Alex Woodyard

Alexander James Woodyard (born 3 May 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Sutton United.

Alex Woodyard

Personal information
Full name	Alexander James Woodyard[1]
Date of birth	(1993-05-03) 3 May 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth	Gravesend, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sutton United
Youth career
0000–2009	Charlton Athletic
2009–2010	Southend United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Southend United	8	(0)
2011	→ Farnborough (loan)	10	(2)
2013	→ Braintree Town (loan)	12	(0)
2013–2014	Dartford	37	(0)
2014–2015	Concord Rangers	36	(1)
2015–2016	Braintree Town	44	(1)
2016–2018	Lincoln City	91	(3)
2018–2020	Peterborough United	57	(0)
2020	→ Tranmere Rovers (loan)	11	(1)
2020–2023	AFC Wimbledon	110	(2)
2023–2024	York City	30	(0)
2024–2025	Colchester United	14	(0)
2025–	Sutton United	0	(0)
International career
2015–2016	England C	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:08, 6 January 2025 (UTC)

Career

Woodyard started his career in the youth system of Charlton Athletic, but moved to Southend United as a sixteen-year-old in 2010, starting a two-year scholarship.^[3] He made his professional debut in December 2010, starting in their 3–1 away loss to Burton Albion in League Two. He had already made three appearances at the age of seventeen and was one of only two players to receive a professional contract from his age group in the summer of 2011.^[3] In August 2011, he was sent out on loan to Conference South side Farnborough for an initial month along with George Smith to gain some first team experience.^[4] His loan was later extended until the end of November, with Woodyard making thirteen appearances for the club scoring once in a 4–3 win over Basingstoke Town.^[5]

Woodyard made his first Southend appearance in eighteen months in October 2012, a 3–1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy.^[6] He impressed on his return to Southend, winning the Shrimpers Player of the Month award in October and November 2012.^[3] In March 2013, he joined Conference Premier side Braintree Town on a one-month loan.^[7] He made a total of twelve appearances as Braintree finished in the top-half of the table. Upon his return to Southend in May 2013, he was told that his contract would not be renewed as he was deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Phil Brown.^[8] Woodyard spent a total of four years with the club, making fifteen first team appearances.^[8]

In August 2013, he signed for Conference Premier side Dartford after impressing in pre-season friendlies.^[9] He had a turbulent start to his Dartford career, taking abuse from the fans despite solid performances on the right wing.^[10] In February 2014, he endeared himself to the fans after an impressive performance against Aldershot Town.^[10] In May 2014, after making 43 appearances and following Dartford's relegation to the Conference South, he was invited back for pre-season.^[11]

In June 2014, he turned down the opportunity to stay on at Dartford and signed for Conference South side Concord Rangers.^[12] After a successful stay at Concord Rangers, where he made 36 appearances and scored one goal, Woodyard joined National League side Braintree Town.^[13]

In June 2016, Woodyard signed for Lincoln City, following his Braintree manager Danny Cowley to Sincil Bank. He ended the 2016–17 season as Lincoln's player of the season as they won promotion back to the football league,^[14] before signing a new two-year deal on 6 July 2017.^[15] On 30 May 2018, he joined Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee after the release clause in his contract was met.

On 3 January 2020 it was announced that Woodyard would join Tranmere Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season.^[14]

On 12 June 2020, Woodyard got released by Peterborough United after a 2-year stint at the club. Within those two years he managed 54 appearances for the club and was also captain in the 2018/19 season.

In August 2020 he signed for AFC Wimbledon.^[16] He scored his first goal for the club on 20 April 2021 in a 2–1 win against Oxford United.^[17] He notably scored against rivals MK Dons in an April 2022 1-1 draw.^[18]

On 26 July 2023, Woodyard had his contract with AFC Wimbledon terminated by mutual consent to allow him to join National League club York City on a two-year deal.^[19]

On 4 July 2024, Woodyard signed a one-year contract with Colchester United and reunited with manager Danny Cowley making it their fourth club working together.^[20]

On 3 January 2025, having had his contract with Colchester United terminated, Woodyard joined National League side Sutton United on an eighteen-month deal.^[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 December 2024^[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Southend United	2010–11[23]	League Two	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2011–12[24]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2012–13[25]	League Two	5	0	3	0	0	0	4[a]	0	12	0
	Total		8	0	3	0	0	0	4	0	15	0
Farnborough (loan)	2011–12[22]	Conference South	10	2	2	0	—		0	0	12	2
Braintree Town (loan)	2012–13[22]	Conference Premier	12	0	0	0	—		0	0	12	0
Dartford	2013–14[22]	Conference Premier	37	0	3	0	—		2[b]	0	42	0
Concord Rangers	2014–15[22]	Conference South	36	1	3	0	—		3[b]	0	42	1
Braintree Town	2015–16[22]	National League	44	1	3	0	—		4[c]	0	51	1
Lincoln City	2016–17[22]	National League	45	1	9	0	—		3[b]	0	57	1
	2017–18[26]	League Two	46	2	1	0	1	0	8[d]	0	56	2
	Total		230	7	21	0	1	0	20	0	272	7
Peterborough United	2018–19[27]	League One	43	0	4	0	1	0	3[e]	0	51	0
	2019–20[28]	League One	14	0	3	0	0	0	2[e]	0	19	0
	Total		57	0	7	0	1	0	5	0	70	0
Tranmere Rovers (loan)	2019–20[28]	League One	11	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	1
AFC Wimbledon	2020–21[29]	League One	40	1	1	0	1	0	3[e]	0	45	1
	2021–22[30]	League One	36	1	3	0	1	0	0	0	40	1
	2022–23[31]	League Two	34	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	38	0
	Total		121	3	6	0	2	0	5	0	134	3
York City	2023–24	National League	30	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	33	0
	Total		30	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	33	0
Colchester United	2024–25[32]	League Two	14	0	1	0	2	0	2	0	19	0
	Total		14	0	1	0	2	0	2	0	19	0
Sutton United	2024–25[32]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career Total			460	10	41	0	6	0	36	0	543	10

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
2. Appearances in FA Trophy
3. Two appearances in National League play-offs, two in FA Trophy
4. Two appearances in English Football League play-offs, six in EFL Trophy
5. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Lincoln City

• National League: 2016–17^[33]
• EFL Trophy: 2017–18^[34]

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 533. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. "Alex Woodyard profile". The Players Agency. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
4. "Shrimpers duo farmed out to Farnborough". Football. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
5. "Woody stays at Farnborough for another month". Football. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
6. "Alex Woodyard doesn't want to give up Southend United place". Echo News. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
7. "Southend United: Alex Woodyard loaned to Braintree". BBC Sport. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
8. "Southend United axe no shock to Alex Woodyard". Echo News. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
9. "Former Southend United and Braintree Town midfielder Alex Woodyard signs for Dartford". Kent Online. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
10. "Dartford midfielder Alex Woodyard starting to endear himself to the club's supporters". Kent Online. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
11. "Kenny Clark and Tyrone Sterling leave Dartford but Mat Mitchel-King, Alex Woodyard and Mikel Suarez invited back for pre-season". Kent Online. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
12. "Former Southend United and Braintree Town midfielder Alex Woodyard leaves Dartford to sign for Concord Rangers". Kent Online. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
13. "Alex Woodyard links up with former Concord Rangers boss at Braintree Town". Basildon Canvey Southend Eco. 5 August 2015.
14. "Woodyard departs to join Peterborough United". weareimps.com. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
15. "Woodyard Pens New Deal". weareimps.com. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
16. "Alex Woodyard: AFC Wimbledon sign midfielder from Peterborough". BBC. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
17. "Wimbledon 2-1 Oxford". BBC. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
18. "AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
19. "Midfielder Alex Woodyard signs for York City FC". www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
20. Gregory, David (4 July 2024). "WOODYARD SIGNS U'S DEAL". www.cu-fc.com.
21. "Official: Alex Woodyard joins". www.suttonunited.net. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
22. A. Woodyard at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
23. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
24. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
25. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
26. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
27. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
28. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
29. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
30. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
31. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
32. "Games played by Alex Woodyard in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
33. Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 640–641. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
34. Scott, Ged (8 April 2018). "Lincoln City 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.

External links

• Southend United profile
• Alex Woodyard at Soccerbase