| Jimmy Woolf | |
| Fullname: | Levi James Woolf |
| Birth Date: | 27 January 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Death Place: | Durban, South Africa |
| Youthclubs1: | J.R.A.S. Johannesburg |
| Years1: | 1937–1938 |
| Clubs1: | Southampton |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1938–1939 |
| Clubs2: | Guildford City |
Levi James Woolf (27 January 1916 – 27 January 2003)[1] was a South African professional footballer who played one match in the Football League for Southampton in 1937.[2]
Woolf was born in Johannesburg, South Africa but was determined to become a professional footballer in England. In September 1937, he travelled to Britain on board the Union-Castle liner, Balmoral Castle; a steward on the liner heard of Woolf's intentions and sent a telegram to the manager of Southampton Football Club, Tom Parker. Parker arranged for Woolf to be met after he disembarked at Southampton Docks and he was given a trial.[3]
He was signed by the club after the trial match and was soon playing regularly at inside right in the reserves. On 11 December 1937, he made his first-team debut when he took the place of Ray Parkin at inside-right for the Second Division match against Tottenham Hotspur, with Parkin moving to centre-forward in place of Benny Gaughran who had recently been sold to Sunderland. Although the match was won 2–1, with Parkin scoring both Saints' goals,[4] Woolf was not a great success and he returned to the reserves.[3]
In the summer of 1938, he joined Guildford City of the Southern League.[3] At the end of his first season at Guildford, they finished as Southern League runners-up.[5]
During the Second World War, Woolf enlisted in the Army and served in Burma. After the war, he returned to South Africa.[3]