Rodger Wylde
Encyclopedia
Rodger Wylde, born in Sheffield
, Yorkshire
on 8 March 1954, is a former professional football player who played for Sheffield Wednesday
, Oldham Athletic
, Sporting CP, Sunderland
, Barnsley
and Stockport County
. Wylde played as a striker
, he was good in the air but had fine skill on the ground for a tall man. In his final few years in football he took a degree in physiotherapy
and is now the physiotherapist for Stockport County.
, he scored his first goal two weeks later on 2 December against Millwall
. Wylde’s opportunities at Hillsborough
were limited until the appointment of Len Ashurst
as manager in October 1975. In the 1976-77 season he was top scorer for the club with 25 goals in all competitions and formed a fine attacking partnership with Tommy Tynan, between them they netted 40 goals that season.
Wylde continued to score goals regularly over the following two seasons and became a crowd favourite with Wednesday supporters who gave him the nickname “Oscar”. Wylde’s trademark celebration after scoring a goal was to go on his knees with arms aloft in front of the fans. The 1979-80 season saw Wylde not playing as regularly for the team as Terry Curran
, Ian Mellor
and Andy McCulloch
became the main forwards during Wednesday’s promotion that season from Division Three
. He was sold by manager Jack Charlton
mid way through that season, with Wylde playing his final game on 16 February 1980 and moving to Oldham Athletic as a replacement for Vic Halom
.
side Sporting CP for the 1983-84 season. He was very much a fringe player with Sporting and his chances in the first team were limited. Wylde was brought back to the English game during the 1984-85 season by his old manager at Wednesday, Len Ashurst, who was now in charge at Sunderland and this gave Wylde his only opportunity to play top level football in England. He played 11 games that season for Sunderland scoring three goals including one against Liverpool at Anfield in 1-1 draw.
before joining Stockport where he spent one season (1988–89) on the playing staff, appearing in 26 games and scoring 12 goals.
. After qualifying he opened a treatment centre and gymnasium in Sheffield but when Danny Bergara became Stockport manager in March 1989 he offered Wylde the post of club physiotherapist. Wylde has now been physio at Stockport for 22 years, an unusually long time, serving under eleven different managers to date. In 2006, he was inducted into Stockport’s Hall of Fame.
After Stockport's promotion in 2008 Rodger got naked in the changing rooms at Wembley and said "I'ts been a really.......Good day"
.
. In 1998 he formed his own band Fracture along with Stockport player Tom Bennett
who was recovering from a severe break to his leg at the time. Both men decided to learn the guitar to brighten up the prolonged injury period, a bassist and a drummer were added. After a period of non performing, Fracture were reformed in April 2006 with Stockport’s club doctor Steve Greenhough (keyboards and bass), David Prudhoe (lead guitar) and Keith Chadwick (drums) joining Rodger and Tom to complete the new line up. They play regular concerts around the Greater Manchester
area.
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...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
on 8 March 1954, is a former professional football player who played for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, Sporting CP, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. Wylde played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, he was good in the air but had fine skill on the ground for a tall man. In his final few years in football he took a degree in physiotherapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
and is now the physiotherapist for Stockport County.
Playing career
Rodger Wylde’s career lasted from 1972 to 1989 during which time he played 370 English league games, scoring 139 goals.Sheffield Wednesday
Roger Wylde joined Sheffield Wednesday as an apprentice straight from school in July 1971 and made his debut for the club on 18 November 1972 against MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, he scored his first goal two weeks later on 2 December against 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...
. Wylde’s opportunities at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
were limited until the appointment of Len Ashurst
Len Ashurst
Len Ashurst is a former footballer, manager and football administrator in England.-Career:As a player, Ashurst was a left-sided defender. He joined Liverpool in 1953 as an apprentice. After being released, he joined Sunderland in 1957, where he would go on to spend 14 years...
as manager in October 1975. In the 1976-77 season he was top scorer for the club with 25 goals in all competitions and formed a fine attacking partnership with Tommy Tynan, between them they netted 40 goals that season.
Wylde continued to score goals regularly over the following two seasons and became a crowd favourite with Wednesday supporters who gave him the nickname “Oscar”. Wylde’s trademark celebration after scoring a goal was to go on his knees with arms aloft in front of the fans. The 1979-80 season saw Wylde not playing as regularly for the team as Terry Curran
Terry Curran
Edward Terence Curran is a former English professional footballer whose career lasted from 1975 to 1988. Curran was an attacking midfielder, who could also play as a winger, he could also play as an out and out Striker...
, Ian Mellor
Ian Mellor
Ian Mellor is an English former professional footballer. He was born in Sale, England.Mellor, a left-winger, began his career with Manchester City before moving to Norwich City in 1973 for a fee of £65,000. The Canaries were struggling against relegation in their first season in English football's...
and Andy McCulloch
Andrew McCulloch (footballer)
Andrew “Andy” McCulloch is a former English professional footballer who played for Q.P.R., Cardiff City, Oxford United, Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace and Aldershot. He played a total of 475 games in all competitions for his seven league clubs, scoring 153 goals in a career which...
became the main forwards during Wednesday’s promotion that season from Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. He was sold by manager Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
mid way through that season, with Wylde playing his final game on 16 February 1980 and moving to Oldham Athletic as a replacement for Vic Halom
Vic Halom
Victor Halom is a former footballer-Playing career:Halom featured as a player most prominently for Sunderland and Oldham Athletic. He played as center forward in the Sunderland team that won the FA Cup in 1973...
.
Oldham Athletic, Sporting CP, Sunderland
Wylde continued his good goalscoring form at Oldham finishing top scorer in each of his three full seasons there, in total scoring 51 league goals in 113 appearances. At the end of his contract with Oldham, Wylde moved abroad to play for top PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
side Sporting CP for the 1983-84 season. He was very much a fringe player with Sporting and his chances in the first team were limited. Wylde was brought back to the English game during the 1984-85 season by his old manager at Wednesday, Len Ashurst, who was now in charge at Sunderland and this gave Wylde his only opportunity to play top level football in England. He played 11 games that season for Sunderland scoring three goals including one against Liverpool at Anfield in 1-1 draw.
Barnsley, Stockport County
Rodger Wylde’s last few seasons as a player were at Barnsley and Stockport County. He spent three seasons at Barnsley playing 52 league games scoring 19 goals. Part of the 1987-88 season saw him on loan at Rotherham UnitedRotherham 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...
before joining Stockport where he spent one season (1988–89) on the playing staff, appearing in 26 games and scoring 12 goals.
Physiotherapist
In order to stay in football when he retired from playing Wylde started a physiotherapy degree course towards the end of his playing career. He graduated from the University of SalfordUniversity of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
. After qualifying he opened a treatment centre and gymnasium in Sheffield but when Danny Bergara became Stockport manager in March 1989 he offered Wylde the post of club physiotherapist. Wylde has now been physio at Stockport for 22 years, an unusually long time, serving under eleven different managers to date. In 2006, he was inducted into Stockport’s Hall of Fame.
After Stockport's promotion in 2008 Rodger got naked in the changing rooms at Wembley and said "I'ts been a really.......Good day"
.
Music
Rodger Wylde was always a big music fan especially of progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
. In 1998 he formed his own band Fracture along with Stockport player Tom Bennett
Tom Bennett
Tom Bennett is a British actor. He has appeared in many British television shows, including Red Cap, The Worst Week of My Life, My Hero, Life Begins, The Booze Cruise II, Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and EastEnders, playing Steve Clarke.His early television appearances include Shoot The Writers! ,...
who was recovering from a severe break to his leg at the time. Both men decided to learn the guitar to brighten up the prolonged injury period, a bassist and a drummer were added. After a period of non performing, Fracture were reformed in April 2006 with Stockport’s club doctor Steve Greenhough (keyboards and bass), David Prudhoe (lead guitar) and Keith Chadwick (drums) joining Rodger and Tom to complete the new line up. They play regular concerts around the Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
area.