Woodcock Wilf Image 3 Manchester City 1920

Description

Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire born inside right Wilf Woodcock started his football career with junior clubs Waterloo in 1909 and Abbey Hey in 1910 before joining Lancashire Combination club Stalybridge Celtic in 1911. From there he signed for First Division Manchester United in May 1912 and made his Football League debut against Liverpool in November 1913, playing for United both sides of the First World War and being their second top scorer in the first post-war peacetime season of 1919-20 with a dozen goals, only behind Joe Spence, and he was selected to join the FA Tour to South Africa in the summer of 1920.

He joined Manchester City in May 1920 after 21 goals in 61 appearances for United, but found opportunities limited at Hyde Road with the emergence of Tommy Johnson, and joined Stockport County in March 1922 after 2 goals in 15 games for The Citizens.

His 7 goals in 10 games before the season end helped County secure the Third Division (North) Championship and he played a further two seasons for County in the Second Division before joining Wigan Borough in August 1924 after 25 goals in 77 appearances for The Hatters. His spell at Borough was a single season, scoring twice in 14 appearances before retiring from the professional game. He later played for non league Sandbach Ramblers in 1927 and CWS Balloon Street in 1929 before his eventual retirement.