Ian Woan

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Ian Woan (born December 14, 1967 in Heswall, Wirral, England) was a Premiership footballer in the mid-1990's presently first team coach at Conference National side Rushden & Diamonds.

Woan started his career in 1985 at Manchester City but never made a start for the then First Division club. After playing in the lower leagues for five years, his big break came, aged 22, when on 14 March 1990 he joined Nottingham Forest for a fee of £80,000 from Runcorn.

Woan was frustrated not to make an appearance for the Midlanders in the latter half of the 89/90 season but his endeavour was rewarded almost ten months after joining the twice European Champions. Woan made his debut for The Reds on 2 January 1991 as a substitute in the 6-2 victory over Norwich City and went on to make 12 appearances that season adding 3 league goals to the team’s cause. Woan successfully forced himself into first team contention with consistent displays down the left wing.

[edit] 95/96 - Woan's finest season

Praised for his attacking flair, crossing and shooting ability, but questioned over his work-rate and team ethic, Woan established himself as one of the most prominent figures in the Forest team. His guile and ability helped the team finish in 3rd place in the 94/95 season booking a UEFA Cup place for the following year.

A strong European cup run saw Forest reach the last 8 of the competition, but despite Forest team-mate Steve Stone being called up to the Three Lions squad, Woan never received the call. This despite the fact Woan was one of the few naturally talented English left footed midfielders plying his trade in the top flight. Nethertheless, the 95/96 season was to prove a high point for the winger and in hindsight probably his greatest ever campaign. Forest mounted two quarter-final cup runs – in the FA and UEFA Cups – but finished a disappointing 9th in the league and failed to qualify for Europe.

Woan produced some of his best displays that season culminating in probably his finest individual performance for Forest when Woan netted two free kicks at White Hart Lane in the 5th round of the FA Cup. Woan later confided "I knew I wouldn't stand a chance [of taking the free kicks] had Stuart [Pearce] not been injured."

Woan did not disappoint. The first free kick from 25 yards was struck to perfection beating Ian Walker in the Spurs' goal. The second free kick was even better. Steve Stone was brought down by Ronny Rosenthal just outside the box as the winger attempted a wide dash into the box but was upended. The ball was placed on the right hand line of the penalty box and Woan had the audacity to attempt a shot at goal from such a tight position. Woan sent in a crashing left-footed effort that proved unsavable for England goalkeeper Walker for the second time that night.

Woan later admitted, "I've tried that a hundred times and it always ends up in the Trent!" Forest drew the game 2-2 and went on to win replay 3-1 on penalties with Woan converting his spot kick after a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane. The game had initially been postponed due to snow which meant soon after their victory, Forest faced Aston Villa in the quarter-finals and were disappointed to lose 1-0.

It was a disappointing end to a marvellous season for Forest, but Ian Woan still had one final contribution to make that season. Newcastle United - clinging on to a first Premiership title - badly needly to a win at the City Ground on 2 May 1996, but a typical long distance effort from Woan was to deny the Toon Army who drew the game 1-1 and subsequently lost the title to Manchester United.

Along with Frank Clark's departure in December 1996, Woan's Forest career began to suffer although the winger was the only player to remain with the Reds for the entirety of the 90’s decade. During his ten year spell at the club, Woan made 189 league appearances – as well as 32 substitute appearance – delivering 31 goals during his time. The free scoring midfielder was considered a dead ball specialist – although Stuart Pearce was often above him in the pecking order – as well as possessing a deadly long range shot and good crossing ability.

[edit] Post Forest days

Upon leaving Forest in 2000, and after a short trial with Bolton Wanderers, Woan signed for Swindon Town and in the 2000/01 season, producing 3 goals from 25 appearances in a successful stint. A year later Woan found himself joining American outfit Columbus Crew. Married to an American wife, the then 33 year old winger endured a difficult season in Major League Soccer with the team winning just two of their eight opening matches. This led to the replacing of Tom Fitzgerland, the man who had secured Woan's signature in America. Without Fitzgerald, Woan was less in demand and his American dream petered out unexplosive fashion. At the end of the season, Woan was traded to the Miami Fusion and finished out his MLS career with them.

Unsurprisingly, Woan returned to England and signed for struggling Shrewsbury Town who languished at the bottom of the old Third Division (now League Two). Woan enjoyed linking up with ex-Forest striker Nigel Jemson and the pair notably inspired the Shrews to one of their greatest ever results. The Shropshire outfit defeated Everton – who featured a young Wayne Rooney – in January 2003 in the third round of the FA Cup with Jemson scoring twice. It was Woan's last minute cross that insured the Premiership side’s fate but the Shrews were to be knocked out 3-0 by Chelsea the next round in a televised match. Shrewsbury Town were relegated that season and Woan returned to America.

Woan joined the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the A-League (the U.S. second tier) and competed in another season in the States before deciding to return to England and back to Swindon Town where he had played so well following his glory days at Nottingham Forest. Woan is now a qualified coach and was in charge of the under 18 side at the County Ground until deciding to move to Rushden & Diamonds as first team coach for Paul Hart in July 2006. Following the sacking of Hart later on in 2006, Woan then returned to Nottingham Forest, and is currently coaching some of the youngsters coming through the Forest Academy.

[edit] Club history

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