Classic Arsenal Players Profile - Part 3 - Tony Woodcock
FIVE STAR WOODY
TONY WOODCOCK first came to my attention long before he signed for Arsenal in 1982. My father, who was not a huge football fan, had told me to watch out for a lad called Woodcock who was about to play for Nottingham Forest in the 1979 League Cup final against Southampton.
With that in mind I spent the following 90 minutes mesmerized by the quick, curly headed No.10 and he duly he scored the winner as Forest triumphed 3-2 in a thrilling match. Imagine my delight therefore when just over three years later he joined Arsenal. And he certainly lived up to my expectations, even if the team at the time did not.
Anthony Stewart Woodock was born on 6 December 1955 in Eastwood, near Nottingham. After impressing for local side, Priory Celtic, left footed forward Woodcock signed for Nottingham Forest in January 1974.
However it was only after loan spells at Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers that Woodcock finally established himself in the Forest first team under Brian Clough during the 1976/77 season, helping the club win promotion to Division One.
Woodcock later stated that it was the coaching of Graham Taylor at Lincoln that was instrumental in his early development.
At Forest, Woodcock enjoyed great success. He scored 11 goals as they won the Division One title in 1977/78, and also featured in the side that won the League Cup against Liverpool. After another League Cup success, the aforementioned match against Southampton in 1979, Woodcock went on to lift the European Cup, starting the 1979 final, a 1-0 win against Swedish side Malmo.
However, following the arrival of Trevor Francis from Birmingham City that same year, who in doing so became the first million pound player in the process, Woodcock grew unsettled, and having seen England teammate Kevin Keegan impress in Germany for Hamburg, Woodcock left to sign for Cologne in a record breaking £600,000 deal.
Although he did not add to his trophy haul during his three years in Germany, the move proved to be a great success as he cemented his place in the England team.
Having made his international debut against Hungary in 1978, Woodcock went on to play in both the 1980 European Championships in Italy, scoring in the 2-1 win over Spain, and in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, scoring against France. In total he won 42 England caps, scoring 16 goals.
It was after that latter tournament that Woodcock decided to move back to England so in the summer of 1982 he signed for Arsenal for a club record fee of £500,000.
Woodcock proved to be an instant hit at Highbury, scoring on his home debut against Norwich City and ending his first season as top scorer with 14 goals in the league, and 21 in total. It was a disappointing season for the club however, as they finished 10th and suffered semi final defeats in both cup competitions.
The following 1983/84 season saw Woodcock partnered with new signing Charlie Nicholas and it was during a match at Aston Villa in November 1983 that Woodcock set a post-war club record, scoring five times in a 6-2 win.
Although it was another poor season for the club, finishing 6th and suffering humiliating cup defeats against Middlesbrough and Walsall, Woodcock scored 21 league goals, the first Arsenal player to break the 20-goal barrier since Malcolm MacDonald in 1978.
The start of the following 1984/85 season saw Arsenal briefly lead the Division One table. Woodcock was scoring regularly as the team won eight of their first 11 matches to open up a four point lead at the top.
The highlight of this run was the 3-1 home win over champions Liverpool featured in my last piece, a match in which Woodcock scored the crucial second goal.
After Christmas, with Arsenal's title challenge beginning to fade, Woodcock suffered a terrible knee injury in March 1985, ironically on his first return to Villa Park since that five goal haul the previous season, which ended his season prematurely.
Woodcock battled back to fitness ahead of the 1985/86 season but he had lost a yard of pace and failed to recapture his earlier form.
When George Graham took as manager at the end of the season one of his first tasks was to release several of the older players and Woodcock, at nearly 31, was deemed surplus to requirements. He ended his Arsenal career with 68 goals in 169 appearances.
Woodcock returned to Germany with Cologne, signing for £250,000, before ending his playing career at Fortuna Cologne in 1990.
Woodcock stayed in Germany to coach at Cologne while also beginning a career in television punditry and as an agent.
Woodcock returned to England in 2005 where he now runs a sports media business with former Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and England teammate, Viv Anderson.
My personal memories of Woody are all positive. I was overjoyed when he signed for us in 1982 and he really stood out in a rather inconstant side. Left footed and very quick, he scored some great goals and was also able to bring out the best in his various strike partners, most notably Alan Sunderland, Charlie Nicholas, Paul Mariner and later, Ian Allinson.
It is a shame that he played for us during one of the worst periods in our modern history. This was a player who was a regular in the England side at a time when that really meant something, and had won the holy grail of the Division One title and the European Cup.
Had he been able to play in the great sides under George Graham later in the 1980s I firmly believe Woody would have gone down as one of our greatest ever players. Instead he will perhaps go down as one of the most underrated. Not by me though. I thought he was great and remains one of my favourite ever Arsenal players.
At his best he was a wonderful player and I will forever treasure the memories of seeing Woody play for us.
Coming up next time I look back at a classic match from the 1982/83 season; the FA Cup Quarter Final against Aston Villa. Be sure to look out for that.
TONY WOODCOCK first came to my attention long before he signed for Arsenal in 1982. My father, who was not a huge football fan, had told me to watch out for a lad called Woodcock who was about to play for Nottingham Forest in the 1979 League Cup final against Southampton.
With that in mind I spent the following 90 minutes mesmerized by the quick, curly headed No.10 and he duly he scored the winner as Forest triumphed 3-2 in a thrilling match. Imagine my delight therefore when just over three years later he joined Arsenal. And he certainly lived up to my expectations, even if the team at the time did not.
Anthony Stewart Woodock was born on 6 December 1955 in Eastwood, near Nottingham. After impressing for local side, Priory Celtic, left footed forward Woodcock signed for Nottingham Forest in January 1974.
Woodcock later stated that it was the coaching of Graham Taylor at Lincoln that was instrumental in his early development.
At Forest, Woodcock enjoyed great success. He scored 11 goals as they won the Division One title in 1977/78, and also featured in the side that won the League Cup against Liverpool. After another League Cup success, the aforementioned match against Southampton in 1979, Woodcock went on to lift the European Cup, starting the 1979 final, a 1-0 win against Swedish side Malmo.
However, following the arrival of Trevor Francis from Birmingham City that same year, who in doing so became the first million pound player in the process, Woodcock grew unsettled, and having seen England teammate Kevin Keegan impress in Germany for Hamburg, Woodcock left to sign for Cologne in a record breaking £600,000 deal.
Although he did not add to his trophy haul during his three years in Germany, the move proved to be a great success as he cemented his place in the England team.
Having made his international debut against Hungary in 1978, Woodcock went on to play in both the 1980 European Championships in Italy, scoring in the 2-1 win over Spain, and in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, scoring against France. In total he won 42 England caps, scoring 16 goals.
Woodcock proved to be an instant hit at Highbury, scoring on his home debut against Norwich City and ending his first season as top scorer with 14 goals in the league, and 21 in total. It was a disappointing season for the club however, as they finished 10th and suffered semi final defeats in both cup competitions.
The following 1983/84 season saw Woodcock partnered with new signing Charlie Nicholas and it was during a match at Aston Villa in November 1983 that Woodcock set a post-war club record, scoring five times in a 6-2 win.
Although it was another poor season for the club, finishing 6th and suffering humiliating cup defeats against Middlesbrough and Walsall, Woodcock scored 21 league goals, the first Arsenal player to break the 20-goal barrier since Malcolm MacDonald in 1978.
The start of the following 1984/85 season saw Arsenal briefly lead the Division One table. Woodcock was scoring regularly as the team won eight of their first 11 matches to open up a four point lead at the top.
The highlight of this run was the 3-1 home win over champions Liverpool featured in my last piece, a match in which Woodcock scored the crucial second goal.
After Christmas, with Arsenal's title challenge beginning to fade, Woodcock suffered a terrible knee injury in March 1985, ironically on his first return to Villa Park since that five goal haul the previous season, which ended his season prematurely.
When George Graham took as manager at the end of the season one of his first tasks was to release several of the older players and Woodcock, at nearly 31, was deemed surplus to requirements. He ended his Arsenal career with 68 goals in 169 appearances.
Woodcock returned to Germany with Cologne, signing for £250,000, before ending his playing career at Fortuna Cologne in 1990.
Woodcock stayed in Germany to coach at Cologne while also beginning a career in television punditry and as an agent.
Woodcock returned to England in 2005 where he now runs a sports media business with former Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and England teammate, Viv Anderson.
My personal memories of Woody are all positive. I was overjoyed when he signed for us in 1982 and he really stood out in a rather inconstant side. Left footed and very quick, he scored some great goals and was also able to bring out the best in his various strike partners, most notably Alan Sunderland, Charlie Nicholas, Paul Mariner and later, Ian Allinson.
It is a shame that he played for us during one of the worst periods in our modern history. This was a player who was a regular in the England side at a time when that really meant something, and had won the holy grail of the Division One title and the European Cup.
Had he been able to play in the great sides under George Graham later in the 1980s I firmly believe Woody would have gone down as one of our greatest ever players. Instead he will perhaps go down as one of the most underrated. Not by me though. I thought he was great and remains one of my favourite ever Arsenal players.
At his best he was a wonderful player and I will forever treasure the memories of seeing Woody play for us.
Coming up next time I look back at a classic match from the 1982/83 season; the FA Cup Quarter Final against Aston Villa. Be sure to look out for that.
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