Curtis Woodhouse

Birmingham City He made his debut for Birmingham City 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. 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 students. In July 2002, he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay £250 costs.

During the following season, 2001–02, Woodhouse made 28 appearances in the First Division. Birmingham reached the play-offs again for the fourth consecutive season, this time gaining promotion 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, During his loan spell at Rotherham, he turned out 11 times in the First Division. 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". and was later described as "Captain Marvel" by manager, Barry Fry. In 2003–04, he made 27 appearances in the Second Division, 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. 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

Grimsby Town In the January 2006 transfer window, he joined 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 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.

Switch to boxing Woodhouse had a history of theft, robbery and affray, and said that he had "fallen out of love" with football. He said; "Boxing has always been my first love, even as a kid", 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." 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 & Diamonds, who were playing in the Conference National, the highest-tier of non-league football. His boxing licence 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 then returned to Rushden on 1 March 2007, and made a further 11 appearances in the Conference in the 2006–07 season, 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. He then defeated Peter Dunn in a bout on 3 June, again on points, in a contest of four three-minute rounds. Matt Seawright was Woodhouse's next boxing opponent on 16 March 2008, 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.

After defeating Wayne Downing in 57 seconds on 21 June 2008, 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. His first professional loss as a boxer was on 25 April at Ulster Hall, in Belfast at the hands of Jay Morris. 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 by 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.

Managerial career It was announced on 2 May 2012, that Woodhouse was the new manager of Northern Premier League Division One South club Sheffield. He also made one cup appearance for the club as a substitute, adding to the 14 appearances he had made in all competitions during his first spell. Woodhouse resigned in December 2012 after admitting having difficulty to managing a football team as well as being a professional boxer.

On 14 October 2013, Woodhouse was announced as the assistant manager at Northern Premier League Division One South club Goole, with former teammate David Holdsworth being appointed manager. In January 2014 Woodhouse replaced Holdsworth as manager following Holdsworth's resignation. Woodhouse then left Goole after some issues with the board, and took over at Hull United in January 2015. On 29 September 2016 Woodhouse was appointed as manager at Bridlington Town.

On 2 June 2019, Woodhouse was appointed manager of Tadcaster Albion. In October 2019 he left Tadcaster to join Gainsborough Trinity as manager. On 26 February 2021, Woodhouse parted from Gainsborough Trinity by mutual consent.

On 2 November 2022, Woodhouse was appointed manager of Marske United. On 23 February 2023, Marske United parted company with Woodhouse after three wins from thirteen matches.

Personal life Woodhouse was born in Beverley 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 published an autobiography, Box to Box: From the Premier League to British Boxing Champion, in 2016.

He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2021 New Year Honours.

Career statistics

Club

International Source:

Professional boxing record

Won 24-7 Lewis van Poetsch PTS 6 25 November 2017 Doncaster Dome Doncaster, England

Won 23-7 Arvydas Trizno PTS 6 2 September 2017 Doncaster Dome Doncaster, England

Lost 22-7 Willie Limond PTS 12 27 June 2014 Braehead Arena Glasgow, Scotland

Won 22-6 Darren Hamilton SD 12 22 February 2014 Hull Arena Hull, England

Won 21-6 Arek Malek PTS 6 13 December 2013 Ice Sheffield Sheffield, England

Won 20-6 Lewis van Poetsch PTS 6 2 November 2013 Hull Arena Hull, England

Lost 19-6

KO 4 21 September 2013 Liverpool Olympia Liverpool, England

Won 19-5 Joe Elfidh TKO 3 13 July 2013 Craven Park Hull, England

Won 18-5 Sandor horvath TKO 1 17 May 2013 Ponds Forge Sheffield, England

Lost 17-5 Shayne Singleton MD 10 8 February 2013 Bowler's Arena Manchester, England

Won 17-4 Dave Ryan MD 10 28 September 2012 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Lost 16-4 Dale Miles TKO 5 , 2:26 6 June 2012 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Won 16-3 Gary McArthur RTD 4 , 3:00 26 November 2011 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Lost 15-3 Frankie Gavin SD 12 16 July 2011 Echo Arena Liverpool, England

Won 15-2 Billy Smith KO 3 , 1:24 10 April 2011 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Lost 14-2 Peter McDonagh PTS 8 23 October 2010 York Hall Bethnal Green, England

Won 14-1 Stefy Bull TKO 9 , 2:15 2 July 2010 Doncaster Dome Doncaster, England

Won 13-1 Maurycy Gojko KO 4 , 2:01 25 April 2010 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Won 12-1 Jay Morris TKO 3 , 0:39 28 February 2010 Magna Centre Rotherham, England

Won 11-1 Dean Hickman TKO 6 , 2:15 27 November 2009 Gemtec Arena Hull, England

Lost 10-1 Jay Morris PTS 6 25 April 2009 Ulster Hall Belfast, Northern Ireland

Won 10-0 Matt Scriven PTS 6 29 March 2009 Bramall Lane Sheffield, England

Won 9-0 Peter Dunn TKO 6 , 0:20 1 December 2008 Thurcroft Consort Hotel Rotherham, England

Won 8-0 Jimmy Beech PTS 6 20 September 2008 Hillsborough Leisure Centre Sheffield, England

Won 7-0 Wayne Downing KO 1 , 0:57 17 May 2008 National Indoor Arena Birmingham, England

Won 6-0 Dave Murray TKO 1 , 1:13 16 March 2008 Bramall Lane Sheffield, England

Won 5-0 Matt Seawright TKO 3 5 December 2007 Sheffield United Academy Sheffield, England

Won 4-0 Craig Tomes TKO 1 , 1:27 14 July 2007 Don Valley Stadium Sheffield, England

Won 3-0 Peter Dunn PTS 4 3 June 2007 Metrodome Leisure Complex Barnsley, England

Won 2-0 Duncan Cottier PTS 4 15 April 2007 Metrodome Leisure Complex Barnsley, England

Won 1-0 Dean Marcantonio PTS 4 8 September 2006 Grosvenor House Hotel London, England