John Woodward

John Woodward (born 6 January 1947) is an English former footballer. A forward, he scored 66 goals in 269 league games in a 13-year career in the Football League. He played and scored in all four divisions of the Football League.

He began his career at Stoke City before he was sold to Aston Villa for a £30,000 fee in October 1966. He switched to Walsall three years later before he joined Port Vale for a fee of £2,250 in February 1973. He finished as the club's top-scorer in 1973–74 but suffered a loss of form and was allowed to join Scunthorpe United in May 1975. After two years with the "Iron", he had spells with Belgian club Oostende and Southern League side Kidderminster Harriers.

Career Woodward began his career with Stoke City, playing three First Division games in the 1964–65 season. He scored his first senior goal on 27 March 1965, in a 2–1 victory over Aston Villa at the Victoria Ground. He played six games without scoring in 1965–66, and made just two appearances in 1966–67. Aston Villa had been suitably impressed, however, to offer £30,000 for the striker's services in October 1966, and "Potters" boss Tony Waddington gladly accepted the offer. He was signed to replace Tony Hateley, who had been sold to Chelsea.

The "Villans" suffered relegation in 1966–67, and could only finish 16th and 18th in the Second Division in 1967–68 and 1968–69. Woodward scored seven goals in 26 league games during a turbulent time at Villa Park, in which Dick Taylor, Tommy Cummings, and Tommy Docherty all had brief spells as manager.

He moved on to Bill Moore's Walsall in May 1969. Walsall who posted a 12th-place finish in the Third Division in 1969–70. The "Saddlers" avoided relegation on goal difference in 1970–71, before rising to ninth in 1971–72. John Smith then took over at Fellows Park, and led the club to a 17th-place finish in 1972–73. He scored 23 goals in 125 league games during his four-year spell at the club.

Woodward joined league rivals Port Vale for a fee of £2,250 in February 1973. He hit nine goals in 17 Third Division games in 1972–73, as Gordon Lee's "Valiants" finished four places and four points shy of promotion.

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1964–65 First Division

1965–66 First Division

1966–67 First Division

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1966–67 First Division

1967–68 Second Division

1968–69 Second Division

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1969–70 Third Division

1970–71 Third Division

1971–72 Third Division

1972–73 Third Division

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1972–73 Third Division

1973–74 Third Division

1974–75 Third Division

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