Samuel James Wood (born 9 August 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Snodland Town. Wood is a left-sided and right-sided player who can play either at full-back or on the wing.

Career

Early career Sam Wood started playing football for Long Lane before joining Cray Wanderers. He progressed through the ranks at the club before joining the reserve team in 2002 and eventually making his first team debut in 2003. During his time at Cray, he became a fans' favourite, helping the club to the quarter-final of the FA Vase, and promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time in the club's history, in the 2003–04 season, and scoring Cray supporters' goal of the season to clinch a 2–0 victory against AFC Wimbledon to end their 78-game unbeaten run. He finished his Cray career with 8 goals from 93 games, and then signed for Bromley, the club whose ground Cray shared, in 2005. While a non-league footballer, he also worked as a body double (for the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo),[Wycombe Wanderers: Lionel Messi's body double & fame in Singapore] for USC at Bluewater and in advertisement for Nike and Adidas.

At Bromley, Wood won the Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2006 and the Club Player of the Year in 2007, and scored 21 goals from 159 appearances. His performances attracted interest from professional clubs, and after trials with clubs including Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wood joined League Two club Brentford in May 2008.

Brentford After impressing in pre-season, Wood made his Football League debut for Brentford against Bury, but picked up an injury in their 1–0 loss which kept him out for a few weeks. He proved his fitness by playing the full 90 minutes – and scoring – in a practice game, and returned to the first team as a substitute in the 1–1 draw with Lincoln City. He scored his first goal for the club on 28 December against Exeter City, and played regularly for the first team, helping the Bees to the 2008–09 League Two title, as well as scooping several individual awards including the supporters' Player of the Season.

In his second season, Wood lost his place on the left wing due to the form of Myles Weston, but was a regular in the team, either playing on the right wing or at left-back in place of the injury-prone Ryan Dickson.

Wood spend the majority of the 2011–12 season on loan at Rotherham United, making 26 appearances and scoring one goal. At the end of the season he was released by Brentford.

Wycombe Wanderers

In July 2012 Wood signed a two-year deal with Wycombe Wanderers, after interest from AFC Wimbledon. He scored a 35-yard volley on his debut.York 1–3 Wycombe 18 August 2012 which was later named as Wycombe's 'Goal of the Season'. Like at Brentford, Wood played at either left-back or left midfield. His versatility was recognised supporters as they named him their player of the season. 29 April 2013

Wood continued to hold down a regular place in his second season with the club. Despite avoiding relegation to the non-league on the final day of the season, Wood was rewarded with a new two-year contract taking him to July 2016.Sam Wood signs new contract 23 May 2014 During the 2014–15 League Two play off final Wood had his penalty saved during the shootout, resulting in Southend United gaining promotion.

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Wood left Wycombe Wanderers after his contract was not renewed.

Non-League Upon the expiration of his contract with Wycombe, Wood returned to non-league to join National League side Eastleigh on a two-year deal. After just one season with the club, Wood had his contract terminated by mutual consent after expressing a desire to leave the club.

Having had his contract with Eastleigh terminated, Wood returned to former club Bromley having previously played for the club from 2005 to 2008. Wood was with the club for two seasons, the second of which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic before his departure from the club was announced on 1 August 2020.

On 27 August 2020, Wood joined fellow National League side Dover Athletic, linking up with former manager Andy Hessenthaler who had previously managed Wood at Eastleigh, where he was appointed captain for the season. Wood's first season with the club was halted when in February 2021, Dover placed all members of staff on furlough until they received appropriate funding to be able to continue playing after the decision was made for the season to continue. On 26 March 2021, it was announced that all of Dover's results from the season were to be expunged and the club would receive a £40,000 fine and a 12-point deduction for the following season. Wood signed a new contract with the club in June 2021, one of only four players to do so with the club also switching to part-time contracts. On 1 February 2022, Wood left the club by mutual consent. He joined Cray Wanderers the same day and played in the 3–2 win at Potters Bar Town.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCray Wanderers2004–05Isthmian League First Division31400—00314Bromley2005–06Isthmian League Premier Division30300—5Appearances in Isthmian League Cup43572006–07Isthmian League Premier Division 36200—2Appearances in Isthmian League play-offs03822007–08Conference South42000—00420Total108500—741159Brentford2008–09League Two40120001Appearances in EFL Trophy04312009–10League One4323010104822010–11League One2011021402722011–12League One5000102080Total10846041801265Rotherham United (loan)2011–12League Two26110—00271Wycombe Wanderers2012–13League Two3531010103832013–14League Two4323000304922014–15League Two44521103Appearances in EFL League Two play-offs05062015–16League Two2924010103522016–17League Two322311050413Total183141324013021316Eastleigh2017–18National League35010—1Appearance in FA Trophy03702018–19National League 10———10Total36010—10380Bromley2018–19National League41020—104402019–20National League33030—10370Total74050—20810Dover Athletic2020–21National League15200—101622021–22National League18010—10200 Total332100020362Cray Wanderers2021–22Isthmian League Premier Division133———1332022–23Isthmian League Premier Division36420—3Appearances in FA Trophy, London Senior Cup and Isthmian League play-offs24162023–24Isthmian League Premier Division30031—7Appearances in FA Trophy, Kent Senior Cup and London Senior Cup0401 Total79751001029410Glebe2024–25 Southern Counties EastPremier Division14010—20170Beckenham Town2024–25 Isthmian League South East Division18100—00181Career total710383338144679548

Honours Cray Wanderers Kent League: 2002–03, 2003–04

Bromley Kent Senior Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07 Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs: 2006–07

Brentford Football League Two: 2008–09

References

External links