Bobby Woodruff

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Bobby Woodruff
Personal information
Full name Robert William Woodruff
Date of birth (1940-11-09) 9 November 1940 (age 83)
Place of birth Highworth, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Swindon Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1964 Swindon Town 180 (20)
1964–1966 Wolves 63 (18)
1966–1969 Crystal Palace 125 (48)
1969–1974 Cardiff City 150 (22)
1974–1976 Newport County 52 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert William Woodruff (born 9 November 1940[1]) is an English former professional footballer.

Born in Highworth, Wiltshire, Woodruff began his career at his hometown club Swindon Town where he broke into the first team at 18. He was a regular in the side before joining Wolves in 1964 for forty thousand pounds. During this time he gained a reputation as a long-throw specialist but eventually moved on two years later to Crystal Palace. He helped take Palace to division one but only played a handful of matches in the top flight before being allowed to leave and join Cardiff City[2] for £25,000. He was signed as a replacement for Barrie Jones. He scored six goals in six games when asked to play as a centre forward. He was released in 1974 and joined neighbours Newport County. He later finished his career playing in Welsh League football.[2]

After retiring, he took positions as both youth coach and reserve team coach at Cardiff, also later working as a social worker.[3] Woodruff's son, Robert Woodruff, also played for Cardiff City, Swindon Town, Newport County and Cork City before having a successful career in Belgium. Robert scored the first league goal for Cork City FC in 1984.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/ForceFrames.htm?http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=WOODRUFB[dead link]
  2. ^ a b c Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel (1990). Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 94. ISBN 0907969542.
  3. ^ "STFC's first-ever promotion" BBC Retrieved on 26 February 2008

External links[edit]

  • Bobby Woodruff at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database