Gary Woods (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gary Woods
| image = Garywoods.jpg
| fullname = Gary Woods{{Hugman|25795|access-date=17 April 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|10|01|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Gary Woods |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/gary-woods-229321/ |publisher=11v11 |access-date=16 April 2016 }}
| birth_place = Kettering, England
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Greenock Morton
| clubnumber = 33
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2007
| youthclubs1 = Cambridge United
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008
| youthclubs2 = Manchester United
| years1 = 2009–2013
| clubs1 = Doncaster Rovers
| caps1 = 73
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2013–2014
| clubs2 = Watford
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2014–2016
| clubs3 = Leyton Orient
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2015–2016
| clubs4 = → Ross County (loan)
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2019
| clubs5 = Hamilton Academical
| caps5 = 85
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2021
| clubs6 = Oldham Athletic
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2020–2021
| clubs7 = → Aberdeen (loan)
| caps7 = 3
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2021–2022
| clubs8 = Aberdeen
| caps8 = 4
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2022–2023
| clubs9 = Kilmarnock
| caps9 = 2
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2023–2024
| clubs10 = Exeter City
| caps10 = 8
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2024–
| clubs11 = Greenock Morton
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| club-update = 12:32, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = England U18
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| ntupdate = 23:41, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
}}
Gary Woods (born 1 October 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{Scottish football updater|GreenocM}} club Greenock Morton. He has previously played for Exeter City, Watford, Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient, Ross County, Hamilton Academical, Oldham Athletic, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Club career
=Manchester United=
Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, Woods joined Manchester United from Cambridge United in July 2007 after trials with a host of Premier League sides, including Arsenal.{{cite web |title=Get to know...Gary Woods |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2008/Oct/Get-to-know-Gary-Woods.aspx?pageNo=2 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=8 October 2008 |access-date=21 November 2009 }} Described by Manchester United's under-18 coach Paul McGuinness as "a strong, brave goalkeeper with a strong personality",{{cite web |title=Rovers net goalkeeper Woods |url=http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10329~1602842,00.html |work=doncasterroversfc.co.uk |publisher=Doncaster Rovers FC |date=26 March 2009 |access-date=21 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531120823/http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10329~1602842%2C00.html |archive-date=31 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}
=Doncaster Rovers=
Woods joined Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer on 26 March 2009, signing a contract which would end at the end of 2009–10 season.{{cite news |title=Doncaster sign Premier League duo |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/7966010.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 March 2009 |access-date=21 November 2009 }} He made his professional debut one month later on 25 April 2009, when he replaced Neil Sullivan in the final minute of a 2–0 victory against Crystal Palace.{{cite news |title=Doncaster 2–0 Crystal Palace |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8001897.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=25 April 2009 |access-date=21 November 2009 }}
Having started sporadically started in the 2011–12, Woods became first-choice goalkeeper in 2012–13 as Doncaster returned to League One following relegation from the Championship. However, despite playing 49 of 53 games as Doncaster took the League One title, he was released at the end of the season.{{cite news |title=Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods among quintet released |url=http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-gary-woods-among-quintet-released-1-5688161 |publisher=South Yorkshire Times |date=18 May 2013 |access-date=9 September 2013}}
=Watford=
Having trained with the club since the previous month, Woods signed a one-year deal with Championship side Watford on 9 September 2013.{{cite news |title=OFFICIAL: Woods Signs |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/130909-woods-signing-1044247.aspx |publisher=Watford FC |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912104025/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/130909-woods-signing-1044247.aspx |archive-date=12 September 2013 }}
=Leyton Orient=
After one season with Watford, Woods signed for League One side Leyton Orient on 17 July 2014 on a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/football/orient/leyton_orient_sign_goalkeeper_woods_1_3688020 |title=Leyton Orient sign goalkeeper Woods |access-date=17 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725212813/http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/football/orient/leyton_orient_sign_goalkeeper_woods_1_3688020 |archive-date=25 July 2014 }} After 17 league appearances for Orient during the 2014–15 season, he found himself as number two behind Alex Cisak. On 1 September 2015, Woods went on loan with Scottish club Ross County until January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/684337/staggies-sign-goalkeeper-woods-loan/ |title=Staggies sign goalkeeper Woods on loan |date=1 September 2015 |publisher=Press & Journal}} In May 2016, he was released from Leyton Orient when it was announced that he would not be retained when his contract expired.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36314548|title=Leyton Orient: Mathieu Baudry among eight players to leave League Two club|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2016|access-date=24 May 2016}}
=Ross County=
Woods arrived on loan at Ross County from Leyton Orient on 1 September 2015, and made his debut off the bench in a 2–1 loss against rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Dingwall. His first full game was in a 2–0 win against second placed Aberdeen. After an injury for Scott Fox against Dundee United, Woods started in the Scottish League Cup Final against Hibernian on 13 March 2016. Ross County won 2–1 with Woods playing a pivotal role in the game, denying Hibernian player Liam Fontaine an equalising goal in injury time.{{cite web |last1=Wilson| first1=Richard| title= Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35738631|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 March 2016|date=13 March 2016}}
=Hamilton Academical=
Woods signed for Hamilton Academical in July 2016.{{cite web |title=Hamilton Academical: Gary Woods signs, Jesus Garcia Tena injury blow |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36910491 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 July 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016}} He made his debut on 15 October 2016, in a 2–2 draw away to Partick Thistle.{{cite web |title=Hamilton let lead slip again, but Eamonn Brophy snatches point against Thistle |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/hamilton-let-lead-slip-again-but-eamonn-brophy-snatches-point-against-thistle-1-4259319 |work=The Scotsman |date=15 October 2016 |access-date=16 October 2016 }} He left the club in May 2019.{{cite web |title=Gary Woods: Goalkeeper departs Hamilton Academical |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48460711 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2019 }}
=Oldham Athletic=
On 25 June 2019, he signed a two-year deal with League Two side Oldham Athletic.{{cite news |title=Oldham Athletic: Goalkeeper Gary Woods joins on two-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48757368 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2019 |access-date=6 July 2019 }} On 21 September 2020 Woods, and teammate David Wheater, were removed from the first team and forced to train with the youth team as Oldham had been trying to force them out of their contracts.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54237119 BBC Sport David Wheater & Gary Woods: Oldham say pair 'no longer part of first-team squad']
=Aberdeen=
On 5 October 2020, Woods moved to Aberdeen on a short-term loan agreement.{{cite web |url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/10/05/keeper-gary-woods-joins-the-dons/ |title=Keeper Gary Woods joins the Dons |publisher=Aberdeen FC |date=5 October 2020 |access-date=12 January 2021}} On 12 January 2021, it was announced that the loan had been extended until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2021/01/12/gary-woods-extends-stay/ |title=Gary Woods extends stay |publisher=Aberdeen FC |date=12 January 2021}} On 7 May 2021, Woods signed a pre-contract agreement to join Aberdeen on a two-year deal in summer 2021.{{cite web|title=Goalkeeper Gary Woods signs pre-contract to join Aberdeen on permanent basis|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/donsnews/goalkeeper-gary-woods-signs-pre-contract-to-join-aberdeen-on-permanent-basis/|website=eveningexpress.co.uk|last=Law|first=Danny|date=7 May 2021|access-date=8 May 2021}} Woods was released from his contract with Aberdeen on 24 June 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.afc.co.uk/2022/06/24/gary-woods-departs-the-dons |publisher=Aberdeen FC |title=Gary Woods Departs the Dons |website=afc.co.uk |date=24 June 2022 |accessdate=26 June 2022}}
=Kilmarnock=
=Exeter City=
Woods' contract with Kilmarnock was terminated on the 31 January 2023. It was announced on the 1 February 2023 that the goal-stopper had signed for Exeter City until the end of the 2022-23 season. On 11 May 2023 Woods' signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the club for the 2023-24 season.{{cite news |title=Gary Woods joins the Grecians! |url= https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/gary-woods-joins/ |access-date=1 February 2023 |publisher=Exeter City FC |date=1 February 2023}}
= Greenock Morton =
On 8 July 2024, Woods joined Greenock Morton on a two-year deal as a player-coach upon the expiration of his contract with Exeter City.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Gary Woods signs for the Ton - Greenock Morton FC |url=https://gmfc.net/gary-woods-signs-for-the-ton/,%20https://gmfc.net/gary-woods-signs-for-the-ton/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |language=en-US}}
International career
Having previously played Victory Shield football for England at under-16 level, Woods made his debut for the England under-18 side on 20 November 2007 as a substitute for Alex Smithies during a 2–0 friendly win over Ghana.{{cite web |title=England 2–0 Ghana |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/MensUnder18s/NewsAndFeatures/2009/EnglandGhanareport.aspx |work=TheFA.com |publisher=The Football Association |date=20 November 2007 |access-date=21 November 2009 }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 September 2023}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Greenock Morton F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Gary}}
Category:Footballers from Kettering
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players
Category:Ross County F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Category:Aberdeen F.C. players
Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players
Category:Exeter City F.C. players