Alexander Wood (soccer)

Infobox Football biography
playername= Alexander Wood


fullname = Alexander Lochian Wood
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1907|6|12
cityofbirth = Lochgelly
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1987|7|20|1907|6|12
cityofdeath = Gary, Indiana
countryofdeath = United States
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =
-1930
1930-1931
1933-1936
1936-1937
1937-1938
1938-1939
clubs = Bricklayers and Masons
Holley Carburetor
Brooklyn Wanderers
Leicester City
Nottingham Forest
Colchester United
Chelmsford City
caps(goals) =
31 (2)
52 (0)
21 (0)
34 (0)
nationalyears = 1930
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 4 (0)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Alexander “Alec” Wood (June 12, 1907 in Lochgelly, Scotland – July 20, 1987 in Gary, Indiana) is a former U.S.-Scottish soccer defender. Wood began his club career in the United States before moving to England in the early 1930s. He also played all three U.S. games at the 1930 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Youth

Wood’s parents moved the family to the United States in 1921 when Wood was fourteen years old. His family settled in Gary, Indiana where he attended Emerson High School and gained his U.S. citizenship a year later. He also worked for the local Union Drawn Steel Company.

Club career

United States

Wood began his club career with Chicago Bricklayers and Masons F.C. In 1928, the Bricklayers went to the National Challenge Cup final before losing to New York Nationals. He then moved to Detroit Holley Carburetor. In 1930, Wood turned professional with the Brooklyn Wanderers of the American Soccer League. The Wanderers folded in 1931, and there is a gap in Wood's career for two years.

England

In 1933 Wood moved to England to play with Leicester City. In 1936, he transferred to Nottingham Forest for one season before joined Colchester United in 1937. In 1938, he moved to Chelmsford City of the Southern League before retiring in 1939.

National team

cotland youth

In 1921, Wood played once for Scotland in a junior team match against Wales before moving to the United States.

U.S. senior

Wood would then earn four caps with the U.S. national team in 1930. Three of the games came at the 1930 FIFA World Cup. At that Cup, the U.S. won the first two games, over Belgium and Paraguay by a 3-0 score in each game, they lost to Argentina 6-1 in the semifinals. Following the cup, the U.S. played Brazil on August 17, 1930 before returning to the U.S. That was Wood’s last game with the national team. ^{[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det69.html]}

Post soccer career

After retiring from playing professional soccer, Wood moved back to Gary, Indiana where he worked for the U.S. Steel Corporation. He retired in 1970 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1986.

External links

* [http://www.soccerhall.org/famers/alexander_wood.htm National Soccer Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.soccerballworld.com/1930%20Soccer%20Ball.htm 1930 World Cup team photo]