Matt Woods

Matt Woods

Matt started off at Everton in 1947 but after nine years at Goodison and only eight League appearances he moved to Blackburn for £6,000.

Immediately becoming a mainstay in the heart of the Rovers defence, Matt helped his new side to promotion to the top flight in his first full season and was generally reckoned to be the best un-capped centre-half of his era showing superb timing and power in the air allied to fine organisational and leadership skills.

Matt eventually left Ewood Park in 1963 for a spell in Australia, where he finally won international honours, before coming back to England two years later and joining Luton. By now 33, Matt was a tremendous influence in a Hatters side that narrowly failed to win promotion from Division Four in 1965/66 but stayed only the one season before leaving, following a row over bonuses, and then helping Stockport to promotion.

Matt later managed Stockport before becoming an HGV driver. Retiring to Cheadle, Matt passed away in 2014.