Richard Wood (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Richard Wood

| image = Richard Wood May 2007.jpg

| caption = Wood warming up for Sheffield Wednesday in 2007

| full_name = Richard Mark Wood{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Rotherham United |publisher=English Football League |page=60 |access-date=25 September 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|7|5|df=y}}{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 | year = 2003 | publisher = Queen Anne Press | isbn = 1-85291-651-6 | page = 461 }}

| birth_place = Ossett, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Doncaster Rovers

| clubnumber = 6

| youthyears1 = {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}?–2003

| youthclubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday

| years1 = 2003–2010

| clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday

| caps1 = 174

| goals1 = 7

| years2 = 2009

| clubs2 = → Coventry City (loan)

| caps2 = 5

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2010–2013

| clubs3 = Coventry City

| caps3 = 112

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2013–2014

| clubs4 = Charlton Athletic

| caps4 = 21

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2014–2023

| clubs5 = Rotherham United

| caps5 = 230

| goals5 = 18

| years6 = 2015

| clubs6 = → Crawley Town (loan)

| caps6 = 10

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2015

| clubs7 = → Fleetwood Town (loan)

| caps7 = 6

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015

| clubs8 = → Chesterfield (loan)

| caps8 = 5

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2023–

| clubs9 = Doncaster Rovers

| caps9 = 28

| goals9 = 0

| club-update = 18:25 22 February 2025 (UTC)

| manageryears1 = 2022

| managerclubs1 = Rotherham United (co-caretaker)

}}

Richard Mark Wood (born 5 July 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

Club career

=Sheffield Wednesday=

Born in Ossett, West Yorkshire, Wood was a Leeds United fan and had a season ticket at Leeds, however Wood came up through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and started to support The Owls instead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/wood__i_want_to_beat_leeds_575323/index.shtml|title=Wood – I Want To Beat Leeds|website=Coventry MAD}} He broke into the senior side at the end of the 2002–03 season and capped his superb performance with a goal on his full debut against Burnley.{{cite news |title=Burnley 2-7 Sheff Wed|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2950723.stm|publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2003 |access-date=17 December 2020}} The young Wood made such an impression that he was handed a two-year deal before he completed the second year of his Academy scholarship.

He formed an impressive partnership with Graham Coughlan in the centre of defence and has put in a series of strong displays.

Wood staked his claim for a regular spot as he missed just one of the final 28 games as Wednesday clinched promotion to the Championship the previous season.

He enjoyed a lengthy run in the 2005–06 season before an untimely injury cut short his season, which also deprived him of making an appearance for the Football League Select XI against an Italian Serie B representative side. To cap of this tremendous season, he was rewarded by receiving the Rhodes Fairbanks Young player of the year award by fans of the club.{{cite web |url=http://sheffieldwednesday.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=894&p=2&stid=8409532 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430180652/http://sheffieldwednesday.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=894&p=2&stid=8409532 |archive-date=30 April 2006 }}

On 3 March 2007, Wood returned from his injury to make his first start for Wednesday in 11 months in a 3–2 league win against Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at Elland Road. He would go on to start in the rest of Wednesday's 11 games that season and helped them to finish the season with just one loss from 13 games – a run which almost saw the side finish in the Championship play-offs.

Prior to the 2008–09 season Wood was named joint captain alongside Steve Watson, although shortly after the season began Wood handed in a transfer request. The request was declined.

In the 2009–10 campaign, after a successful start for Wood, scoring two goals in two matches, he declined a new contract with Wednesday, and he was transfer listed on 29 October 2009.{{cite news | title = Owls transfer list defender Wood | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/8331747.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 29 October 2009 | access-date = 18 November 2009}}

=Coventry City=

On 18 November 2009, Wood signed for Coventry City on loan until January 2010, when he was then expected to sign a permanent deal.{{cite news | title = News: Wood signs on loan | url = http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~1877735,00.html | publisher = Coventry City F.C. | date = 18 November 2009 | access-date = 18 November 2009}} He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on 21 November 2009.{{cite news | title = Coventry 1–1 Crystal Palace | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8350611.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 21 November 2009 | access-date = 22 November 2009}} He then got his first goal for the Sky Blues the following game with the equaliser against Derby County. On 6 December Wood even captained Coventry in a 1–0 loss to Scunthorpe United. After four starts and one substitute appearance, Wood made the move permanent signing on a contract till 2013 on 1 January 2010.{{cite news |title=Wood and Hussey complete moves |url=http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~1920671,00.html |publisher=Coventry City F.C. |date=1 January 2010 |access-date=1 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104120151/http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10269~1920671%2C00.html |archive-date= 4 January 2010}}

On 27 March 2010, Wood scored the equaliser for Coventry in a match against his former club, Sheffield Wednesday. He was also named as captain in this game which finished 1–1.{{cite web|url=http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~2007224,00.html|title=FULL TIME: Coventry City 1 Sheff Wed 1|date=27 March 2010|publisher=Coventry City FC|accessdate=21 June 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329001218/http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~2007224,00.html|archivedate=29 March 2010}}

=Charlton Athletic=

On 18 July 2013, Wood signed a one-year deal with Charlton Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130718-wood-sign-929040.aspx|title=Wood deal confirmed|date=18 July 2013|publisher=Charlton Athletic|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130718171619/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130718-wood-sign-929040.aspx|archive-date=18 July 2013}}

=Rotherham United=

On 26 June 2014, Wood signed with Rotherham United.{{cite web |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140626-richard-wood-joins-rotherham-united-1689525.aspx|title=Richard Wood joins Rotherham United |date=26 June 2014 |publisher=Charlton Athletic}} On 20 February 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Crawley Town.{{cite news|title=Richard Wood: Crawley sign Rotherham defender on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31558409|access-date=3 March 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 February 2015}}

On 23 September 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Fleetwood Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2015/september/town-sign-defender-wood-on-loan-deal-from-rotherham/|title=Town sign defender Wood on loan deal from Rotherham|publisher=Fleetwood Town F.C.}}

On 26 October 2015, he signed for Chesterfield on a three-month loan deal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34637514|title=Spireites sign Millers defender Wood|publisher=BBC Sport }}

Wood scored his first goal after his return to Rotherham in a 3–1 defeat to Preston North End on 5 November 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37807835 |title=Rotherham 1-3 Preston North End |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 November 2016 |access-date=7 November 2016}}

Following the departure of Paul Warne as Rotherham United's manager in September 2022, Wood was installed as caretaker manager along with Lee Peltier as the club searched for a permanent option.{{cite web |url=https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2022/september/read--update-on-managerial-situation/ |title=Update on managerial situation |publisher=Rotherham United F.C. |date=30 September 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022}} The duo of Wood and Peltier oversaw one game as co-caretakers, a 2–0 home loss to Wigan Athletic, before the appointment of Matt Taylor from Exeter City.

After the final game of the 2022–23 season, manager Matt Taylor confirmed in a post-match interview that Wood would not be offered a new contract with the club and would be released.{{cite web|url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/rotherham-united/view,richard-woods-rotherham-united-career-comes-to-an-end_45320.htm|title=Richard Wood's Rotherham United career comes to an end|publisher=Rotherham Advertiser|date=9 May 2023}}

=Doncaster Rovers=

On 23 May 2023, Wood signed a one-year contract with Doncaster Rovers.{{cite web |url=https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/wood-signs/|title=Rovers sign experienced defender Richard Wood |date=23 May 2023 |publisher=Doncaster Rovers}}

International career

While playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Wood received a call up from the England national under-21 football team however injury prevented him from meeting up with the squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/big-interview-former-sheffield-wednesday-skipper-richard-wood-recalls-celebrating-owls-fans-blocking-road-and-sad-parting-ways-294421|title=The Big Interview: Former Sheffield Wednesday skipper Richard Wood recalls celebrating Owls fans blocking the road and a sad parting of the ways|website=thestar.co.uk|date=6 May 2018 }}

Personal life

His younger brother, Nick Wood, played in the Sheffield Wednesday academy until the end of the 2009–10 season. He subsequently played a few games for Tranmere Rovers and Mansfield Town.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="9"\|Sheffield Wednesday \|2002–03{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2002\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Division One \|3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
2003–04{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2003\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Division Two \|12	0	1	0	1	1	3{{efn\|name=FLT\|Appearances in the Football League Trophy}}	0	17	1
2004–05{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2004\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|League One \|37	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	38	1
2005–06{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2005\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|30	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	33	1
2006–07{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2006\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|12	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
2007–08{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2007\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|27	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	30	2
2008–09{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2008\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|42	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	44	0
2009–10{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2009\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|11	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	2
colspan="2"\|Total !174	7	5	0	7	1	3	0	189	8
Coventry City (loan) \|2009–10 \|Championship \|5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
rowspan="5"\|Coventry City \|2009–10 \|Championship \|19	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	21	2
2010–11{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2010\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|40	1	2	1	1	0	0	0	43	2
2011–12{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2011\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|17	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	19	1
2012–13{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2012\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|League One \|36	3	2	0	2	0	6{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	46	3
colspan="2"\|Total !112	7	7	1	4	0	6	0	129	8
Charlton Athletic \|2013–14{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2013\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|21	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	26	0
rowspan="10"\|Rotherham United \|2014–15{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2014\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|6	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	8	0
2015–16{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2015\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
2016–17{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2016\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|Championship \|29	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	31	2
2017–18{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2017\|access-date=23 September 2017}} \|League One \|36	4	1	0	1	0	4{{efn\|One appearance in the 2017–18 EFL Trophy; three appearances in 2017–18 EFL League One play-offs}}	3	42	7
2018–19{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2018\|access-date=22 April 2019}} \|Championship \|26	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	2
2019–20{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2019\|access-date=7 March 2020}} \|League One \|23	3	2	0	2	1	1{{efn\|Appearance(s) in 2019–20 EFL Trophy}}	0	28	4
2020–21{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2020\|access-date=8 May 2021}} \|Championship \|30	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	32	2
2021–22{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2021\|access-date=30 April 2022}} \|League One \|39	1	3	0	0	0	3{{efn\|Appearance(s) in 2021–22 EFL Trophy}}	0	45	1
2022–23{{soccerbase season\|34895\|2022\|access-date=9 May 2023}} \|Championship \|28	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	30	4
colspan="2"\|Total !230	18	10	0	8	1	8	3	256	22
Crawley Town (loan) \|2014–15 \|League One \|10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3
Fleetwood Town (loan) \|2015–16 \|League One \|6	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	7	0
Chesterfield (loan) \|2015–16 \|League One \|5	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
rowspan="3" \|Doncaster Rovers \|2023–24 \|League Two \|25 \|0 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|3 \|0 \|30 \|0
2024–25 \|League Two \|3 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|3 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !28 !0 !1 !0 !0 !0 !3 !0 !33 !0
colspan="3" \|Career total !591	36	28	1	21	2	21	3	661	42

Honours

Rotherham United

EFL League One runner-up: 2019–20,{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/richard-wood/15510/ |title=R.Wood |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=24 May 2023}} 2021–22; play-offs: 2018{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44186999 |title=Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town |first=Ged |last=Scott |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2018 |access-date=27 May 2018}}
EFL Trophy: 2021–22