| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Woodhall | ||
| Date of birth | (1863-09-05)5 September 1863 | ||
| Place of birth | West Bromwich, England | ||
| Date of death | 29 September 1924(1924-09-29) (aged 61) | ||
| Position | Centre forward /outside right | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| West Bromwich All Saints | |||
| Churchfield Foresters | |||
| 1883–1892 | West Bromwich Albion | 44 | (10) |
| 1892–1894 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 18 | (1) |
| Berwick Rangers (Worcester) | |||
| Oldbury Town | |||
| International career | |||
| 1888 | England | 2 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
George "Spry"Woodhall (5 September 1863 – 29 September 1924) was an Englishfootballer, who played most of his career withWest Bromwich Albion, helping them to reach three consecutiveFA Cup finals, including winning the cup in1888.
Woodhall was born inWest Bromwich and, after playing for West Bromwich All Saints and Churchfield Foresters, joined West Bromwich Albion in May 1883. He was a member of the West Bromwich team that reached the1886 and1887 cup finals, going out 2–0 toBlackburn Rovers (in a replay) andAston Villa respectively.
In1888, West Bromwich reached the final for the third consecutive year, when they met favourites,Preston North End at theKennington Oval on 24 March 1888. Woodhall scored the winning goal with thirteen minutes remaining, when the West Bromwich forwards outjumped Preston's defence and Woodhall pounced on the rebound, turning sharply to steer the ball between the posts,[1][2] thus enabling his team to claim the first of their five FA Cup victories.
Spry Woodhall made his League debut on 8 September 1888, as a forward for West Bromwich Albion in a 2–0 win againstStoke at theVictoria Ground. He also scored the second goal in the match. He played ten of the "Throstles" 22 Football League matches and scored three goals in season 1888-89 and was part of a forward-line that scored three goals or more in a League match on one occasion.[3]
Described by one source as well-nicknamed, for he was indeed a sprightly player, figuring prominently at outside-right for Albion in the early days. He could centre with great accuracy and combined well in team work, especially with Billy Bassett as his partner.[4]
Woodhall representedEngland twice, making his debut againstWales on 4 February 1888, when he scored the third goal in a 5–1 victory. Woodhall's goal was England's 100th international goal.[5] He also played in the next match againstScotland which was won 5–0;[6] the following month, England defeatedIreland 5–1 (although Woodhall was not selected, his place on the right wing going to his West Bromwich team-mateBilly Bassett)[7] to claim the1888 British Home Championship convincingly.
