cleverly before pulling a perfect ball into Woodward's path. Woodward, near the penalty spot, steadied himself and scored with a firm rising shot which touched the underneath of the bar as it went in.
GOAL - v West Ham (h) 22.3.75. Brown threw the ball to Cammack, the striker hit over a long, high cross, Woodward gathered and after a degree of uncertainty pushed the ball home.
ASSIST - v West Ham (h) 22.3.75. Currie won a tackle in his own half and the ball seemed to be heading for a throw in but Woodward prevented it from going out of play by returning the ball to Currie. The midfield ace advanced twenty yards, toying with the West Ham defence before tucking the ball into the left hand corner.
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".
ASSIST - v Everton (a) 19.4.75. Woodward took a corner from the right and it seemed that Dearden might have got a touch but there was Eddy, only a few strides out of goal, calmly heading the ball into the middle of the net.

 

[Silent Blade]

1975-76
41 League plus 1 FA Cup and 2 League Cup appearances
10 goals, 7 assists
ASSIST - v Halifax (a) 10.9.75. Guthrie headed a Woodward cross, the ball struck a defender in flight and looped over goalkeeper Gennoe, who appeared to have it covered.
ASSIST - v Halifax (a) 10.9.75. Seven minutes later Guthrie completed a headed hat-trick off Woodward's left wing corner.
ASSIST - v Halifax (a) 10.9.75. When Woodward unleashed a vicious cross from the right the ball struck Phelan's head and rocketed low into the net.
ASSIST - v Man City (h) 1.11.75. Guthrie jumped high to meet a lob from Woodward, headed sharply downwards and although Doyle hooked the ball away it was clearly over the line.
ASSIST - v Aston Villa (a) 8.11.75. Guthrie pulled one back with a point-blank shot from Woodward's build up after 87 minutes.
GOAL - v Leicester (h) 15.11.75. Leicester were caught out on the break and when Dearden turned a clever ball inside and into Woodward's path the winger slotted it in to end his long goal famine.
GOAL - v Stoke (a) 22.11.75. The goal came after Cammack pulled the ball back and saw it go via a deflection to Woodward, who turned brilliantly and shot fiercely into the bottom corner of the net.
GOAL - v Derby (a) 20.12.75. Woodward's impeccably struck shot, after receiving a short free kick from Currie, which put United ahead after just seven minutes was hit from fully 35 yards and had Boulton searching the sky like a lost man peering in a dense fog.
GOAL - v Derby (a) 20.12.75. Woodward's second, in the 61st minute after a lovely exchange with Bradford, was hit from slightly nearer the target but with the same cunning and deadly accuracy.
GOAL - v Newcastle (a) 27.12.75. A fine attack ended with Currie, well forward now, getting a head to it and Woodward finished off splendidly with a coolly taken lob that went up and over Mahoney and down and under the bar.
GOAL - v Aston Villa (h) 14.2.76. In the last breath of the half, Woodward equalised with a breathtaking solo effort that brought the ground to life. He checked past two tackles and then hit a beautiful curving left foot shot beyond Burridge and into the net.
GOAL - v Leicester (a). 21.2.76. Despite Leicester's protests it was a penalty and Woodward, back on duty with the spot kicks now that Eddy has gone, thumped it past Wallington's left hand.
ASSIST - v Burnley (a) 24.2.76. Taking the ball from Woodward, Guthrie looked to have no chance to get in a shot as Waldron and Thomson closed in just outside the area. But the big man managed to squeeze a left foot shot just inside the post.
ASSIST - v Ipswich (h) 20.3.76. From a Woodward corner on the left, Colquhoun was nicely in a position to tuck a good firm header past Cooper.
GOAL - v West Ham (h) 10.4.76. United got back on level terms with one of Woodward's vintage goals. There was no hint of danger when Franks pushed the ball to him well outside the penalty area, but Woodward, with that lazy swing of his right foot, hit the back of the net from way out with Day looking stunned by it all, as well he might.
GOAL - v Leeds (a) 14.4.76. Drifting in from the right after an exchange with Currie, Woodward rode a tackle from Frankie Gray before completely deceiving Harvey with an explosive shot which appeared to catch a slight deflection.
GOAL - v Birmingham (h) 4.5.76. A goal did not look on at all when Woodward had the ball 25 yards out and in an almost impossible position. But he turned magnificently and whacked the ball home with his left foot for a change.

 

[Silent Blade]

1976-77
In the aftermath of relegation, Jimmy Sirrell managed to persuade Woodward to withdraw his transfer request by offering him the club captaincy and a new midfield role in the team.
40 League plus 2 FA Cup and 1 League Cup appearances
10 goals, 6 assists
ASSIST - v Southampton (a) 4.9.76. Ludlam coolly drilled in his shot from just inside the box when Woodward cutely nodded down a ball from newly-arrived substitute Bradford.
GOAL - v Carlisle (h) 11.9.76. Woodward was involved in the move from start to finish, finally taking advantage of a neat little return ball from Ludlam and knocking it past Ross in full stride from a narrow angle, the impetus taking him round the back of the net at the Kop end to receive the salute of the delighted youngsters.
ASSIST - v Carlisle (h) 11.9.76. A needlessly conceded free kick by Rafferty set up a chance for United and when Woodward hit it fiercely and low MacDonald deflected it powerfully into his own net, giving Ross no chance.
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 17.9.76. The hundreds of Blades fans cheered when a beautiful turn by Woodward was followed by a fine cross and a classic header by young Edwards.
GOAL - v Burnley (h) 2.10.76. Hamilton gained an indirect free kick inside Burnley's penalty area and when he touched a ball a yard to his right Woodward curved it beautifully over the defensive wall and beyond the goalkeeper and it dropped gently just inside the upright for as clever a goal as one could wish to see.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 16.10.76. Woodward received a ball from Guthrie and went past Moore as if the former England skipper wasn't there and thumped a stunning left-foot shot past Mellor from near the edge of the penalty area.
ASSIST - v Charlton (a) 23.10.76. Guthrie sent a splendid long ball to Woodward. When the United skipper found his path blocked, he sent the ball out wide to Johnstone and the little Scotsman, probably taking goalkeeper Wood by surprise, hit the second from twenty yards.
GOAL - v Millwall (a) 27.11.76. Hamilton went on a solo run, Hamson took the ball and fed Woodward with a neat square pass and the United skipper hit the ball with the outside of his right foot. Millwall goalkeeper Johns could only stand and watch as this devilish shot curled into the top corner of the net.
GOAL - v Bristol Rovers (h) 18.12.76. Woodward won a challenge for possession in midfield, running on past Taylor and then leaving Eadie absolutely helpless with a tremendous finishing drive from outside the edge of the penalty area.
GOAL - v Oldham (a) 27.12.76. Hamilton switched flanks, sent a slide-rule pass into the path of Woodward and watched his skipper drive a low shot inside the far post.
GOAL - v Bolton (h) 28.12.76. Hamson powered in a low shot which McDonagh failed to hold but pushed well out to his left, and skipper Woodward lashed back a superb low drive from an acute angle which beat the struggling goalkeeper at the near post.
ASSIST - v Southampton (h) 12.2.77. Woodward's throw on the right was played back to him by Hamilton, the cross was perfect and Guthrie's low header was deadly for as good a goal as he has scored since joining the club and the perfect answer for many of his critics.
GOAL - v Cardiff (h) 8.3.77. Franks banged Hamson's free kick against the bar. The ball came out to Woodward who rocketed it into the net from 25 yards.
GOAL - v Fulham (a) 26.3.77. Hamson, galloping clear, was clumsily brought down by Howe in the penalty box. The referee had no doubt about the penalty and Woodward was supremely effective from the spot.
ASSIST - v Bolton (a) 9.4.77. Edwards began the move with a long ball to Stainrod. The teenager sent Woodward away. He could have scored, seemed to have lost his chance when forced to the right but the low cross was fierce and accurate and Edwards tucked it in.
GOAL - v Bristol Rovers (a) 14.5.77. Straight from the kick off United were level. The ball was played to Hamson whose chip forward found Woodward, who hit a vintage right footer past the keeper to put the teams all-square.

 

[Silent Blade]

1977-78
39 League plus 1 FA Cup and 1 League Cup appearances
12 goals, 9 assists
GOAL - v Bolton (a) 27.8.77 Edwards took a throw in on the left, Campbell hit it low and accurately across field to Woodward and the United skipper side-stepped a tackle and then put it sweetly just inside McDonagh's right hand post.
GOAL - v Southampton (h) 1.10.77. Williams' crossfield ball was easily cut out by Woodward and the Lane skipper went on to mark his 500th match with a goal, scoring from the corner of the penalty box as Turner came out.
ASSIST - v Notts County (h) 4.10.77. Calvert zoomed over a beautiful cross to Woodward on the right flank. The old campaigner chipped it into the middle and Edwards went up like a swallow to head the ball in.
ASSIST - v Notts County (h) 4.10.77. Edwards got the third by rounding the goalkeeper to finish off a move involving Hamson, Salmons and Woodward.
ASSIST - v Millwall (a) 22.10.77. Kitchener stretched, but failed to cut out a diagonal ball from Woodward and Hamilton rifled a fierce drive into the far corner from eighteen yards.
GOAL - v Fulham (h) 29.10.77 Hamilton crossed from the left, Campbell headed down and Woodward did the rest with a fine low shot that deceived Peyton on his right-hand side.
ASSIST - v Cardiff (a) 3.12.77. Woodward took a free kick midway inside the Cardiff half, floated it over the top of the defence and Campbell, running in from the left, put a firm, low header into the bottom of the net to give United a stranglehold on the match.
ASSIST - v Cardiff (a) 3.12.77. Hamson was brought down a yard outside the penalty area and when Woodward touched the free kick to Hamilton, Chico blasted it first time past Irwin to give the match an unbelievable 5-0 scoreline.
GOAL - v Cardiff (a) 3.12.77. Cardiff were all at sea as Stainrod knocked the ball on to Woodward and that marvellous 150th League goal came with a gentle touch inside the goalkeeper's left hand post.
GOAL - v Blackburn (h) 10.12.77. After a Blackburn thrust on the left had been checked, the ball was knocked forward to Woodward in the centre circle, who ran straight at the heart of Blackburn's defence, forced his way into the area and hit a fierce low shot past Butcher to give United the lead.
GOAL - v Orient (h) 26.12.77. Woodward got his first goal in the 25th minute after hard running by young Hamson, who beat two men to feed his skipper with a slide-rule pass. Woodward advanced, beat Grealish and Roeder and curled it in.
GOAL - v Orient (h) 26.12.77. The second came in the 49th minute - one of those Woodward' specials. Stainrod and Hamilton did the spadework and when the ball came loose on the edge of the penalty area, Woody had it in the back of the net before Jackson could move.
ASSIST - v Hull (a) 31.12.77. Woodward sprinted down the middle and sent a fine ball to Stainrod, who hit a fierce left-footer, which swerved inside Wealands’ right-hand post.
GOAL - v Bolton (h) 14.1.78. When a free kick was partially cleared to Woodward outside the penalty area he hit the ball gloriously into the top corner with McDonagh at full leap, just getting his fingers to it but powerless to prevent the goal.
GOAL - v Mansfield (h) 4.3.78. In the last minute United broke away through Hamson. His cross was headed down by Stainrod and Woodward volleyed it in to make the points safe.
GOAL - v Millwall (h) 18.3.78. Woodward, who had just received treatment for a heavy fall, took the penalty kick after the long wait and scored easily.
ASSIST - v Luton (h) 25.3.78. Woodward put the ball into the crowded middle. When it was knocked down Stainrod's control, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper, was of the highest order.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 25.3.78. Hamson battled gloriously on the left before crossing superbly and Woodward ran into space to head the ball past Knight.
ASSIST - v Brighton (h) 4.4.78. Woodward's cross was chested down superbly by Speight, who hammered the ball in jubilant fashion past Steele.
ASSIST - v Charlton (h) 15.4.78. A minute before the break United broke the deadlock. Marvellous work by Woodward on the left took Charlton's cover apart and his cross was firmly headed in by Edwards.
GOAL - v Notts County (a) 25.4.78. Stainrod touched a free kick to Woodward on the edge of the box and the United skipper, in typical fashion, slammed the ball expertly into the bottom of the net.
1978-79
5 League plus 1 League Cup appearances
0 goals, 0 assists
Woodward's last ever match for the Blades was in the 2-0 defeat at Fulham on September 9th 1978. It was reported in the papers that he was not fit to play in the next two matches. He did play in at least one reserve match before he left the club to join Tulsa Roughnecks, managed by Alan Hinton (the ex-Nottingham Forest and Derby left winger), during the second week of October 1978.
The Sheffield Star’s “25 Years Ago Today” column of August 25th 2003 recalled, “Scandal at Bramall Lane erupts when club captain Alan Woodward leaves his wife and two children for a relationship with his manager Harry Haslam’s secretary. Haslam says Woodward’s position at the club will be unaffected.”
This may have been Haslam’s original intention but the situation must have been too tender for all parties to work together, so Woodward decided he had to leave. He still lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, working for an airline company. He visits Sheffield about once a year.

 

[super_pig]

oustanding post SB..
how much would he be worth now??

 

[Revolution]

ASSIST - v Luton (h) 25.3.78. Woodward put the ball into the crowded middle. When it was knocked down Stainrod's control, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper, was of the highest order.
GOAL - v Luton (h) 25.3.78. Hamson battled gloriously on the left before crossing superbly and Woodward ran into space to head the ball past Knight.

My first game. No memory of it save for the torrential rain. I did at least see the great man score.

Great work Silent.

 

[Silent Blade]

oustanding post SB..
how much would he be worth now??

A lot!!

 

[Missing Spark]

Logged in just to say what a fantastic post.

 

[Bladebri]

Great post SB, can we have the same for currie, badger, hockey.

 

[boo radley]

That work is stunning and you deserve a lot of respect and thanks for that.

 

[Grecian2000]

oustanding post SB..
how much would he be worth now??

To SUFC he'd have been worth 250k when we sold him as a fresh faced, promising teenager, rising to 500k if we threw in that L Badger bloke at right back.
To whoever brought him through he'd be worth a fucking fortune and worth every penny.

I was six when I first saw him and he became my favourite player (my dad was a Joe Shaw man, negative bugger) until TC rocked up and looked a bit more glamorous!
I was 19 when he packed in and that was that, my best footballing days, unbeknown to me at the time, were already behind me! I'm forever grateful I saw him but it really makes it hard to make a case for some of the dross we have to watch.

A superb thread though Silent, top marks.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

Magnificent stuff, Silent.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Nice one, Silent - take the rest of the day off

 

[coaxingstar71]

That is some fantastic work silent and it's very interesting to read.
Although it makes you wonder when we'll ever see another anything like Woody at the Lane.

 

[bornablade]

Well done Silent. You've taken me right the way back to my teenage years. Happy days.

Now I'm going to have to leave this thread and return to the depressing 'which manager should we appoint in order for us to at least be successful in the playoffs of league 3'.

 

[LSF]

Great work Peter! I could add one or two juicy bits to that, but I won't.... LoL!

 

[wardonia_blade]

Superb post. Many thanks.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Magnificent stuff Silent.I can now remember some magic moments watching United I thought had gone forever.

I was 19 when he packed in and that was that, my best footballing days, unbeknown to me at the time, were already behind me! I'm forever grateful I saw him but it really makes it hard to make a case for some of the dross we have to watch.
.

I was thinking along similar lines myself after Woody's death, but it's the hope that one day we'll see football as great as that again that keeps me going.

 

[Grappler]

Wow, well done Silent Blade, good stuff.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

You rightly talk about his "memorable" 1969-70 campaign, Silent. In my view, he was a transformed player that season, his form taking a huge leap forward from previous years.

Both our opening two games were at home. We won both of them and Woody scored three goals. Unfortunately, I was away on holiday. We travelled back on the following Saturday and stopped off in London. I got my dad to buy an evening paper with the football results in the "Stop Press" section and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw we'd won 5-1 at Portsmouth with Woody contributing one of them.

When I got back home, I vividly recall how eager my mates were to tell me how well the team in general was performing and Woodward in particular. My first chance to see for myself was in the next home game against Huddersfield. It was a big game - they were doing well also with Frank Worthington and Bobby Hoy in fine form - and there was a well above average crowd for that time. It was a tense game which ended goalless but there was a distinct buzz every time Woody got the ball which hadn't been there in previous seasons. And it went on from there. He was now one of our star players, on a par with Len Badger and only behind Currie which was obviously no disgrace.

You have omitted to mention that on September 2, 1969, he went in goal for the last 15 minutes of the League Cup win over top-flight Newcastle. I have no recall of that for the very good reason that we were on holiday again at my auntie's in Cumberland. I was gutted to miss that game. I clearly remember his performance against Leeds in goal in 1967 - unusually for me I watched the match from the John Street Stand (did they call part of it the "wing stand"?) as it was a friend's birthday treat and his dad paid for me and a few of his friends to sit down - and I recall the growing sense of disbelief as he heroically defied the Leeds attack time after time.