Ray Woods (footballer)

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Ray Woods

|fullname = Raymond Guy Woods{{Hugman|21635|name=Ray Woods|access-date=18 March 2023}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|6|7|df=y}}

|birth_place = Birkenhead, England

|position = Winger

|years1 = 1982–1985

|clubs1 = Tranmere Rovers

|caps1 = 14

|goals1 = 2

|years2 =

|clubs2 = Bangor City

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 =

|clubs3 = Runcorn

|caps3 =

|goals3 =

|years4 =

|clubs4 = Northwich Victoria

|caps4 =

|goals4 =

|years5 = 1985–1987

|clubs5 = Caernarfon Town

|caps5 =

|goals5 =

|years6 = 1987–1988

|clubs6 = Colne Dynamoes

|caps6 =

|goals6 =

|years7 = 1988–1991

|clubs7 = Wigan Athletic

|caps7 = 28

|goals7 = 3

|years8 = 1991–1994

|clubs8 = Coventry City

|caps8 = 21

|goals8 = 1

|years9 = 1994

|clubs9 = → Wigan Athletic (loan)

|caps9 = 13

|goals9 = 0

|years10 = 1994–1996

|clubs10 = Shrewsbury Town

|caps10 = 51

|goals10 = 1

|years11 =

|clubs11 = Telford United

|caps11 =

|goals11 =

|years12 =

|clubs12 = Worcester City

|caps12 =

|goals12 =

}}

Raymond Guy Woods (born 7 June 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger in the Football League for Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Coventry City and Shrewsbury Town.

{{cite web | url = http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/raywoods.html | title = Ray Woods | publisher = Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database | last = Brown | first = Neil | date = 2 September 2012 | accessdate = 2 November 2012}}{{cite book| last1 = Upton| first1 = Gilbert| last2 = Wilson| first2 = Steve| title = Tranmere Rovers 1921–1997: A Complete Record| date = November 1997| isbn = 978-0-9518648-2-1| pages = 101–108| chapter = Players' Data| publisher = The Authors}}

Career

Born in Birkenhead, Woods made his professional debut for Tranmere Rovers.

After being released by Tranmere, Woods dropped into non-league football, and had brief spells at Bangor City, Runcorn and Northwich Victoria before joining Caernarfon Town. He was a key player in the team which reached the third round of the 1986–87 FA Cup.{{cite web |title=Happy birthday Ray Woods – all-time Caernarfon Town legend |url=https://nwsport.co.uk/2022/06/07/happy-birthday-ray-woods-all-time-caernarfon-town-legend/ |website=Grassroots North Wales |access-date=18 March 2023 |date=7 June 2022}}

After a spell with Colne Dynamoes, Woods returned to professional football with Wigan Athletic. In January 1991, Woods played for Wigan in a FA Cup tie against First Division side Coventry City, and set up Latics equaliser to force a replay, which Wigan lost 0–1. He impressed in both games, persuading City manager Terry Butcher to sign Woods for a fee of £200,000 shortly afterwards.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Jim |title=Where are they now - Ray Woods |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/now---ray-woods-3143089 |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |access-date=18 March 2023 |date=18 September 2004}}

Woods went on to play for Shrewsbury Town before finishing his career with Telford United and Worcester City.

After retiring as a player, Woods was appointed as a Youth Development Officer at Worcester City in 2001.{{cite web |title=Woods heads youth project |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/7761409.23301-woods-heads-youth-project/ |website=Worcester News |access-date=18 March 2023 |date=23 March 2001}} He remained involved with the club's youth programme until 2010.{{cite web |title=Owen retires to focus on his job |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/4992266.owen-retires-to-focus-on-his-job/ |website=Worcester News |access-date=18 March 2023 |date=6 February 2010}}

References