Billy Woods

Football player infobox
playername = Billy Woods


dateofbirth = 24/10/73
cityofbirth = Midleton
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
currentclub = Cork City
clubnumber = 21
position = Winger
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1993-1995 1995-1997 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-2002 2002-present
clubs = Cork City Tranmere Rovers Blackpool F.C. (loan) Portadown F.C. Shamrock Rovers Cork City F.C.
caps(goals) = ? (?) 1 (0) 3 (0) ? (?) 119 (14) ? (?)| nationalyears = 1995-1996
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 6 (0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Billy Woods (born 24 October 1973 in Cork) is a semi-professional footballer for Cork City in the Republic of Ireland's FAI Premier Division. He can play on either wing in midfield and can also fill gaps in defence having been named on the PFAI 2004 team of the year at left wing back.

Cork City and beyond

Billy Woods played all his schoolboy football with Midleton before spending two and a half years at Coventry City. He joined Cork City in 1993 and made his debut in October playing under manager Damien Richardson during his first stint as manager when City played in Bishopstown. He was an extremely fast winger and was feared by defences throughout the league so much so he attracted the interest of clubs from England and joined Tranmere Rovers in 1995.After plying his trade there he returned to Ireland and signed for Portadown for one season in 1997.

Shamrock Rovers

Billy signed for Rovers in 1998 in time to make his debut away to Altay_S.K. in the UEFA_Intertoto-Cup on the 21st of June. He made 2 appearances for the Hoops in Europe.

A few weeks later he won a FAI Super Cup medal.

Over four seasons at the club he became a fans favourite with his wing play and some spectacular goals teaming up with Richardson again in 1999. In the 1999/2000 season he was the club's joint top goalscorer and even appeared in goal on one occasion [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/rep9.html] . His last game for the club was against Galway United on the 31st of March 2002.

After Richardson left the club at the end of the 2002 season Billy rejoined his hometown club.

2005 Season

Woods was an Eircom League medal winner in November 2005. Cork City beat Derry City 2-0 on 18 November 2005 to secure the title on the last game of the season. Although Woods did not play in that game, he had been an integral part of the squad through the year and had many fine games.

2006 Season

After the departure of Liam Kearney for Shelbourne in the 2006 season, Billy Woods filled the gap left by Kearney at left wing. Despite having a few relatively poor games at the beginning of the campaign he settled into the position well and demonstrated the skill and intelligence that once graced the turf at Bishopstown when he was first with Cork City at their old stadium. He became a key player during the season and was nominated by many for FourFiveOne, player of the year award.

Champions League

Woods scored Cork City's opening goal in the Champions League qualifier in July 2006 against Cypriot champions Apollon Limasoll. Woods was a key player in City's run to the 2nd qualifying round in which Cork City were beaten by Serbian, and former European and World Club Champions, Red Star Belgrade 4-0 on aggregate.

Future

Billy Woods agreed to stay with Cork City F.C. for another year in February 2007. Once again, Billy has signed a part-time contract with Cork City FC so as to dovetail his job as car salesman in Keary's Toyota with training and playing for City. He is one of only two players on the City squad who are part-time. Woods is the oldest member of the squad at 34 years of age.

In February 2008 he signed a new contract to remain at Cork City, but has not generally featured in the first team since Alan Mathews took up the managerial position at the club.

Honours

* League of Ireland Championship: 1
** Cork City F.C. 2005
* FAI Cup: 1
** Cork City F.C. 2007
* FAI Super Cup: 1
** Shamrock Rovers 1998
*PFAI Young Player of the Year:
** Cork City F.C.- 1994/95