Gary Woods (footballer) explained

Gary Woods
Fullname:Gary Woods
Birth Date:1 October 1990[1]
Birth Place:Kettering, England
Height:1.83m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Greenock Morton
Clubnumber:33
Youthyears1:–2007
Youthclubs1:Cambridge United
Youthyears2:2007–2008
Youthclubs2:Manchester United
Years1:2009–2013
Clubs1:Doncaster Rovers
Caps1:73
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Watford
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2014–2016
Clubs3:Leyton Orient
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Ross County (loan)
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2019
Clubs5:Hamilton Academical
Caps5:85
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:Oldham Athletic
Caps6:15
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2021
Clubs7:Aberdeen (loan)
Caps7:3
Goals7:0
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Aberdeen
Caps8:4
Goals8:0
Years9:2022–2023
Clubs9:Kilmarnock
Caps9:2
Goals9:0
Years10:2023–2024
Clubs10:Exeter City
Caps10:8
Goals10:0
Years11:2024–
Clubs11:Greenock Morton
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Club-Update:12:32, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
Nationalyears1:2007
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Ntupdate:23:41, 24 August 2008 (UTC)

Gary Woods (born 1 October 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Greenock Morton. He has previously played for Exeter City, Watford, Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient, Ross County, Hamilton Academical, Oldham Athletic, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

Club career

Manchester United

Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, Woods joined Manchester United from Cambridge United in July 2007 after trials with a host of Premier League sides, including Arsenal.[2] Described by Manchester United's under-18 coach Paul McGuinness as "a strong, brave goalkeeper with a strong personality",[3]

Doncaster Rovers

Woods joined Doncaster Rovers on a free transfer on 26 March 2009, signing a contract which would end at the end of 2009–10 season.[4] He made his professional debut one month later on 25 April 2009, when he replaced Neil Sullivan in the final minute of a 2–0 victory against Crystal Palace.[5]

Having started sporadically started in the 2011–12, Woods became first-choice goalkeeper in 2012–13 as Doncaster returned to League One following relegation from the Championship. However, despite playing 49 of 53 games as Doncaster took the League One title, he was released at the end of the season.[6]

Watford

Having trained with the club since the previous month, Woods signed a one-year deal with Championship side Watford on 9 September 2013.[7]

Leyton Orient

After one season with Watford, Woods signed for League One side Leyton Orient on 17 July 2014 on a two-year deal.[8] After 17 league appearances for Orient during the 2014–15 season, he found himself as number two behind Alex Cisak. On 1 September 2015, Woods went on loan with Scottish club Ross County until January 2016.[9] In May 2016, he was released from Leyton Orient when it was announced that he would not be retained when his contract expired.[10]

Ross County

Woods arrived on loan at Ross County from Leyton Orient on 1 September 2015, and made his debut off the bench in a 2–1 loss against rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Dingwall. His first full game was in a 2–0 win against second placed Aberdeen. After an injury for Scott Fox against Dundee United, Woods started in the Scottish League Cup Final against Hibernian on 13 March 2016. Ross County won 2–1 with Woods playing a pivotal role in the game, denying Hibernian player Liam Fontaine an equalising goal in injury time.[11]

Hamilton Academical

Woods signed for Hamilton Academical in July 2016.[12] He made his debut on 15 October 2016, in a 2–2 draw away to Partick Thistle.[13] He left the club in May 2019.[14]

Oldham Athletic

On 25 June 2019, he signed a two-year deal with League Two side Oldham Athletic.[15] On 21 September 2020 Woods, and teammate David Wheater, were removed from the first team and forced to train with the youth team as Oldham had been trying to force them out of their contracts.[16]

Aberdeen

On 5 October 2020, Woods moved to Aberdeen on a short-term loan agreement.[17] On 12 January 2021, it was announced that the loan had been extended until the end of the 2020–21 season.[18] On 7 May 2021, Woods signed a pre-contract agreement to join Aberdeen on a two-year deal in summer 2021.[19] Woods was released from his contract with Aberdeen on 24 June 2022.[20]

Kilmarnock

Woods signed a one-year contract with Kilmarnock on 22 July 2022.[21]

Exeter City

Woods' contract with Kilmarnock was terminated on the 31 January 2023. It was announced on the 1 February 2023 that the goal-stopper had signed for Exeter City until the end of the 2022-23 season. On 11 May 2023 Woods' signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the club for the 2023-24 season. [22]

Greenock Morton

On 8 July 2024, Woods joined Greenock Morton on a two-year deal as a player-coach upon the expiration of his contract with Exeter City.[23]

International career

Having previously played Victory Shield football for England at under-16 level,[2] Woods made his debut for the England under-18 side on 20 November 2007 as a substitute for Alex Smithies during a 2–0 friendly win over Ghana.[24]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Doncaster Rovers2008–09Championship10000010
2009–10Championship00000000
2010–11Championship1600000160
2011–12Championship1400020160
2012–13EFL League One42020302[25] 0490
Total730205020820
Watford2013–14Championship00000000
Leyton Orient2014–15EFL League One170103020230
2015–16EFL League Two0000000000
Total170103020230
Ross County (loan)2015–16Scottish Premiership1202020160
Hamilton Academical2016–17Scottish Premiership2101000220
2017–18Scottish Premiership3201040370
2018–19Scottish Premiership3200030350
Total850207000940
Oldham Athletic2019–20EFL League Two150001000160
2020–21EFL League Two0000000000
Total150001000160
Aberdeen (loan)2020–21Scottish Premiership3020000050
Aberdeen2021–22Scottish Premiership5000000050
Exeter City2022–23EFL League One7000000070
2023–24EFL League One1000001020
Total8000001090
Greenock Morton2024–25Scottish Championship0000000000
Career total218090180502500

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

2012–13

Ross County

2015–16[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gary Woods . 11v11 . 16 April 2016 .
  2. Web site: Get to know...Gary Woods . ManUtd.com . Manchester United . 8 October 2008 . 21 November 2009 .
  3. Web site: Rovers net goalkeeper Woods . doncasterroversfc.co.uk . Doncaster Rovers FC . 26 March 2009 . 21 November 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090531120823/http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10329~1602842%2C00.html . 31 May 2009 . dmy-all .
  4. News: Doncaster sign Premier League duo . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 26 March 2009 . 21 November 2009 .
  5. News: Doncaster 2–0 Crystal Palace . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 25 April 2009 . 21 November 2009 .
  6. News: Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods among quintet released . South Yorkshire Times . 18 May 2013 . 9 September 2013.
  7. News: OFFICIAL: Woods Signs . Watford FC . 9 September 2013 . 9 September 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130912104025/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/130909-woods-signing-1044247.aspx . 12 September 2013 .
  8. Web site: Leyton Orient sign goalkeeper Woods . 17 July 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140725212813/http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/football/orient/leyton_orient_sign_goalkeeper_woods_1_3688020 . 25 July 2014 .
  9. Web site: Staggies sign goalkeeper Woods on loan . 1 September 2015 . Press & Journal.
  10. News: Leyton Orient: Mathieu Baudry among eight players to leave League Two club. BBC Sport. 17 May 2016. 24 May 2016.
  11. Web site: Wilson. Richard. Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2 . BBC Sport. 14 March 2016. 13 March 2016.
  12. Web site: Hamilton Academical: Gary Woods signs, Jesus Garcia Tena injury blow . BBC Sport . 27 July 2016 . 27 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Hamilton let lead slip again, but Eamonn Brophy snatches point against Thistle . The Scotsman . 15 October 2016 . 16 October 2016 .
  14. Web site: Gary Woods: Goalkeeper departs Hamilton Academical . BBC Sport . 30 May 2019 .
  15. News: Oldham Athletic: Goalkeeper Gary Woods joins on two-year deal . BBC Sport . 25 June 2019 . 6 July 2019 .
  16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54237119 BBC Sport David Wheater & Gary Woods: Oldham say pair 'no longer part of first-team squad'
  17. Web site: Keeper Gary Woods joins the Dons . Aberdeen FC . 5 October 2020 . 12 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Gary Woods extends stay . Aberdeen FC . 12 January 2021.
  19. Web site: Goalkeeper Gary Woods signs pre-contract to join Aberdeen on permanent basis. eveningexpress.co.uk. Law. Danny. 7 May 2021. 8 May 2021.
  20. Web site: Gary Woods Departs the Dons . Aberdeen FC . afc.co.uk . 24 June 2022 . 26 June 2022.
  21. Web site: Kilmarnock sign goalkeeper Gary Woods after Middlesbrough loanee Zach Hemming's injury . BBC Sport . 22 July 2022 . 22 July 2022.
  22. News: Gary Woods joins the Grecians! . 1 February 2023 . Exeter City FC . 1 February 2023.
  23. Web site: 2024-07-08 . Gary Woods signs for the Ton - Greenock Morton FC . 2024-07-16 . en-US.
  24. Web site: England 2–0 Ghana . TheFA.com . The Football Association . 20 November 2007 . 21 November 2009 .
  25. Appearances in the Football League Trophy