Sam Wood (footballer)

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

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(s)	Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team	Bromley
Number	3
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)
2012–2017	Wycombe Wanderers	183	(14)
2017–2018	Eastleigh	36	(0)
2018–	Bromley	73	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:29, 23 April 2020 (UTC)

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. While a non-league footballer, he also worked as a body double (for the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo),[7] for USC at Bluewater and in advertisement for Nike and Adidas.[3]

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.[8]

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.[3] He proved his fitness by playing the full 90 minutes – and scoring – in a practice game,[9] and returned to the first team as a substitute in the 1–1 draw with Lincoln City.[10] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 December against Exeter City,[11] and played regularly for the first team, helping the Bees to the 2008–09 League Two title,[3] as well as scooping several individual awards including the supporters' Player of the Season.[12]

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.[3]

Wood spend the majority of the 2011–12 season on loan at Rotherham United, making 26 appearances and scoring one goal.[13] At the end of the season he was released by Brentford.[3]

Wycombe Wanderers (2012–2017)

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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Wood left Wycombe Wanderers after his contract was not renewed.[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2019

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cray Wanderers	2004–05[18]	Isthmian League First Division	31	4	0	0	—		0	0	31	4
Bromley	2005–06[19]	Isthamian League Premier Division	30	3	0	0	—		5[lower-alpha 1]	4	35	7
	2006–07[20]		36	2	0	0	—		2[lower-alpha 2]	0	38	2
	2007–08[21]	Conference South	42	0	0	0	—		0	0	42	0
	Total		108	5	0	0	—		7	4	115	9
Brentford	2008–09[22]	League Two	40	1	2	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	43	1
	2009–10[23]	League One	43	2	3	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	48	2
	2010–11[24]		20	1	1	0	2	1	4[lower-alpha 3]	0	27	2
	2011–12[13]		5	0	0	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 3]	0	8	0
	Total		108	4	6	0	4	1	8	0	126	5
Rotherham United (loan)	2011–12[13]	League Two	26	1	1	0	—		0	0	27	1
Wycombe Wanderers	2012–13[25]	League Two	35	3	1	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	38	3
	2013–14[26]		43	2	3	0	0	0	3[lower-alpha 3]	0	49	2
	2014–15[27]		44	5	2	1	1	0	3[lower-alpha 4]	0	50	6
	2015–16[28]		29	2	4	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	35	2
	2016–17[29]		32	2	3	1	1	0	5[lower-alpha 3]	0	41	3
	Total		183	14	13	2	4	0	13	0	213	16
Eastleigh	2017–18[30]	National League	35	0	1	0	—		1[lower-alpha 5]	0	37	0
	2018–19[30]		1	0	—		—		—		1	0
	Total		36	0	1	0	—		1	0	38	0
Bromley	2018–19[30]	National League	41	0	2	0	—		1[lower-alpha 5]	0	44	0
	Bromley total		149	5	2	0	—		8	4	159	9
Career total			533	28	23	2	8	1	30	4	594	35

1. Appearances in Isthmian League Cup
2. Appearances in Isthmian League play-offs
3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
4. Appearances in EFL League Two play-offs
5. Appearance in FA Trophy

Honours

Cray Wanderers

• Kent League (2): 2002–03, 2003–04

Bromley

• Kent Senior Cup (2): 2005–06, 2006–07
• Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs (1): 2006–07[20]

Brentford

• Football League Two: 2008–09[3]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2009 and 31/08/2009" (PDF). The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
3. "History Boys: Sam Wood". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
4. "Cray Wanderers – A Complete Statistical Record". Cray 150 Publications. 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
5. Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2003–04" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
6. Goringe, Pete. "Looking Back in Amber 2004–05" (PDF). Cray Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
7. [Wycombe Wanderers: Lionel Messi's body double & fame in Singapore]
8. Amos, Stuart (9 May 2008). "Wood good enough to make the grade, says former boss". Epsom Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
9. "Midweek Update". Brentford F.C. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
10. "Brentford 1–1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
11. Wickham, Chris (28 December 2008). "Exeter 0–2 Brentford". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
12. "Wood Wins Player of the Season". Brentford F.C. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
13. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
14. York 1–3 Wycombe 18 August 2012
15. Lewis & Wood pick up fan awards 29 April 2013
16. Sam Wood signs new contract 23 May 2014
17. "Ainsworth reveals contract decisions". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
18. "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
19. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
20. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
21. "Conference South guide – Bromley". 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
22. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
23. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
24. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
25. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
26. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
27. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
28. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
29. "Games played by Sam Wood in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
30. Sam Wood at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2017.

External links

• Sam Wood at Soccerbase