Alan Wooler Explained

Alan Wooler
Fullname:Alan Thomas Wooler
Birth Date:17 August 1953
Birth Place:Poole, Dorset, England
Height:1.78 m[1]
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Manchester United
Youthclubs2:Alton Town
Years1:–1971
Years2:1971–1973
Years3:1973–1976
Years4:1974
Years5:1975
Years6:1976
Years7:1976–1984
Years8:1977
Years9:1979
Years10:1980
Years11:1981
Years12:1982
Years13:1983
Years14:1984
Years15:1985
Years16:1985–1986
Years17:1985–1989
Years18:1986
Years19:1987
Years20:1988
Years21:1989
Clubs1:Weymouth
Clubs2:Reading
Clubs4:Boston Minutemen (loan)
Clubs5:→ Boston Minutemen (loan)
Clubs6:→ Boston Minutemen (loan)
Clubs7:Aldershot
Clubs8:HJK Helsinki (loan)
Clubs9:HJK Helsinki (loan)
Clubs10:HJK Helsinki (loan)
Clubs11:HJK Helsinki (loan)
Clubs12:Finnairin Palloilijat (loan)
Clubs13:Finnairin Palloilijat (loan)
Clubs14:Finnairin Palloilijat (loan)
Clubs15:Finnairin Palloilijat (loan)
Clubs17:Farnborough Town
Clubs18:Malmin Palloseura (loan)
Clubs19:→ Malmin Palloseura (loan)
Clubs20:→ Malmin Palloseura (loan)
Clubs21:→ Malmin Palloseura (loan)
Caps2:38
Caps3:4
Caps4:20
Caps5:22
Caps6:24
Caps7:266
Caps8:10
Caps9:7
Caps10:13
Caps11:12
Caps12:24
Caps13:29
Caps14:22
Caps15:21
Caps17:18
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:2
Goals6:0
Goals7:3
Goals8:0
Goals9:0
Goals10:4
Goals11:2
Goals13:4
Goals14:2
Goals15:3
Goals17:0
Goals18:4
Goals19:3
Goals20:8
Goals21:2
Managerclubs1:Millwall Ladies

Alan Wooler (17 August 1953 – 29 March 2022)[2] was an English footballer who played as a defender in England for Weymouth, Reading, West Ham United, Aldershot, Leatherhead and Farnborough Town. He also played in Finland for Malmin Palloseura, Finnairin Palloilijat and HJK Helsinki and in the US in the NASL for the Boston Minutemen. He was manager for the Millwall affiliate ladies team the Millwall Lionesses.

Club career

An associate schoolboy player with Manchester United, Wooler played for Alton Town and Weymouth as an amateur in the Southern League.

Reading

Wooler signed for Reading in 1971 making his debut in December 1971.[3] [4]

West Ham United

Making 38 appearances for Reading Wooler moved on a free transfer to West Ham United in 1973 making his debut on 22 December 1973, as a substitute for Johnny Ayris,[1] in a 2–0 home defeat to Stoke City.[3] [5] His next appearance came as a replacement for Bobby Moore in the FA Cup third round replay against Hereford United in January 1974. In a giant-killing, after a 1–1 draw at Upton Park, Hereford, recently elected to the Football League, beat First Division West Ham 2–1 at Edgar Street.[6] In contrast, his third game came three days later as West Ham beat Manchester United 2–1 at Upton Park.[5] Between 1974 and 1976 loan periods were arranged with Wooler playing for Boston Minutemen in the NASL.[7]

Aldershot

Wooler made only two more appearances for West Ham before moving to Aldershot in 1976.[5] Playing for eight seasons with Aldershot and on one occasion going two-and-a-half seasons without missing a first team game, Wooler played 305 games, in all competitions, scoring three goals; a total which puts him in 13th place in the Aldershot all-time appearance list.[8]

Non-league and loans

From 1985 until 1989 Wooler moved into non-league football with Leatherhead and Farnborough Town.Between 1977 and 1989 Wooler regularly spent his summers playing for Finnish sides and turned-out for Malmin Palloseura, Finnairin Palloilijat and HJK Helsinki.

Managerial career

Wooler was manager of Millwall Ladies team.[8]

Death

Wooler died in March 2022, aged 68 after being diagnosed with Myeloma.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1975-75. 1974. Queen Anne Press. London. 472. Peter Dunk.
  2. Web site: Knees up Mother Brown - West Ham United FC Online: News. www.kumb.com.
  3. Web site: No.518 Alan WOOLER ... (1973–1975). Theyflysohigh.co.uk. 11 February 2012.
  4. Web site: READING : 1946/47 – 2010/11. www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. 11 February 2012.
  5. Web site: Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics Alan Wooler. www.westhamstats.info. 11 February 2012.
  6. Book: Leatherdale, Clive. West Ham United Match by Match. 1998. Desert Island Books. Westcliffe-on-Sea. 1-874287-19-8. 96.
  7. Web site: Alan Wooler. NASLSoccer.com. 11 February 2012. 23 September 2010.
  8. Web site: Saturday's guests – The Class of '79 . www.theshots.co.uk . 11 February 2012 .
  9. Web site: Alan Wooler – 1953-2022 | West Ham United F.C.. www.whufc.com.