Sam Wood (footballer)

Sam Wood
Personal information
Full name Samuel James Wood[1]
Date of birth (1986-08-09) 9 August 1986[2]
Place of birth Sidcup, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team
 Wycombe Wanderers
Number 11
Youth career
1999–2003 Cray Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Cray Wanderers 94 (8)
2005–2008 Bromley 159 (21)
2008–2012 Brentford 108 (4)
2011–2012 → Rotherham United (loan) 26 (1)
2012– Wycombe Wanderers 122 (10)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:37, 31 May 2015 (UTC).


Samuel James Wood (born 9 August 1986 in Sidcup, London) is an English professional footballer currently playing for Wycombe Wanderers. Wood is a left-sided and right-sided player who can play either at full back or on the wing.[3]

Playing career

Early career

Sam Wood started playing football for Long Lane before joining Cray Wanderers.[4] He progressed through the ranks at the club before joining the reserve team in 2002 and eventually making his first team debut in 2003. During his time at Cray, he became a fans' favourite, helping the club to the quarter-final of the FA Vase, and promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in the club's history, in the 2003–04 season,[5] and scoring Cray supporters' goal of the season to clinch a 2–0 victory against AFC Wimbledon to end their 78-game unbeaten run.[6] He finished his Cray career with 8 goals from 94 games,[4] and then signed for Bromley, the club whose ground Cray shared, in 2005.

At Bromley, Wood won the Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2006 and the Club Player of the Year in 2007, and scored 21 goals from 159 appearances. His performances attracted interest from professional clubs, and after trials with clubs including Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wood joined League Two club Brentford in May 2008.[7]

Brentford (2008–2012)

After impressing in pre-season, Wood made his Football League debut for Brentford against Bury, but picked up an injury in their 1–0 loss which kept him out for a few weeks. He proved his fitness by playing the full 90 minutes – and scoring – in a practice game,[8] and returned to the first team as a substitute in the 1–1 draw with Lincoln City.[9] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 December against Exeter City,[10] and played regularly for the first team, helping the Bees to the 2008–09 League Two title, as well as scooping several individual awards including the supporters' Player of the Season.[11]

In his second season, Wood lost his place on the left wing due to the form of Myles Weston, but was a regular in the team, either playing on the right wing or at left-back in place of the injury-prone Ryan Dickson.

Wood spend the majority of the 2011–12 season on loan at Rotherham United, making 26 appearances and scoring one goal. At the end of the season he was released by Brentford.

Wycombe Wanderers (2012–)

In July 2012 Wood signed a two-year deal with Wycombe Wanderers, after interest from AFC Wimbledon. He scored a 35-yard volley on his debut.[12] which was later named as Wycombe's 'Goal of the Season'. Like at Brentford, Wood played at either left-back or left midfield. His versatility was recognised supporters as they named him their player of the season.[13]

Wood continued to hold down a regular place in his second season with the club. Despite avoiding relegation to the non-league on the final day of the season, Wood was rewarded with a new two-year contract taking him to July 2016.[14] During the 2014/15 League 2 play off final Wood had his crucial penalty saved during the shootout by Blues young keeper Daniel Bentley resulting in Southend United gaining promotion.

Honours

Cray Wanderers
Bromley
Brentford

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2009 and 31/08/2009". The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  2. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  3. ↑ "We Can Do A Posh". The Football League. 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-11-01. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Cray Wanderers - A Complete Statistical Record". Cray 150 Publications. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  5. ↑ Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2003–04" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2004–05" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  7. ↑ Amos, Stuart (9 May 2008). "Wood good enough to make the grade, says former boss". Epsom Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Midweek Update". Brentford F.C. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Brentford 1–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  10. ↑ Wickham, Chris (28 December 2008). "Exeter 0–2 Brentford". Brentford F.C. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  11. ↑ "Wood Wins Player of the Season". Brentford F.C. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  12. ↑ York 1–3 Wycombe 18 August 2012
  13. ↑ Lewis & Wood pick up fan awards 29 April 2013
  14. ↑ Sam Wood signs new contract 23 May 2014
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