Alan Woodward

[Silent Blade]

Blanchflower had an idiosyncratic style of commentating and one of my mates had us all in stitches one day after a Wednesday game had been shown in which John Ritchie, Wednesday's expensive centre-forward, had missed opportunity after opportunity. In his best Northern Irish accent, my mate kept repeating the little phrase Blanchflower had said over and over again: "Ritchie...CHANCE...WASTED!"

Ritchie had a poor season in 1968-69 so Wendy decided to offload him back to Stoke in Summer 1969. Wendy got relegated in the following season and Ritchie won a League Cup winners medal with Stoke in 1972

 

[metalblade]

Marvelous video guys, us older Blades were certainly privileged to see such a fine footballer we just didn't realise it at the time.

 

[Dnblade]

So with special thanks to WalthamstowBlade for providing the original idea and much of the footage, and to Silent Blade for his superb assessment of Woody's career, get the pop corn at the ready (its nearly 40 mins long so you will need it!), here is the extended version of our tribute to Woody. Some of you get a mention so you may with to view in full screen or on you tube site for the last bit. Enjoy!



We realise there are some other games that were televised but we have not managed to find the footage for. It anyone does have anything and can assist we would appreciate.

Cracking Video MB...Just watched it twice over..tried to spot myself behind the Kop goal on a few of them haha..great work mate,enjoyed that.

 

[Silent Blade]

Woody's assist v Hereford in 1976 has been included (26.50) in this updated version

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

I have banged on a few times about Ivan Ponting's excellent obituaries of footballers which feature in The Independent on a regular basis. I emailed them earlier in the week to complain about the fact that Woody's hadn't appeared yet and that inferior players to him had had theirs published much sooner after their deaths. For example, Brian Hall, the ex-Liverpool midfielder, had his printed just two days after he died a few weeks ago.

I today received the following reply: "I do understand your frustration that Ivan's obit on Alan Woodward hasn't been published yet. However, it's ready to go - and it will appear in the paper very soon."

I'll post a link on here when it does.

 

[Woodwardfan]

In Morecambe's programme it said that Woody had been United Supporters' Club Player of the Year 4 times, way more than anybody else. ( Currie once).

 

[oaklandrdblade]

Round of applause at 7 minutes past kick off this Saturday? Generally not a big one for all that but seems appropriate in this case

 

[Basing Blade]

I would back that. Good idea.

 

[shorehamview]

Round of applause at 7 minutes past kick off this Saturday? Generally not a big one for all that but seems appropriate in this case

That's a good plan.

 

[pommpey]

I have banged on a few times about Ivan Ponting's excellent obituaries of footballers which feature in The Independent on a regular basis. I emailed them earlier in the week to complain about the fact that Woody's hadn't appeared yet and that inferior players to him had had theirs published much sooner after their deaths. For example, Brian Hall, the ex-Liverpool midfielder, had his printed just two days after he died a few weeks ago.

I today received the following reply: "I do understand your frustration that Ivan's obit on Alan Woodward hasn't been published yet. However, it's ready to go - and it will appear in the paper very soon."

I'll post a link on here when it does.

Good work mate. And well done all of you who clap at 1507 for a man who was 'Sheffield United'

pommpey

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I have got goosebumps, a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Thank you for the Tribute video.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Amazing stuff, thanks to all concerned. Sometimes you can look back at days gone by with 'rose tinted spectacles', but after watching this, its actually better than I can recall as a boy. The things that struck me were:
- Woody was bloody quick;
- His shooting ability from range was way, way better than the likes of Lorimer;
- Some glorious crosses, both from Woody and TC
- TC was not lazy at all
- We played some really good passing football
- We will probably never see the likes of these players again

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

As promised:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/o...ades-leading-postwar-goalscorer-10456845.html

 

[boo radley]

Woody on and on our way. They better do him justice.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

From today

 

[Worksop II]

Hope the Family got strength from today

It never seems enough ...................

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Wow. Can't believe Woody has gone, my childhood memories......

Best Sheffield united player in my lifetime and will never be rivalled nor surpassed in my lifetime.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I have banged on a few times about Ivan Ponting's excellent obituaries of footballers which feature in The Independent on a regular basis. I emailed them earlier in the week to complain about the fact that Woody's hadn't appeared yet and that inferior players to him had had theirs published much sooner after their deaths. For example, Brian Hall, the ex-Liverpool midfielder, had his printed just two days after he died a few weeks ago.

I today received the following reply: "I do understand your frustration that Ivan's obit on Alan Woodward hasn't been published yet. However, it's ready to go - and it will appear in the paper very soon."

I'll post a link on here when it does.

Well done Fenoughty.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Seems appropriate that on a day we're celebrating the memory of Woodward, the star of the show today was a goalscorer on the wing.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

Hope the Family got strength from today

It never seems enough ...................

Credit to all those on the Kop who got a rousing version of the barrel of money song going during the minute's applause. Many of them would never have seen him but they played their part today in what was a very moving tribute.

Thanks also to the Chesterfield fans.

 

[The Bohemian]

Don't let the Tories kill the Beeb!

 

[Silent Blade]

7 years ago today since he passed away

 

[Blade.com]

7 years ago today since he passed away

Can't find it in me to hit a like. What a player , what a bloke. Not sure on this but anyone know how many times he got booked , Can't imagine him get sent off.

 

[wavy-blade]

7 years ago today since he passed away

Thanks for this post nice to remember the best ever player in the red and white he deserves it

 

[Silent Blade]

Can't find it in me to hit a like. What a player , what a bloke. Not sure on this but anyone know how many times he got booked , Can't imagine him get sent off.

Sent off at Burnley in March 1978

 

[Blade&Snuff]

Sad,sad news.
Consider myself lucky to have seen him play, what a shot he had.

 

[Bert]

He's Bert's reference point at least 5 times a game everytime one of our players takes a weak as piss shot at goal.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Sent off at Burnley in March 1978

Was there. Did Andy Keeley get sent off too? Seems to think two went ?

 

[Pedro Verde]

Was there. Did Andy Keeley get sent off too? Seems to think two went ?

I was as well think we also had 2 sent off at Oldham around the same era

 

[Eels]

Can anybody remember who the ref was that sent Woody off? Was it McNally?