Richard Wood (footballer)

For other people named Richard Wood, see Richard Wood (disambiguation).

Richard Wood

Wood warming up for Sheffield Wednesday in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Richard Mark Wood [1]
Date of birth	(1985-07-05) 5 July 1985 (age 39) [2]
Place of birth	Ossett, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Doncaster Rovers
Number	6
Youth career
000?–2003	Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2010	Sheffield Wednesday	174	(7)
2009	→ Coventry City (loan)	5	(1)
2010–2013	Coventry City	112	(7)
2013–2014	Charlton Athletic	21	(0)
2014–2023	Rotherham United	230	(18)
2015	→ Crawley Town (loan)	10	(3)
2015	→ Fleetwood Town (loan)	6	(0)
2015	→ Chesterfield (loan)	5	(0)
2023-	Doncaster Rovers	27	(0)
Managerial career
2022	Rotherham United (co-caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:00 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Richard Mark Wood (born 5 July 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.

Club career

Sheffield Wednesday

Born in Ossett, West Yorkshire, Wood was a Leeds United fan and had a season ticket at Leeds, however Wood came up through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and started to support The Owls instead. ^[3] He broke into the senior side at the end of the 2002–03 season and capped his superb performance with a goal on his full debut against Burnley. ^[4] The young Wood made such an impression that he was handed a two-year deal before he completed the second year of his Academy scholarship.

He formed an impressive partnership with Graham Coughlan in the centre of defence and has put in a series of strong displays.

Wood staked his claim for a regular spot as he missed just one of the final 28 games as Wednesday clinched promotion to the Championship the previous season.

He enjoyed a lengthy run in the 2005–06 season before an untimely injury cut short his season, which also deprived him of making an appearance for the Football League Select XI against an Italian Serie B representative side. To cap of this tremendous season, he was rewarded by receiving the Rhodes Fairbanks Young player of the year award by fans of the club. ^[5]

On 3 March 2007, Wood returned from his injury to make his first start for Wednesday in 11 months in a 3–2 league win against Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at Elland Road. He would go on to start in the rest of Wednesday's 11 games that season and helped them to finish the season with just one loss from 13 games – a run which almost saw the side finish in the Championship play-offs.

Prior to the 2008–09 season Wood was named joint captain alongside Steve Watson, although shortly after the season began Wood handed in a transfer request. The request was declined.

In the 2009–10 campaign, after a successful start for Wood, scoring two goals in two matches, he declined a new contract with Wednesday, and he was transfer listed on 29 October 2009. ^[6]

Coventry City

On 18 November 2009, Wood signed for Coventry City on loan until January 2010, when he was then expected to sign a permanent deal. ^[7] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace on 21 November 2009. ^[8] He then got his first goal for the Sky Blues the following game with the equaliser against Derby County. On 6 December Wood even captained Coventry in a 1–0 loss to Scunthorpe United. After four starts and one substitute appearance, Wood made the move permanent signing on a contract till 2013 on 1 January 2010. ^[9] On 27 March 2010, Wood scored the equaliser for Coventry in a match against his former club, Sheffield Wednesday. He was also named as captain in this game which finished 1–1. ^[10]

Charlton Athletic

On 18 July 2013, Wood signed a one-year deal with Charlton Athletic. ^[11]

Rotherham United

On 26 June 2014, Wood signed with Rotherham United. ^[12] On 20 February 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Crawley Town. ^[13]

On 23 September 2015, Wood signed a one-month loan deal with Fleetwood Town. ^[14]

On 26 October 2015, he signed for Chesterfield on a three-month loan deal. ^[15]

Wood scored his first goal after his return to Rotherham in a 3–1 defeat to Preston North End on 5 November 2016. ^[16]

Following the departure of Paul Warne as Rotherham United's manager in September 2022, Wood was installed as caretaker manager along with Lee Peltier as the club searched for a permanent option. ^[17] The duo of Wood and Peltier oversaw one game as co-caretakers, a 2–0 home loss to Wigan Athletic, before the appointment of Matt Taylor from Exeter City.

After the final game of the 2022–23 season, manager Matt Taylor confirmed in a post-match interview that Wood would not be offered a new contract with the club and would be released. ^[18]

Doncaster Rovers

On 23 May 2023, Wood signed a one-year contract with Doncaster Rovers. ^[19]

International career

While playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Wood received a call up from the England national under-21 football team however injury prevented him from meeting up with the squad. ^[20]

Personal life

His younger brother, Nick Wood, played in the Sheffield Wednesday academy until the end of the 2009–10 season. He subsequently played a few games for Tranmere Rovers and Mansfield Town.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career statistics

As of match played 17 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sheffield Wednesday	2002–03 [21]	Division One	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
	2003–04 [22]	Division Two	12	0	1	0	1	1	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	17	1
	2004–05 [23]	League One	37	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	38	1
	2005–06 [24]	Championship	30	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	33	1
	2006–07 [25]	Championship	12	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
	2007–08 [26]	Championship	27	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	30	2
	2008–09 [27]	Championship	42	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	44	0
	2009–10 [28]	Championship	11	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	2
	Total		174	7	5	0	7	1	3	0	189	8
Coventry City (loan)	2009–10 [28]	Championship	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
Coventry City	2009–10 [28]	Championship	19	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	21	2
	2010–11 [29]	Championship	40	1	2	1	1	0	0	0	43	2
	2011–12 [30]	Championship	17	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	19	1
	2012–13 [31]	League One	36	3	2	0	2	0	6 [lower-alpha 1]	0	46	3
	Total		112	7	7	1	4	0	6	0	129	8
Charlton Athletic	2013–14 [32]	Championship	21	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	26	0
Rotherham United	2014–15 [33]	Championship	6	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	8	0
	2015–16 [34]	Championship	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
	2016–17 [35]	Championship	29	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	31	2
	2017–18 [36]	League One	36	4	1	0	1	0	4 [lower-alpha 2]	3	42	7
	2018–19 [37]	Championship	26	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	27	2
	2019–20 [38]	League One	23	3	2	0	2	1	1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	28	4
	2020–21 [39]	Championship	30	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	32	2
	2021–22 [40]	League One	39	1	3	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 4]	0	45	1
	2022–23 [41]	Championship	28	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	30	4
	Total		230	18	10	0	8	1	8	3	256	22
Crawley Town (loan)	2014–15 [33]	League One	10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3
Fleetwood Town (loan)	2015–16 [34]	League One	6	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	7	0
Chesterfield (loan)	2015–16 [34]	League One	5	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Doncaster Rovers	2023–24	League Two	25	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	30	0
	2024–25	League Two	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		27	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	32	0
Career total			589	36	28	1	21	2	21	3	660	42

1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
2. One appearance in the 2017–18 EFL Trophy; three appearances in 2017–18 EFL League One play-offs
3. Appearance(s) in 2019–20 EFL Trophy
4. Appearance(s) in 2021–22 EFL Trophy

Honours

Rotherham United

• EFL League One runner-up: 2019–20, ^[42] 2021–22; ^[42] play-offs: 2018 ^[43]
• EFL Trophy: 2021–22 ^[42]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Rotherham United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 60. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 461. ISBN   1-85291-651-6.
3. "Wood – I Want To Beat Leeds". Coventry MAD.
4. "Burnley 2-7 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 26 April 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 April 2006. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
6. "Owls transfer list defender Wood". BBC Sport. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
7. "News: Wood signs on loan". Coventry City F.C. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
8. "Coventry 1–1 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
9. "Wood and Hussey complete moves". Coventry City F.C. 1 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
10. "FULL TIME: Coventry City 1 Sheff Wed 1". Coventry City FC. 27 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
11. "Wood deal confirmed". Charlton Athletic. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013.
12. "Richard Wood joins Rotherham United". Charlton Athletic. 26 June 2014.
13. "Richard Wood: Crawley sign Rotherham defender on loan". BBC Sport. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
14. "Town sign defender Wood on loan deal from Rotherham". Fleetwood Town F.C.
15. "Spireites sign Millers defender Wood". BBC Sport.
16. "Rotherham 1-3 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
17. "Update on managerial situation". Rotherham United F.C. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
18. "Richard Wood's Rotherham United career comes to an end". Rotherham Advertiser. 9 May 2023.
19. "Rovers sign experienced defender Richard Wood". Doncaster Rovers. 23 May 2023.
20. "The Big Interview: Former Sheffield Wednesday skipper Richard Wood recalls celebrating Owls fans blocking the road and a sad parting of the ways". thestar.co.uk. 6 May 2018.
21. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
22. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
23. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
24. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
25. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
26. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
27. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
28. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
29. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
30. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
31. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
32. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
33. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
34. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
35. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
36. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
37. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
38. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
39. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
40. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
41. "Games played by Richard Wood in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
42. "R.Wood". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
43. Scott, Ged (27 May 2018). "Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.

External links

• Richard Wood at Soccerbase