Curtis Woodhouse
Encyclopedia
Curtis Woodhouse is an English professional footballer and boxer
. Woodhouse plays football as a central midfielder
for Conference North
outfit Eastwood Town
, and competes as a light-welterweight boxer. He is the reigning International Masters light-welterweight champion. His career in the Football League
spanned across nine seasons, earning four caps for the England under-21 football team
. Woodhouse's professional boxing record stands at 15 wins, 10 of which are by knock-out, and 3 defeats.
He started his footballing career with York City
's centre of excellence before joining Sheffield United
. In November 2001, he was transferred to Birmingham City
for a fee of £
1 million, before joining Rotherham United
in January 2003, on loan for five months. He then joined Peterborough United
on a free transfer in October 2003. In May 2005, he joined Hull City
for £25,000, before joining Grimsby Town
just eight months later in January 2006. He retired at the end of the 2006–07 season.
Woodhouse stated that he had "fallen out of love" with football and decided to turn to professional boxing, despite no previous experience. In September 2006, he won his first professional boxing match, defeating Dean Marcantonio, on points, knocking him down twice in the final round. His only defeat was to Jay Morris in April 2009, losing 37-36 on points.
He was convicted of assaulting a police officer and of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in April 2006. As a result, he had his boxing license suspended for five months by the British Boxing Board of Control
, despite the incident happening before he was under the BBBofC's jurisdiction. Woodhouse returned to football in November 2006, joining Rushden & Diamonds in the Conference National
before moving to Mansfield Town
in January 2009. After leaving them, he moved to Harrogate Town
. At the end of February 2010, he joined Sheffield
in the Northern Premier League
. Before the start of the 2011–12 football season, he moved up two division's in the football league system
when he joined Conference North
outfit Eastwood Town
.
's centre of excellence
in 1994, before being transferred to Sheffield United
for an initial compensation fee of £
2,200. Sheffield United and York City later agreed on an additional £15,000 fee plus a five-percentage sell-on clause. He made his debut for Sheffield United at the age of 17, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute
in a 1–0 home win against Crewe Alexandra
in the First Division
on 29 November 1997. He made a total of nine First Division appearances in the 1997–98 season. Woodhouse holds the record for being the club's youngest ever captain, aged 19. He earned a call-up to the England under-21 team
, and made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Hungary
on 27 April 1999. He went on to earn another three caps
against Sweden
, Bulgaria
and Poland
in England's 2000 European Under-21 Championship
qualifying group. He made a total of 104 appearances in the Football League, scoing six goals, before being sold to Birmingham City
for £1 million in February 2001.
on 3 February 2001, in a 2–1 home victory against Norwich City
. He made 17 appearances for Birmingham during the 2000–01 season, scoring twice. Both goals came in the final league match of the season, a 2–1 away win against Huddersfield Town
, sealing their relegation fate. Birmingham reached the League Cup final
, however, Woodhouse was unable to play as he was cup-tied
, having previously played in three League Cup
games for Sheffield United that season. He was arrested after the final of the League Cup, on 25 February 2001, having been charged with affray
along with two others after they "trashed" an Indian restaurant and he wielded a chair in a brawl with university
student
s. In July 2002, he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service
and ordered to pay £250 costs. Birmingham finished fifth in the First Division
, and reached the play-offs, losing in a penalty shootout in the semi-final, after the game was drawn 2–2 on aggregate. Woodhouse played in both semi-final matches. The following season, 2001–02, he made 28 appearances in the First Division. Birmingham reached the play-offs again for the fourth consecutive season, this time gaining promotiton after beating Millwall
in the semi-final and Norwich City
in the final. This time, Woodhouse did not play in any of the play-off matches. He made just three appearances for Birmingham City in the Premier League, before being loaned out to Rotherham United
in January 2003. Grimsby Town
and Brighton & Hove Albion
were also reportedly interested in signing the midfielder. During his loan spell at Rotherham, he turned out 11 times in the First Division.
on 14 October 2003, the same day that he made his debut against Torquay United
in a 3–2 victory in the Football League Trophy
. However, he had been training with Peterborough a month prior to signing for them, whilst he "sorted out some problems at Birmingham City
". He went on to captain the side, and was later described as "Captain Marvel
" by manager, Barry Fry
. In 2003–04, he made 27 appearances in the Second Division
, scoring seven goals. Peterborough finished 18th in the Second Division, two points from relegation, with Woodhouse being named as Peterborough's player of the season. In May 2004, Hull City
manager, Peter Taylor, made a failed £100,000 bid to try and sign the midfielder. The following season, 2004–05, he made 34 appearances in the newly named League One
and scored four goals. Peterborough suffered relegation, after finishing 23rd in the league.
in May 2005, the club he supported as a child, on a two-year contract for a fee of £25,000, with the potential to rise to £150,000 depending on appearances. His debut for Hull was as a late substitute in a 2–0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion
on 20 August 2005. Though he lacked fitness at the start of the season, injuries to Keith Andrews
and Ian Ashbee
gave him the chance of a regular starting place, and manager Taylor also handed him the team captaincy.
Despite consistent performances, by December 2005 he had lost his place and there was speculation that he had fallen out with Taylor and wanted to leave; this was strongly denied by the player: "I'm shocked that people are saying I want to go. I'm very happy here. ... It's taken me long enough to get to Hull so I'm not going to walk out after a few months, or whatever." In the following six weeks he made only two brief substitute appearances – in five months with the club he played 18 games in the Championship
without scoring – and the strength of Hull's squad was such that he could not be guaranteed regular first-team football.
on a two year deal, three years after they first expressed an interest in signing him. He made his debut against former club Peterborough United
in League Two
, on 28 January 2006 in a 2–1 home defeat, and scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club against Mansfield on 14 February 2006. On 26 April 2006, Woodhouse said he planned to retire from football at the end of the 2005–06 season and embark on a career as a professional boxer
. He made 16 appearances in League Two, helping them to finish fourth place, reaching the play-offs. Woodhouse played in both of Grimsby's play-off semi-final victories over Lincoln City
, setting up the only goal of the game in the first leg. He played his last Football League game in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium
on 28 May 2006. Grimsby were defeated 1–0 in the final by Cheltenham Town
. Woodhouse gave away a penalty in the 70th minute that was saved by goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall
.
, robbery
and affray
, and said that he had "fallen out of love" with football. He admitted to have been involved in around 100 street fights
. He said; "Boxing has always been my first love, even as a kid", and "I love fighting...Rather than get locked up for it, I might as well get paid for it." He also stated that he used to spar
in the boxing gym after football training without his manager's knowledge, saying "A few times at Sheffield United, Neil Warnock
would drag me in and say ‘I hear you’ve been boxing’. I’d be standing there with a big black eye and a fat lip and deny it." He trained under former British featherweight champion, Gary De Roux
, and made his boxing debut on 8 September 2006 at Grosvenor House Hotel
, London
, in a welterweight
contest against Dean Marcantonio, despite not having any previous amateur
experience. The former footballer had lost two stone in weight since his playing days with Grimsby Town
. The fight was scheduled for four rounds of two minutes, Woodhouse knocked his opponent down twice in the final round and won on points.
, who were playing in the Conference National
, the highest-tier of non-league football
. His boxing license was suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control
, following a conviction for assaulting a police officer whilst drunk and of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in April 2006, when he was still playing for Grimsby Town
, and not under the BBBofC's jurisdiction at the time of the incident. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Andrew Whitehead and £350 in costs. Woodhouse chose to play for Rushden & Diamonds to fulfil a promise he made to someone who was part of the consortium that took over the Irthlingborough
based club. He made his debut against Aldershot Town
on 25 November 2006, in a 1–0 defeat. He made five appearances in the Conference National
for Rushden, before deciding to leave to concentrate on his boxing career.
He then returned to Rushden on 1 March 2007, and made a further 11 appearances in the Conference in the 2006–07 season, scoring three goals, including a 30-yard long range effort against Northwich Victoria
on 23 April. After five months away from boxing, Woodhouse returned to the ring for his second fight on 15 April, defeating Duncan Cottier on points after four rounds. On 1 May, he signed a new two-year deal with Rushden & Diamonds. He then defeated Peter Dunn in a bout on 3 June, again on points, in a contest of four three minute rounds. In his fourth fight on 5 December 2007, he defeated Craig Tomes by way of knock-out after just 1 minute and 57 seconds, landing a left hook
that unsettled Tomes as the referee decided his opponent as unfit to continue. Matt Seawright was Woodhouse's next boxing opponent on 16 March 208, he defeated him after Seawright felt he was unable to continue after the third round. Woodhouse finished the 2007–08 football season having played in 29 Conference National matches, scoring once and receiving two red cards. On 17 May, Woodhouse achieved his sixth straight victory, maintaining his undefeated record against Dave Murray at Bramall Lane
, defeating his opponent by knock-out in the second round. Murray managed to beat the standing eight count
, but the referee deemed him unable to continue after 1 minute and 23 seconds.
After defeating Wayne Downing in 57 seconds on 21 June 2008, Woodhouse stated his intention to retire from football at the end of the 2008–09
season, in order to concentrate on his boxing career. He was later appointed as team captain for his final season at the club. Woodhouse scored a decisive penalty in Rushden's opening game of the 2008–09 season, away on 9 August, against newly promoted Eastbourne Borough
. He was sent off again in the home game against Histon
on 25 August, after receiving two yellow cards. In his eighth boxing match, Woodhouse defeated Jimmy Beech on points on 20 September. He then proceeded to defeat Peter Dunn on 30 November, stopping him 23 seconds in the sixth and final round at Thurcroft's Consort Hotel, Rotherham
.
He signed for Mansfield Town
on 5 January on a contract until the end of the 2008–09 season. Woodhouse made his debut for Mansfield Town on 24 January in a Conference National
match against Lewes
. Mansfield won 1–0. Matt Scriven was Woodhouse's next opponent in the ring on 29 March at Bramall Lane
. The fight went the distance of six rounds and Woodhouse was given the decision over Scriven. His first professional loss as a boxer was on 25 April at Ulster Hall
, in Belfast
at the hands of Jay Morris. The fight went the distance, but Woodhouse lost 37-36 on points over six rounds. Mansfield manager David Holdsworth
hoped Woodhouse would stay at the club, but on 18 June, he joined Conference North
team Harrogate Town
. On 27 November, he defeated Dean Hickman by TKO in round 6. This was Woodhouse's first fight in the light-welterweight division, having dropped down from welterweight.
On 13 January 2010, in an interview to the Grimsby Telegraph
, Woodhouse commented he would definitely consider a move back to former club Grimsby Town
after expressing his dismay at The Mariners languishing near the bottom of the League Two
, within danger of being relegated from the Football League
. He commented "If they are looking for a central midfielder, though, they are welcome to give me a call". Harrogate released him by mutual consent on 25 February. Three days later he avenged his defeat to Jay Morris by beating him with a TKO in round 3. This gave Woodhouse the first title of his boxing career, the International Masters light-welterweight title. On 25 April, Woodhouse defended the title with a 4th round knockout of Maurycy Gojko, who stepped in as a late replacement for Steve Saville. Next, on 2 July, Woodhouse knocked out veteran Stefy Bull in round 9. His next fight was due to be against 2006 Commonwealth Games
gold medallist and former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin
on 18 September, but Woodhouse pulled out days after the bout was announced in July. He moved up the Non-League football ladder in June 2011, after signing for Conference North
side Eastwood Town
.
and raised in Driffield
. His father, Bernard Woodhouse, died at the age of 51 after he had a fatal stroke
. Unlike other boys who idolised footballers, Woodhouse stated his heroes were Nigel Benn
and Mike Tyson
. He admits to fighting at school and in the streets after being racially abused: "I went from scrapping in the street and at school to fighting in the boxing ring from the age of 12. I was called a few names due to the colour of my skin, but with a quick smack in the mouth they soon backed off." He used to visit Boothferry Park
to support Hull City
before pursuing his career in professional football. He has a wife, Charlotte, and two children: a son named Kyle and a daughter, Isla.
|-
|1997–98||rowspan="4"|Sheffield United
||rowspan="7"|First Division
||9||0||1||0||0||0||10||0
|-
|1998–99||33||3||5||0||2||0||40||3
|-
|1999–2000||37||3||3||0||2||0||42||3
|-
|2000–01||25||0||1||0||3||0||29||0
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="3"|Birmingham City
||17||2||0||0||0||0||17||2
|-
|2001–02||28||0||1||0||3||0||32||0
|-
|2002–03||3||0||0||0||1||0||4||0
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="1"|Rotherham United
||rowspan="1"|Championship
||11||0||0||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="2"|Peterborough United
||rowspan="2"|League One
||27||7||3||0||0||0||30||7
|-
|2004–05||34||4||3||1||1||0||38||5
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="1"|Hull City
||rowspan="1"|Championship
||18||0||0||0||1||0||19||0
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="1"|Grimsby Town
||rowspan="1"|League Two
||16||1||0||0||0||0||16||1
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="3"|Rushden & Diamonds
||rowspan="5"|Football Conference
||16||4||1||0||0||0||17||4
|-
|2007–08||29||1||1||0||0||0||30||1
|-
|2008–09
||20||1||1||0||0||0||21||1
|-
|2008–09
||rowspan="1"|Mansfield Town
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|2009–10
||rowspan="1"|Harrogate Town
||||||||||||||||
|-
|2010–11
||rowspan="1"|Sheffield
||rowspan="1"|Northern Premier League|||||||||||||||||
|-
319||26||20||1||13||0||368||27
319||26||20||1||13||0||368||27
|-
|1999||4||0
|-
!Total||4||0
|}
|-
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Venue
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-
| Lose
| Frankie Gavin
|PTS
| 12
|16 July 2011
|Echo Arena
|Liverpool
, England
|WBO Intercontinental welterweight title
|-
| Win
| Billy Smith
|KO
|3 , 1:24
|10 April 2011
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham
, England
|
|-
| Lose
| Peter McDonagh
|PTS
|8
|23 October 2010
|York Hall
|Bethnal Green
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Stefy Bull
|TKO
|9 , 2:15
|2 July 2010
|Doncaster Dome
|Doncaster
, England
|
|-
| Win
|
Maurycy Gojko
|KO
|4 , 2:01
|25 April 2010
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Jay Morris
|TKO
|3 , 0:39
|28 February 2010
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dean Hickman
|TKO
|6 , 2:15
|27 November 2009
|Gemtec Arena
|Hull
, England
|
|-
| Lose
| Jay Morris
|PTS
|6
|25 April 2009
|Ulster Hall
|Belfast
, Northern Ireland
|
|-
| Win
| Matt Scriven
|PTS
|6
|29 March 2009
|Bramall Lane
|Sheffield
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Peter Dunn
|TKO
|6 , 0:20
|1 December 2008
|Thurcroft Consort Hotel
|Rotherham
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Jimmy Beech
|PTS
|6
|20 September 2008
|Hillsborough Leisure Centre
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Wayne Downing
|KO
|1 , 0:57
|17 May 2008
|National Indoor Arena
|Birmingham
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dave Murray
|TKO
|1 , 1:13
|16 March 2008
|Bramall Lane
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Matt Seawright
|TKO
|3
|5 December 2007
|Sheffield United Academy
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Craig Tomes
|TKO
|1 , 1:27
|14 July 2007
|Don Valley Stadium
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Peter Dunn
|PTS
|4
|3 June 2007
|Metrodome Leisure Complex
|Barnsley
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Duncan Cottier
|PTS
|4
|15 April 2007
|Metrodome Leisure Complex
|Barnsley, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dean Marcantonio
|PTS
|4
|8 September 2006
|Grosvenor House Hotel
|London
, England
|
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Woodhouse plays football as a central midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
outfit Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
, and competes as a light-welterweight boxer. He is the reigning International Masters light-welterweight champion. His career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
spanned across nine seasons, earning four caps for the England under-21 football team
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
. Woodhouse's professional boxing record stands at 15 wins, 10 of which are by knock-out, and 3 defeats.
He started his footballing career with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
's centre of excellence before joining Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. In November 2001, he was transferred to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1 million, before joining Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in January 2003, on loan for five months. He then joined Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on a free transfer in October 2003. In May 2005, he joined Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
for £25,000, before joining Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
just eight months later in January 2006. He retired at the end of the 2006–07 season.
Woodhouse stated that he had "fallen out of love" with football and decided to turn to professional boxing, despite no previous experience. In September 2006, he won his first professional boxing match, defeating Dean Marcantonio, on points, knocking him down twice in the final round. His only defeat was to Jay Morris in April 2009, losing 37-36 on points.
He was convicted of assaulting a police officer and of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in April 2006. As a result, he had his boxing license suspended for five months by the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
, despite the incident happening before he was under the BBBofC's jurisdiction. Woodhouse returned to football in November 2006, joining Rushden & Diamonds in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
before moving to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in January 2009. After leaving them, he moved to Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
. At the end of February 2010, he joined Sheffield
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
. Before the start of the 2011–12 football season, he moved up two division's in the football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
when he joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
outfit Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
.
York City and Sheffield United
Woodhouse began his football career at York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
's centre of excellence
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
in 1994, before being transferred to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for an initial compensation fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
2,200. Sheffield United and York City later agreed on an additional £15,000 fee plus a five-percentage sell-on clause. He made his debut for Sheffield United at the age of 17, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
in a 1–0 home win against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
on 29 November 1997. He made a total of nine First Division appearances in the 1997–98 season. Woodhouse holds the record for being the club's youngest ever captain, aged 19. He earned a call-up to the England under-21 team
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
, and made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Hungary
Hungary national under-21 football team
The Hungary national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Hungary and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Hungarian Under-21 team was formed...
on 27 April 1999. He went on to earn another three caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
against Sweden
Sweden national under-21 football team
The Swedish U-21 national football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players. Sweden U21's current captain is Jiloan Hamad with Jakob Johansson as vice captain.-UEFA European U-21 Championship Record:...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria national under-21 football team
The Bulgaria national under-21 football team represents the under-21 football team of Bulgaria and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
and Poland
Poland national under-21 football team
The Poland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Poland and is controlled by the Polish Football Association....
in England's 2000 European Under-21 Championship
2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2000, which spanned two years , had 47 entrants. Northern Ireland competed for the first time. For the first time a finals tournament with two groups of four teams was held, with one of those teams, Slovakia, having been chosen as the hosts.Italy U-21s won the...
qualifying group. He made a total of 104 appearances in the Football League, scoing six goals, before being sold to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for £1 million in February 2001.
Birmingham City
He made his debut for Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 3 February 2001, in a 2–1 home victory against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. He made 17 appearances for Birmingham during the 2000–01 season, scoring twice. Both goals came in the final league match of the season, a 2–1 away win against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, sealing their relegation fate. Birmingham reached the League Cup final
2001 Football League Cup Final
The 2001 Worthington Cup Final was a football match played between Liverpool and Birmingham City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 25 February 2001...
, however, Woodhouse was unable to play as he was cup-tied
Cup-tied
Cup-tied is an adjective, used primarily in association football, to describe a player who is ineligible to play in a knockout cup competition after transferring from another club during that competition.-Application:...
, having previously played in three League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
games for Sheffield United that season. He was arrested after the final of the League Cup, on 25 February 2001, having been charged with affray
Affray
In many legal jurisdictions related to English common law, affray is a public order offence consisting of the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of ordinary people...
along with two others after they "trashed" an Indian restaurant and he wielded a chair in a brawl with university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s. In July 2002, he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
and ordered to pay £250 costs. Birmingham finished fifth in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, and reached the play-offs, losing in a penalty shootout in the semi-final, after the game was drawn 2–2 on aggregate. Woodhouse played in both semi-final matches. The following season, 2001–02, he made 28 appearances in the First Division. Birmingham reached the play-offs again for the fourth consecutive season, this time gaining promotiton after beating Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in the semi-final and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in the final. This time, Woodhouse did not play in any of the play-off matches. He made just three appearances for Birmingham City in the Premier League, before being loaned out to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in January 2003. Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
were also reportedly interested in signing the midfielder. During his loan spell at Rotherham, he turned out 11 times in the First Division.
Peterborough United
Woodhouse signed for Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on 14 October 2003, the same day that he made his debut against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in a 3–2 victory in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. However, he had been training with Peterborough a month prior to signing for them, whilst he "sorted out some problems at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
". He went on to captain the side, and was later described as "Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
" by manager, Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
. In 2003–04, he made 27 appearances in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, scoring seven goals. Peterborough finished 18th in the Second Division, two points from relegation, with Woodhouse being named as Peterborough's player of the season. In May 2004, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
manager, Peter Taylor, made a failed £100,000 bid to try and sign the midfielder. The following season, 2004–05, he made 34 appearances in the newly named League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and scored four goals. Peterborough suffered relegation, after finishing 23rd in the league.
Hull City
He joined Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in May 2005, the club he supported as a child, on a two-year contract for a fee of £25,000, with the potential to rise to £150,000 depending on appearances. His debut for Hull was as a late substitute in a 2–0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
on 20 August 2005. Though he lacked fitness at the start of the season, injuries to Keith Andrews
Keith Andrews (footballer)
Keith Joseph Andrews is an Irish association footballer who plays for Ipswich Town and the Republic of Ireland national football team. Voted best player EU by Vp rel...
and Ian Ashbee
Ian Ashbee
Ian Ashbee is an English professional footballer currently playing for Preston North End. He has previously played for Hull City, Derby County and Cambridge United, and has also played in Iceland, on loan to ÍR....
gave him the chance of a regular starting place, and manager Taylor also handed him the team captaincy.
Despite consistent performances, by December 2005 he had lost his place and there was speculation that he had fallen out with Taylor and wanted to leave; this was strongly denied by the player: "I'm shocked that people are saying I want to go. I'm very happy here. ... It's taken me long enough to get to Hull so I'm not going to walk out after a few months, or whatever." In the following six weeks he made only two brief substitute appearances – in five months with the club he played 18 games in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
without scoring – and the strength of Hull's squad was such that he could not be guaranteed regular first-team football.
Grimsby Town
In the January 2006 transfer window, he joined Grimsby TownGrimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on a two year deal, three years after they first expressed an interest in signing him. He made his debut against former club Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, on 28 January 2006 in a 2–1 home defeat, and scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club against Mansfield on 14 February 2006. On 26 April 2006, Woodhouse said he planned to retire from football at the end of the 2005–06 season and embark on a career as a professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He made 16 appearances in League Two, helping them to finish fourth place, reaching the play-offs. Woodhouse played in both of Grimsby's play-off semi-final victories over Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, setting up the only goal of the game in the first leg. He played his last Football League game in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
on 28 May 2006. Grimsby were defeated 1–0 in the final by Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
. Woodhouse gave away a penalty in the 70th minute that was saved by goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall
Steve Mildenhall
Stephen James "Steve" Mildenhall is an English professional football goalkeeper, currently playing for Millwall in the Championship.-Career:...
.
Switch to boxing
Woodhouse had a history of theftTheft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and affray
Affray
In many legal jurisdictions related to English common law, affray is a public order offence consisting of the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of ordinary people...
, and said that he had "fallen out of love" with football. He admitted to have been involved in around 100 street fights
Street fighting
Street fighting is a colloquial term used to denote unsanctioned, illegal in some countries, hand-to-hand fighting in public places, between individuals or groups of people....
. He said; "Boxing has always been my first love, even as a kid", and "I love fighting...Rather than get locked up for it, I might as well get paid for it." He also stated that he used to spar
Sparring
Sparring is a form of training common to many martial arts. Although the precise form varies, it is essentially relatively 'free-form' fighting, with enough rules, customs, or agreements to make injuries unlikely...
in the boxing gym after football training without his manager's knowledge, saying "A few times at Sheffield United, Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
would drag me in and say ‘I hear you’ve been boxing’. I’d be standing there with a big black eye and a fat lip and deny it." He trained under former British featherweight champion, Gary De Roux
Gary De Roux
Gary De Roux is a boxing trainer and former professional boxer.He was born in Manchester, though is most closely associated with Peterborough, where he was trained by Kevin Sanders, who went on to train Nigel Benn and several other world title holders. The peak of his boxing career was a brief...
, and made his boxing debut on 8 September 2006 at Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House is a large and luxurious hotel. The iconic Mayfair, London hotel is owned by the Sahara Group. The name has also been licensed to a property in Dubai....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in a welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
contest against Dean Marcantonio, despite not having any previous amateur
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
experience. The former footballer had lost two stone in weight since his playing days with Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. The fight was scheduled for four rounds of two minutes, Woodhouse knocked his opponent down twice in the final round and won on points.
Return to football part-time
After only one professional fight, Woodhouse returned to football in November 2006, signing for Rushden & DiamondsRushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
, who were playing in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, the highest-tier of non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
. His boxing license was suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
, following a conviction for assaulting a police officer whilst drunk and of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in April 2006, when he was still playing for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, and not under the BBBofC's jurisdiction at the time of the incident. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Andrew Whitehead and £350 in costs. Woodhouse chose to play for Rushden & Diamonds to fulfil a promise he made to someone who was part of the consortium that took over the Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough
Irthlingborough , originally called Artleborough, is a small town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England with a population of 6,179 people according to the 2001 census. It is the smallest town in England to have possessed a league association football team, Rushden & Diamonds. The parish...
based club. He made his debut against Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
on 25 November 2006, in a 1–0 defeat. He made five appearances in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
for Rushden, before deciding to leave to concentrate on his boxing career.
He then returned to Rushden on 1 March 2007, and made a further 11 appearances in the Conference in the 2006–07 season, scoring three goals, including a 30-yard long range effort against Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on 23 April. After five months away from boxing, Woodhouse returned to the ring for his second fight on 15 April, defeating Duncan Cottier on points after four rounds. On 1 May, he signed a new two-year deal with Rushden & Diamonds. He then defeated Peter Dunn in a bout on 3 June, again on points, in a contest of four three minute rounds. In his fourth fight on 5 December 2007, he defeated Craig Tomes by way of knock-out after just 1 minute and 57 seconds, landing a left hook
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
that unsettled Tomes as the referee decided his opponent as unfit to continue. Matt Seawright was Woodhouse's next boxing opponent on 16 March 208, he defeated him after Seawright felt he was unable to continue after the third round. Woodhouse finished the 2007–08 football season having played in 29 Conference National matches, scoring once and receiving two red cards. On 17 May, Woodhouse achieved his sixth straight victory, maintaining his undefeated record against Dave Murray at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, defeating his opponent by knock-out in the second round. Murray managed to beat the standing eight count
Standing eight count
A standing eight count, also known as a protection count, is a boxing judgment call made by a referee during a bout. When invoked, the referee stops the action and counts to eight. Typically, a boxer can take 3 standing eight counts in a round...
, but the referee deemed him unable to continue after 1 minute and 23 seconds.
After defeating Wayne Downing in 57 seconds on 21 June 2008, Woodhouse stated his intention to retire from football at the end of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, in order to concentrate on his boxing career. He was later appointed as team captain for his final season at the club. Woodhouse scored a decisive penalty in Rushden's opening game of the 2008–09 season, away on 9 August, against newly promoted Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne Borough F.C.
Eastbourne Borough are a semi-professional English football club, based in the town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, and are members of the Conference South. They are known as The Sports after their previous name as Langney Sports. Eastbourne Borough play their home matches at Priory Lane in Langney...
. He was sent off again in the home game against Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
on 25 August, after receiving two yellow cards. In his eighth boxing match, Woodhouse defeated Jimmy Beech on points on 20 September. He then proceeded to defeat Peter Dunn on 30 November, stopping him 23 seconds in the sixth and final round at Thurcroft's Consort Hotel, Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
.
He signed for Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on 5 January on a contract until the end of the 2008–09 season. Woodhouse made his debut for Mansfield Town on 24 January in a Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
match against Lewes
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
. Mansfield won 1–0. Matt Scriven was Woodhouse's next opponent in the ring on 29 March at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
. The fight went the distance of six rounds and Woodhouse was given the decision over Scriven. His first professional loss as a boxer was on 25 April at Ulster Hall
Ulster Hall
The Ulster Hall is a concert hall and grade B1 listed building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated on Bedford Street in Belfast city centre, the hall hosts concerts, classical recitals, craft fairs and political party conferences...
, in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
at the hands of Jay Morris. The fight went the distance, but Woodhouse lost 37-36 on points over six rounds. Mansfield manager David Holdsworth
David Holdsworth
David Gary Holdsworth is an English former footballer who is the current manager of Lincoln City.-Playing career:He played as a centre back for Watford, Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Walsall, Bolton Wanderers, Scarborough and Gretna, and was capped once for England at Under-21 level...
hoped Woodhouse would stay at the club, but on 18 June, he joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
team Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
. On 27 November, he defeated Dean Hickman by TKO in round 6. This was Woodhouse's first fight in the light-welterweight division, having dropped down from welterweight.
On 13 January 2010, in an interview to the Grimsby Telegraph
Grimsby Telegraph
The Grimsby Telegraph is a daily British regional newspaper for the town of Grimsby and the surrounding area that makes up North East Lincolnshire. It is owned by Northcliffe Newspapers. The main area for the paper's distribution is in or around Grimsby and Cleethorpes...
, Woodhouse commented he would definitely consider a move back to former club Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
after expressing his dismay at The Mariners languishing near the bottom of the League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, within danger of being relegated from the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He commented "If they are looking for a central midfielder, though, they are welcome to give me a call". Harrogate released him by mutual consent on 25 February. Three days later he avenged his defeat to Jay Morris by beating him with a TKO in round 3. This gave Woodhouse the first title of his boxing career, the International Masters light-welterweight title. On 25 April, Woodhouse defended the title with a 4th round knockout of Maurycy Gojko, who stepped in as a late replacement for Steve Saville. Next, on 2 July, Woodhouse knocked out veteran Stefy Bull in round 9. His next fight was due to be against 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
gold medallist and former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin
Frankie Gavin (boxer)
Frankie Raymond Gavin is a British professional boxer from Birmingham who, whilst an amateur, won the gold medal at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships to become English boxing's first ever World Amateur champion....
on 18 September, but Woodhouse pulled out days after the bout was announced in July. He moved up the Non-League football ladder in June 2011, after signing for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
.
Personal life
Woodhouse was born in BeverleyBeverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
and raised in Driffield
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
. His father, Bernard Woodhouse, died at the age of 51 after he had a fatal stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. Unlike other boys who idolised footballers, Woodhouse stated his heroes were Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
and Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
. He admits to fighting at school and in the streets after being racially abused: "I went from scrapping in the street and at school to fighting in the boxing ring from the age of 12. I was called a few names due to the colour of my skin, but with a quick smack in the mouth they soon backed off." He used to visit Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
to support Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
before pursuing his career in professional football. He has a wife, Charlotte, and two children: a son named Kyle and a daughter, Isla.
Career statistics
.|-
|1997–98||rowspan="4"|Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
||rowspan="7"|First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||9||0||1||0||0||0||10||0
|-
|1998–99||33||3||5||0||2||0||40||3
|-
|1999–2000||37||3||3||0||2||0||42||3
|-
|2000–01||25||0||1||0||3||0||29||0
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="3"|Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
||17||2||0||0||0||0||17||2
|-
|2001–02||28||0||1||0||3||0||32||0
|-
|2002–03||3||0||0||0||1||0||4||0
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="1"|Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
||rowspan="1"|Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||11||0||0||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="2"|Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
||rowspan="2"|League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||27||7||3||0||0||0||30||7
|-
|2004–05||34||4||3||1||1||0||38||5
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="1"|Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||rowspan="1"|Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||18||0||0||0||1||0||19||0
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="1"|Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
||rowspan="1"|League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||16||1||0||0||0||0||16||1
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="3"|Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
||rowspan="5"|Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
||16||4||1||0||0||0||17||4
|-
|2007–08||29||1||1||0||0||0||30||1
|-
|2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
||20||1||1||0||0||0||21||1
|-
|2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
||rowspan="1"|Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
||rowspan="1"|Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
||||||||||||||||
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
||rowspan="1"|Sheffield
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
||rowspan="1"|Northern Premier League|||||||||||||||||
|-
319||26||20||1||13||0||368||27
319||26||20||1||13||0||368||27
|-
|1999||4||0
|-
!Total||4||0
|}
Professional boxing record
|align=center colspan=8 |15 Wins (10 knockouts, 5 decisions) 3 Loss, 0 Draws|-
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Venue
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
!align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-
| Lose
| Frankie Gavin
Frankie Gavin
Frankie Gavin, b.1956, Corrandulla, County Galway, is a fiddle player of traditional Irish music.Frankie Gavin is from a musical family; parents and siblings being players of the fiddle and accordion. As a child he played the tin whistle and, later, the flute. He received some formal training in...
|PTS
| 12
|16 July 2011
|Echo Arena
|Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
|WBO Intercontinental welterweight title
|-
| Win
| Billy Smith
|KO
|3 , 1:24
|10 April 2011
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, England
|
|-
| Lose
| Peter McDonagh
|PTS
|8
|23 October 2010
|York Hall
York Hall
The York Hall is a health and leisure centre and one of Britain's best known boxing venues.The venue is situated on Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, London, England. The hall, opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, stages boxing as well as providing a gymnasium and swimming pool.The hall is owned...
|Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Stefy Bull
|TKO
|9 , 2:15
|2 July 2010
|Doncaster Dome
|Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, England
|
|-
| Win
|
Maurycy Gojko|KO
|4 , 2:01
|25 April 2010
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Jay Morris
|TKO
|3 , 0:39
|28 February 2010
|Magna Centre
|Rotherham, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dean Hickman
|TKO
|6 , 2:15
|27 November 2009
|Gemtec Arena
Gemtec Arena
The Bonus Arena is a sports centre located next to the Kingston Communications Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, England....
|Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, England
|
|-
| Lose
| Jay Morris
|PTS
|6
|25 April 2009
|Ulster Hall
Ulster Hall
The Ulster Hall is a concert hall and grade B1 listed building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated on Bedford Street in Belfast city centre, the hall hosts concerts, classical recitals, craft fairs and political party conferences...
|Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
|
|-
| Win
| Matt Scriven
|PTS
|6
|29 March 2009
|Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
|Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Peter Dunn
|TKO
|6 , 0:20
|1 December 2008
|Thurcroft Consort Hotel
|Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Jimmy Beech
|PTS
|6
|20 September 2008
|Hillsborough Leisure Centre
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Wayne Downing
|KO
|1 , 0:57
|17 May 2008
|National Indoor Arena
National Indoor Arena
The National Indoor Arena is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
|Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dave Murray
|TKO
|1 , 1:13
|16 March 2008
|Bramall Lane
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Matt Seawright
|TKO
|3
|5 December 2007
|Sheffield United Academy
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Craig Tomes
|TKO
|1 , 1:27
|14 July 2007
|Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
|Sheffield, England
|
|-
| Win
| Peter Dunn
|PTS
|4
|3 June 2007
|Metrodome Leisure Complex
Barnsley Metrodome
The Barnsley Metrodome is one of the UK's premier sports facilities. It is located along Queens Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in England...
|Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, England
|
|-
| Win
| Duncan Cottier
|PTS
|4
|15 April 2007
|Metrodome Leisure Complex
|Barnsley, England
|
|-
| Win
| Dean Marcantonio
|PTS
|4
|8 September 2006
|Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House is a large and luxurious hotel. The iconic Mayfair, London hotel is owned by the Sahara Group. The name has also been licensed to a property in Dubai....
|London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
|
External links
- Curtis Woodhouse profile at BritishBoxing.net