Derek George Woodley (2 March 1942 – 2002) was an English footballer who played for West Ham United, Southend United, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham during a 12-year professional career.

Derek Woodley
Personal information
Full name Derek George Woodley
Date of birth (1942-03-02)2 March 1942
Place of birth Isleworth, England
Date of death 2002 (aged 59–60)
Place of death Shoebury, England
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1962 West Ham United 12 (3)
1962–1967 Southend United 162 (23)
1967 Charlton Athletic 3 (0)
1967–1968 Southend United 9 (0)
1968–1971 Gillingham 100 (9)
1971 Folkestone
1971–1972 Pegasus Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Born in Isleworth, Woodley played for the England Schoolboys team during the 1950s, including scoring a goal against Wales in 1957 after just 13 seconds; it was the fastest goal scored in any competitive fixture at the original Wembley Stadium.[1][2][3] In 1957, he joined West Ham United as a junior and later turned professional with the club. He found his first team opportunities limited, however, and moved on to Southend United in 1962. He made over 150 appearances for the Roots Hall club in two spells (separated by a brief stint with Charlton Athletic) before moving to Gillingham in 1968.[1]

During his time at Priestfield Stadium he made exactly 100 Football League appearances, before leaving in 1971 to wind down his career with non-league clubs Folkestone and Pegasus Athletic.[1][4]

Later life

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In later years Woodley lived in Felixstowe[1] and Shoebury.[2] He died in January 2002, with former England star Martin Peters attending his funeral.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing. p. 342. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  2. ^ a b c Chelmsford Weekly News Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Barber, David (14 May 2010). "The forgotten goal". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Pegasus Athletic And Southend United A 1971/72". Essex Senior Football League. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
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  • Derek Woodley at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database