Tony Woodcock
Encyclopedia
Anthony Stewart "Tony" Woodcock (born 6 December 1955) is a retired English
international footballer who played professionally in both England and Germany as a striker
. He won the European Cup in 1979 with Nottingham Forest.
, Woodcock started his career at Nottingham Forest
, whom he joined as an apprentice in 1974. After loan spells at Lincoln City
and Doncaster Rovers
, Woodcock broke into the Forest first team in 1976-77
, helping the team to promotion to the First Division
. Under Brian Clough
, Forest went on to win the First Division title and Football League Cup
in 1978 (Woodcock winning the PFA Young Player of the Year
award that year as well), and the European Cup
in 1979
. He also scored in Forest's victory over Southampton in the 1979 Football League Cup Final
.
in 1978 against Northern Ireland
; he would go on to win 42 caps for his country (scoring 16 goals), and play in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
.
side 1. FC Köln
in the summer of 1979 (thus missing out on Forest's successful defence of their European title), where he spent three seasons, his side finishing as runners-up in the Bundesliga in 1982. He scored 28 goals in 81 matches for the German side.
Arsenal
for £500,000. Woodcock was Arsenal's top scorer for the next four seasons, his best tally being 21 in 1983-84
; he hit five in a single game against Aston Villa
, a post-war
record for the club, he also scored the final goal in the last ever British Home Championship
. He helped Arsenal reach the semi-finals of both domestic cups in his first season
, and remained in favour with new manager Don Howe, who was appointed in December 1983 following the dismissal of Terry Neill after a dismal first half of the season
. He also contributed to a strong start to the 1984-85 season
for the Gunners, which saw them top the league in the autumn of 1984.
However, he suffered a serious injury in March 1985, which disrupted his career. With the arrival of George Graham
as Arsenal manager in May 1986, the 30-year-old Woodcock was told he was surplus to requirements.
In all, Woodcock scored 68 goals in 169 matches for the Gunners.
making 49 appearances and scoring 11 goals. He finished his career playing for Fortuna Köln, making 37 appearances and scoring 5 goals, before retiring from playing in 1990.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
international footballer who played professionally in both England and Germany 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 won the European Cup in 1979 with Nottingham Forest.
Early career
Born in Eastwood, NottinghamshireEastwood, Nottinghamshire
Eastwood is a former coal mining town in the Broxtowe district of Nottinghamshire, England. With a population of over 18,000, it is northwest of Nottingham, and northeast of Derby, on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Mentioned in Domesday Book, it expanded rapidly during the...
, Woodcock started his career at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, whom he joined as an apprentice in 1974. After loan spells at 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....
and Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Woodcock broke into the Forest first team in 1976-77
1976-77 in English football
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
, helping the team to promotion to 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....
. Under Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
, Forest went on to win the First Division title and Football 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...
in 1978 (Woodcock winning the PFA Young Player of the Year
PFA Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
award that year as well), and the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1979
1979 European Cup Final
The 1979 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Olympiastadion, Munich, on 30 May 1979, that saw Nottingham Forest of England defeat Malmö FF of Sweden 1–0.-Background:...
. He also scored in Forest's victory over Southampton in the 1979 Football League Cup Final
1979 Football League Cup Final
The 1979 Football League Cup Final took place on 17 March 1979 at Wembley Stadium. It was the nineteenth Football League Cup final and the thirteenth to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Nottingham Forest and Southampton. Forest were the hot favourites to win being the holders of the...
.
England international
He made his debut for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1978 against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
; he would go on to win 42 caps for his country (scoring 16 goals), and play in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
.
Move to the Bundesliga
Woodcock was signed by West GermanWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
side 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
in the summer of 1979 (thus missing out on Forest's successful defence of their European title), where he spent three seasons, his side finishing as runners-up in the Bundesliga in 1982. He scored 28 goals in 81 matches for the German side.
Arsenal
He returned home after the 1982 World Cup, signing for Terry Neill'sTerry Neill
William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for £500,000. Woodcock was Arsenal's top scorer for the next four seasons, his best tally being 21 in 1983-84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
; he hit five in a single game against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, a post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
record for the club, he also scored the final goal in the last ever British Home Championship
1984 British Home Championship
The 1984 British Home Championship was the one hundredth anniversary of the British Home Championship and the final football tournament between the Home Nations to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games,...
. He helped Arsenal reach the semi-finals of both domestic cups in his first season
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
, and remained in favour with new manager Don Howe, who was appointed in December 1983 following the dismissal of Terry Neill after a dismal first half of the season
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
. He also contributed to a strong start to the 1984-85 season
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
for the Gunners, which saw them top the league in the autumn of 1984.
However, he suffered a serious injury in March 1985, which disrupted his career. With the arrival of George Graham
George Graham (footballer)
George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...
as Arsenal manager in May 1986, the 30-year-old Woodcock was told he was surplus to requirements.
In all, Woodcock scored 68 goals in 169 matches for the Gunners.
Return to Germany
Woodcock then returned to 1. FC Köln1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
making 49 appearances and scoring 11 goals. He finished his career playing for Fortuna Köln, making 37 appearances and scoring 5 goals, before retiring from playing in 1990.
Honours
- Anglo-Scottish CupAnglo-Scottish CupThe Anglo-Scottish Cup was a tournament arranged for teams in the English and Scottish football leagues during the summer for several years during the 1970s...
winner 1977 - Football League Championship winner 1978
- Football League Cup winner 1978, 1979
- FA Charity Shield winner 1978
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
winner 1979 - European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
winner 1979 - PFA Young Player of the YearPFA Young Player of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
1978