George Wood (footballer)

George Wood

Personal information
Full name	George Wood
Date of birth	(1952-09-26) 26 September 1952
Place of birth	Douglas, Scotland
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Forth Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1970–1971	East Stirlingshire	43	(1)
1971–1977	Blackpool	117	(0)
1977–1980	Everton	103	(0)
1980–1983	Arsenal	60	(0)
1983–1987	Crystal Palace	192	(0)
1987–1990	Cardiff City	67	(0)
1989–1990	→ Blackpool (loan)	15	(0)
1990–1991	Hereford United	41	(0)
1991–1992	Merthyr Tydfil	32	(0)
1992–1997	Inter Cardiff	127	(0)
International career
1979–1982	Scotland	4	(0)
Managerial career
Unknown	Inter Cardiff
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

George Wood (born 26 September 1952 in Douglas, South Lanarkshire) is a Scottish former football goalkeeper.

Club playing career

George Wood started his career at East Stirlingshire for whom he scored a goal from his own penalty area against Queen of the South on 9 January 1971.

He moved to Blackpool in 1972, for £10,000 (an initial £7,000, followed by another £3,000 after twelve appearances), as cover for John Burridge. After spending time in the Reserves, Wood made his debut on 15 April 1972, in a 2–0 home victory over Oxford United. He then spent the next four years jostling for the No. 1 jersey with Burridge, eventually establishing himself in 1975–76 after Budgie was sold to Aston Villa.

He was signed by First Division Everton for £150,000 on 18 August 1977. He was the Toffees' first-choice goalkeeper for the next three seasons, making over 120 appearances and making his debut for Scotland, against Northern Ireland on 22 May 1979.

Wood was signed by Arsenal in August 1980 for £140,000, earmarked as the successor to Pat Jennings, with whom he shared the first-team goalkeeper's spot for the next three seasons, making 61 appearances in goal for Arsenal. However, Jennings' longevity counted against Wood and he was unable to supplant the Irish veteran; Wood was given a free transfer in May 1983. He joined Crystal Palace and was their first choice keeper for the next four-and-a-half seasons, making 192 league appearances, and winning the "Player of The Year" award in 1986.

Wood joined Cardiff City in January 1988, where he made 67 league appearances, and ended his league career with a loan spell at his old club Blackpool in 1989, and a single season at Hereford United in 1990–91. He then had stints at non-league Merthyr Tydfil and Inter Cardiff (a side he later managed).

International career

Wood's international career was only fleeting, with first Alan Rough and then later Jim Leighton keeping him out of the side. He earned four caps for Scotland between 1979 and 1982, the last coming against Northern Ireland on 28 April 1982, and he was a backup goalkeeper at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Coaching

He was the goalkeeper coach at Hartlepool United, having previously worked in a similar position at Cardiff City.

In June 2009, Wood was appointed as goalkeeper coach at Swindon Town, and in August 2011 he returned to former club Blackpool for a third time in a similar role. In December 2012 he joined Crystal Palace as goalkeeper coach.

External links

• Career stats