Darren Wood

Darren Wood
Personal information
Date of birth (1964-06-09) 9 June 1964
Place of birth Scarborough, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position Full back
Youth career
– Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1984 Middlesbrough 101 (6)
1984–1989 Chelsea 144 (3)
1989–1990 Sheffield Wednesday 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Darren Wood (born 9 June 1964) is an English former footballer, who played as a full back in the Football League between 1981 and 1990 for Middlesbrough,[2] Chelsea[3][4] and Sheffield Wednesday.[2]

Born in Scarborough, Wood began his career with Middlesbrough, making 101 league appearances between 1981 and 1984.[2] He became the focal point of a dispute which ended Malcolm Allison's managerial reign at Middlesbrough: with the club on the verge of liquidation, Allison threatened to resign if Wood were sold to Chelsea for £100,000,[5] declaring that it was "better for the club to die than to linger on".[6] Chairman Mike McCullagh accused Allison of no longer being reliable in trying to save the club and promptly sacked him,[7] installing Jack Charlton as caretaker manager.[8] In September 1984, Wood joined Chelsea for a fee reported as "around £50,000" and the return of former Middlesbrough captain Tony McAndrew to Ayresome Park.[9] The Evening Gazette reported that Liverpool had offered £250,000 for Wood just six months earlier.

Wood eventually played in 178 matches in all competitions for the west London club.[4] Being switched to midfield, where he was unpopular when keeping the stylish Micky Hazard out of the team.[10] He was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in 1989, but made only a handful of appearances before retiring due to a back injury endured over a 2-year period.[11]

After retiring as a player he went into the food retail business and settled in his wife's hometown of Leeds with their 2 children.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 490. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
  2. 1 2 3 "Darren Wood". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Chelsea : 1946/47–2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Darren Wood". Historical Player Database. Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  5. ↑ Horridge, Dave (22 March 1984). "Taylor's torment" (PDF). Daily Mirror. p. 30. Retrieved 26 November 2009. Malcolm Allison will quit Middlesbrough if the club sell full-back Darren Wood to Chelsea for £100,000. The Boro boss gave his ultimatum to chairman Mike McCullagh yesterday. But Boro face the threat of closure unless they can raise £200,000 before today's transfer deadline.
  6. ↑ "Malcolm Allison (October 1982 to March 1984)". Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "Another exit for Allison". The Times. 29 March 1984. p. 23. 'He can no longer be relied upon to co-operate with us in trying to save the club. I have dismissed Malcolm Allison,' McCullagh said.
  8. ↑ Dougray, John (30 March 1984). "Charlton back at his old desk". The Times. p. 22.
  9. ↑ "Reinforcement for Chelsea". The Times. 26 September 1984. p. 23.
  10. ↑ The Evening Standard
  11. 1 2 Bevan, Chris (6 March 2008). "Did you see Tykes thrash Chelsea?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
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