Ray Woods (footballer)

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.^[2][3]

Ray Woods

Personal information
Full name	Raymond Guy Woods[1]
Date of birth	(1965-06-07) 7 June 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth	Birkenhead, England
Position(s)	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1982–1985	Tranmere Rovers	14	(2)
	Bangor City
	Runcorn
	Northwich Victoria
1985–1987	Caernarfon Town
1987–1988	Colne Dynamoes
1988–1991	Wigan Athletic	28	(3)
1991–1994	Coventry City	21	(1)
1994	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	13	(0)
1994–1996	Shrewsbury Town	51	(1)
	Telford United
	Worcester City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] He remained involved with the club's youth programme until 2010.^[7]

References

1. "Ray Woods". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
2. Brown, Neil (2 September 2012). "Ray Woods". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
3. Upton, Gilbert; Wilson, Steve (November 1997). "Players' Data". Tranmere Rovers 1921–1997: A Complete Record. The Authors. pp. 101–108. ISBN 978-0-9518648-2-1.
4. "Happy birthday Ray Woods – all-time Caernarfon Town legend". Grassroots North Wales. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
5. Brown, Jim (18 September 2004). "Where are they now - Ray Woods". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
6. "Woods heads youth project". Worcester News. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
7. "Owen retires to focus on his job". Worcester News. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2023.