After becoming aware that I am related in some way to John Woods I thought I would see what people thought of him as a player? Unfortunately I never got to see him play but have been told things about him and would like to see other peoples views on him.

Amazing player woods and Blake were the best halfback combination I have ever seen in a Wire shirt ,awesome kicker as well

Had his best years with Leigh but an awesome player when we had him.

A genius. We had him near the end of his career, but he was still magnificent. A wonderful, natural ability and a great goalkicker.

Woodsy was one of the most gifted players to wear the P&B. Only wish we had him for longer. Sold

him to Hornets when they came in with an offer we couldn't refuse. Fabulous player.

Brilliant player. Loved watching him play.

From memory, he told the board, he wanted to drop down a division. Don't ask me why.h He was still top notch at the back end of the 88-89 season. Imagine if Keith Holden didn't have plastacine knees, too. What we missed out on, ABSOLUTE CLASS. Also took about 2 seconds from putting the ball on the sand (remember that), to the ball sailing over the posts.

Ask him how he managed to carry the ball in the palm of one hand.

As earlier posted, John had his best years at Leigh.

However he was still a fantastic stand off when he joined us.

He was one of those blokes that had a rare grace about him, a brilliant player.

A complete points machine at stand off. Still holds the record for points in a match at Bradford Northern. He scored 36 vs Swinton in 1985.



There's a tale in "When Push Comes to Shove" about that day. After the match he had a couple of pints to celebrate and then drove back home on the M62. On the way he saw a blue flashing light in the mirror and thought, he was going to get pulled over and breathalysed and he had visions of losing his license. When they pulled him over all the traffic cops wanted was his autograph and to chat about his game that day. Since then he stuck to soft drinks after matches!



He only played a season and half at Bradford. Unfortunately he signed just after we'd let Ellery Hanley got to Wigan so we never got the best out of him. In the end we let him go to Wire for £65k.

His short balls to a rumbustious Mark Roberts still gets me misty eyed.

Don't get me started on Mark Roberts

, or I'll have a breakdown



I've already mentioned Keith Holden (another one we lost to injury at a ridiculously young age)

What a side we'd have had in the late 80's/early 90's if these 2 would have steered clear of career ending injuries.