Leslie Wood (footballer) explained

Leslie Wood
Fullname:Thomas Leslie Wood
Birth Date:20 December 1932
Birth Place:Haslingden, England
Death Place:Manchester, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Woolfold St. James
Clubs1:Bolton Wanderers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1952–1955
Clubs2:Huddersfield Town
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:1955–1956
Clubs3:Barrow
Caps3:31
Goals3:0
Years4:1956–1958
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:1958
Clubs5:Southport
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Clubs6:Rossendale United
Clubs7:Bolton Road
Totalcaps:33+
Totalgoals:0+

Thomas Leslie Wood (20 December 1932 – 24 January 2005) was an English footballer. A goalkeeper, he played 33 league games in the Football League, mostly for Barrow. He was also signed to Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, Port Vale, and Southport.

Career

Wood played for Woolfold St. James and Bolton Wanderers before joining Huddersfield Town in 1952. The "Terriers" won promotion to the First Division in 1952–53, and made a bid for the Football League title in 1953–54, before falling away in 1954–55. However, manager Andy Beattie was satisfied with the services of regular goalkeepers Harry Mills and Jack Wheeler, and Wood never made his first-team debut at Leeds Road.

Wood spent the 1955–56 season with Barrow, and played 31 Third Division North games for Joe Harvey's struggling "Bluebirds". He left Holker Street and joined Freddie Steele's Second Division side Port Vale for 'a reasonable fee' in June 1956.[1] Working as Ray King's understudy, Wood conceded three goals on his debut against Blackburn Rovers at Vale Park on 12 January 1957.[1] He played just one more game in 1956–57, and was transferred to Southport in January 1958 by new boss Norman Low.[1] He played one Third Division North game for a struggling "Sandgrounders" side in 1957–58. After leaving Haig Avenue, he later turned out for non-League sides Rossendale United and Bolton Road.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barrow1955–56Third Division North31030340
Port Vale1956–57Second Division200020
Southport1957–58Third Division North100010

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 315. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.