Vivian Woodward

1895/1901 Clacton Town (ENG) 25 games, 46 goals

1901/09 Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 132 games, 63 goals

1909/15 Chelsea (ENG) 116 games, 34 goals

(English Premier League: 106 games, 30 goals)

(English Cup: 10 games, 4 goals)

1915/19 First World War

1919/20 Clacton Town (ENG) 6 games, 4 goals

With the National Team :

23 caps, 29 goals

(Friendly matches: 7 caps, 15 goals)

(British Home Championship: 16 caps, 14 goals)

1st cap: 14 February 1903 against Ireland (4-0)

Last cap: 13 March 1911 against Wales (3-0)

England Amateurs: 24 caps, 40 goals

Great Britain: 6 caps, 4 goals

Vivian John Woodward

Born June 3, 1879 in Kennington (ENG)

Died January 31, 1954 in Ealing (ENG)

English, Attacking-midfielder/Striker, 1m89

Nickname: Ultimo Amateur

Vivian Woodward was born on June 3, 1879 in Kennington, England. He began his football career in 1895 while being an architect by profession. He then joined Tottenham Hotspur in March 1901 where he would become one of the first legends of the club. Although he made his debut for Tottenham in April 1901, he only appeared on a few occasions due to his position as a cricketer and his profession as an architect.

It was finally during the 1902/03 season that he would become a regular starter. Playing there until 1909, he would play 169 matches for 63 goals in a role as second striker/inside-left/inside-right. Playing in the lower divisions of English football And in his last season for the London club, he managed to lift the club to the English Premier League.

Deciding to end his career after this to concentrate 100% on his architectural practice and cricket, he finally agreed to join Chelsea in November 1909. For them, he would play 116 games for 34 goals.

It was finally the First World War that would put an end to his career. He decided to join the British Army at the start of the conflict and missed many games during the 1914/15 season. During this season, Chelsea reached the FA Cup final, Bob Thomson, the Chelsea striker was injured and Woodward received special permission to join Chelsea and play in the final. When he arrived, Thomson had recovered, Woodward then refused to play the match, and wanted to give Thomson the chance to play the final because Woodward had not played any matches in this edition of the competition. Finally Chelsea would lose the final.

It was in January 1916 that Woodward would lose any possibility of returning to the world of top-level football, he was injured in the right thigh by a German grenade while fighting for his nation. Following his injury, the player could not return to Chelsea, he then decided to join his first club, Clacton Town where he retired in 1920. He was then 41 years old.

But it was through his international career that the player entered the legend of football. He made his debut in the England first team in 1903, with the national team, he scored twice against Ireland in a 4-0 victory. In total, he played 23 matches for his country between 1903 and 1911 and scored 29 goals, crazy statistics.

The player also played 26 official matches for the England Amateur team, a selection composed of non-professional players and which was considered legitimate by its opponents, therefore official matches. This team was also considered one of the best in the world because it will have made crazy scores, humiliating its opponents. Victory 12-0 against Germany or 15-0 against France with an octuple from Woodward.

He also played with Great Britain in the Olympic Games, winning the 1908 and 1912 editions. He scored a goal in the 1908 final and two more in the 1912 final. In total, he was the first player to officially exceed the 50-goal mark for the national team, scoring 73 goals in 53 official matches.

- Included among 100 Football League Legends

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