Ray Wood

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Raymond Ernest Wood, (born June 11, 1931 in County Durham, died July 7, 2002) was a Manchester United goalkeeper who played in the 1956 and 1957 championship-winning teams. Wood was a very fast player, he had the opportunity to be a professional sprinter but chose to play football, and was very agile, although he frequently had trouble with crosses. He played for England three times.

During the 1957 FA Cup final against Aston Villa Wood was the victim of one of the most infamous, and horrific, fouls in the history of English football. In the sixth minute of the game Wood successfully claimed a cross, however, Villa outside-left Peter McParland clattered into him at high speed, having changed direction to do so, breaking Wood's jaw. As this game was played in the era before substitutes Jackie Blanchflower was forced to play in goal following the incident, Wood eventually came back on after treatment to play as a forward, United went on to lose the game 2-1.

He survived the Munich air disaster with minor injuries, but played just one first-team game afterwards and was later sold to Huddersfield Town. He spent seven seasons at Huddersfield, playing more than 250 first-team games. He then played one season at Bradford City, before finishing his career with two seasons at Barnsley.

He continued as a manager in several countries including USA, Ireland, Zambia, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. He coached Cyprus and Kenya National football teams Also, he coached the NASL team Los Angeles Wolves.