Steve Wooddin

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Steve Wooddin (born January 16, 1955) was a New Zealand soccer player, and a leading striker during the country's only successful campaign to qualify for the World Cup, in Spain. Born in England and moving to New Zealand club Dunedin City in 1977, his international career for his adopted country spanned 37 matches from 1980 until cut short by a recurring ankle injury in 1984. A noted left-footed attacking player, he had a deadly ability to find the net.

Wooddin was first selected for the New Zealand national team (the All Whites) for a 16th May, 1980, 1-1 draw against a Southern Region team in Christchurch. He retained his place in the team which lost 2-1 to a Central Region selection two days later in Wellington.

Despite the unconvincing results, Wooddin was selected for the next match, in August, against Mexico in Auckland. He scored the fourth goal in a 4-0 win that remains one of the most oustanding and unexpected results in New Zealand's international football history.

The following year saw New Zealand begin the long road to the 1982 World Cup Finals. Wooddin was selected for all fifteen games in the ultimately successful campaign, scoring eight goals in the process, including trademark left foot shots into the bottom corner both home and away against Australia, against Kuwait in the controversial 1-2 home loss, and in Riyadh against Saudi Arabia when the team recorded a stunning 5-0 victory. This last result led to a play-off against China in Singapore in January 1982, in which Wooddin again scored with a left-foot shot to open the scoring in his side's 2-1 win.

Wooddin was one of New Zealand's only two scorers in the 1982 World Cup (along with Steve Sumner), scoring the second goal in a 5-2 loss to Scotland. He also started the subsequent matches against the Soviet Union and Brazil.

In 1983 injuries reduced Wooddin to just two international appearances against Australia and Fiji. He made his last two appearances for the All Whites against Fiji in October, 1984, scoring the winner in the first of these matches, before being forced to retire due to injured ankle ligaments.

[edit] Club history

Dunedin City (1980)
South Melbourne FC (1981-1983)
Christchurch United (1984)

[edit] External links

v • d • e New Zealand squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup

1 Wilson • 2 Dods • 3 Herbert • 4 B. Turner • 5 Bright • 6 Almond • 7 Rufer • 8 Cole • 9 Wooddin • 10 Sumner • 11 Malcolmson • 12 Mackay • 13 Cresswell • 14 Elrick • 15 Hill • 16 Adam • 17 Boath • 18 Simonsen • 19 McClure • 20 G. Turner • 21 Pickering • 22 van Hattum • Coach: Adshead