Alan Woodward

[Nearly Jimmy Hagan]

Woody was one of my all time favourite Blades players. He was in the team when I first started going to BDTBL in 1970. I was over the moon when as a 7 year old my father took me to meet him & get his autograph (& John Tudor’s) in Atkinson’s.
What a powerful shot he had & a brilliant corner taker, I think he scored a few direct from corners.
Fabulous footballer.

 

[Silent Blade]

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

Yes

 

[Silent Blade]

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

John Flynn and Bobby Campbell (who was fighting with Ronnie Blair who got sent off too)

 

[Silent Blade]

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

Yes

 

[Silent Blade]

I think he scored a few direct from corners.
Fabulous footballer.

Yes, at least 4 times. v Newcastle (h) in League Cup Sept 1969, v Leicester (a) in Sept 1971, v Coventry (h) Nov 1971 and v Norwich (h) in Jan 1973

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Yes, at least 4 times. v Newcastle (h) in League Cup Sept 1969, v Leicester (a) in Sept 1971, v Coventry (h) Nov 1971 and v Norwich (h) in Jan 1973

The United MOTD video contains the Leicester goal, available on YouTube and it's brilliant too.

 

[Silent Blade]

The United MOTD video contains the Leicester goal, available on YouTube and it's brilliant too.

Yes, MobileBlade created the Woody tribute video in 2015. Myself and WalthamstowBlade assisted him

 

[Argentinemanager]

I remember the newcastle goal well and the next day in the Daily Mirror there was a series of pictures showing the entire sequence from him taking the corner until it hit the net , must have been about 10 photos

 

[Silent Blade]

I remember the newcastle goal well and the next day in the Daily Mirror there was a series of pictures showing the entire sequence from him taking the corner until it hit the net , must have been about 10 photos

 

[Large Mendonca]

Yeah Currie got all the plaudits but Woody was my favourite in the 70s. What a player Blades legend

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Yes, at least 4 times. v Newcastle (h) in League Cup Sept 1969, v Leicester (a) in Sept 1971, v Coventry (h) Nov 1971 and v Norwich (h) in Jan 1973

The televised one at Leicester, amazing.
I watched the Woody tribute video last night, smashing in goals with his left as well, commentator said ' lethal left foot' or something.

 

[1973Blade]

Ten years ago today since the Blades legend passed away.

 

[wavy-blade]

Ten years ago today since the Blades legend passed away.

Ten years my god where’s my life going / gone , rip Alan , Never forgotten , the reason I started supporting United

 

[DifferentClass]

Ten years ago today since the Blades legend passed away.

Seems like just yesterday, remember my grandad (also RIP now ) saying he was one of the absolute greatest he'd ever seen in the red and white.

 

[RAP51]

Ten years ago today since the Blades legend passed away.

A truly great Blades legend and one of the very best I've ever seen wearing the shirt.
I first saw him when he broke into the team in 1964 just after his 18th birthday.
He was inconsistent to start with and got a rough ride with some supporters (Brewster and Cannon knockers take note) and took about 5 years before he really started to add consistency to his undoubted natural abilities.
Then like a good wine he got better and better and formed an almost telepathic partnership with TC.
I was fortunate enough to meet him when he agreed to do some coaching sessions for a Sunday league side I was involved with.
I arrived for training and Woody was already changed and ready to start. His first words to me were 'Do you use these?' as he offered me a ciggy.
He worked us hard in the training sessions but was a thoroughly genuine regular bloke. I was a bit too starstruck to say much to him.
I feel very privileged to have met him and witnessed his many great performances for the Blades.
Fond memories of a great Blade.

 

[Bradfordblade]

A truly great Blades legend and one of the very best I've ever seen wearing the shirt.
I first saw him when he broke into the team in 1964 just after his 18th birthday.
He was inconsistent to start with and got a rough ride with some supporters (Brewster and Cannon knockers take note) and took about 5 years before he really started to add consistency to his undoubted natural abilities.
Then like a good wine he got better and better and formed an almost telepathic partnership with TC.
I was fortunate enough to meet him when he agreed to do some coaching sessions for a Sunday league side I was involved with.
I arrived for training and Woody was already changed and ready to start. His first words to me were 'Do you use these?' as he offered me a ciggy.
He worked us hard in the training sessions but was a thoroughly genuine regular bloke. I was a bit too starstruck to say much to him.
I feel very privileged to have met him and witnessed his many great performances for the Blades.
Fond memories of a great Blade.ever got anything l

My family nickname has been Woody for 60 odd years. I idolised him as a kid. What a player. Never got anything like the recognition he deserved outside of Sheffield

 

[bornablade]

No play-offs in Woody's days.

If there had been then in 1969/70 with a 6th position finish we would have played Leicester in the semi-final. Maybe another inswinging corner against Shilton would have seen us up against Middlesborough or Swindon in the final for a Wembley appearance.

It could have seen the Blades facing a North East opponent as John Hickton was the league's leading goal scorer with 24 goals.

Woody scored a staggering 18 goals (his best ever season) fom the right wing playing in a team that recorded the best goals scored in the division (73) and easily the best goal difference (+35). (It was still goal average in those days).

I think Woody would have been superb if given the opportunity of playing for the Blades at Wembley.

Just imagine him playing on Saturday, timing his run perfectly to avoid any VAR nonsense, taking a weighted pass, cutting in and smashing the ball into the bottom corner.